Blacksburg Planning Commission Meeting – October 3, 2017

The Blacksburg Planning Commission met on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers of the Blacksburg Municipal Building. Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve a rezoning for a 44-bedroom multifamily apartment development on Broce Drive, despite strong public opposition over traffic and safety concerns. The meeting also included consent agenda approvals, scheduling of two public hearings for November 7, 2017, committee reports, and the election of officers.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approved: The September 5, 2017 Planning Commission minutes were approved unanimously (6-0).
• RZN17-0005: A public hearing was scheduled for November 7, 2017, for a request to rezone 1.289 acres at 111 Southpark Drive from Office (O) to General Commercial (GC) for a hotel use, by Virginia Blue Ridge, LLC on behalf of SDP Southpark, LLC.
• Zoning Ordinance Amendment #37 (Ordinance #1845): A public hearing was scheduled for November 7, 2017, for an amendment to create a definition of an Event Center use and add it as a permitted use in the Industrial and Research and Development zoning districts.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Frank Baker (901 Toms Creek Road) expressed concern that heavy traffic on Toms Creek Road would increase with the new apartments, noting that the current zoning (seven single-family lots) would add only 21 bedrooms, while the proposal adds 44 bedrooms—more than doubling potential traffic.
• Felice Proctor (911 Toms Creek Road) described daily traffic congestion, difficulty entering/exiting her driveway, and the dangerous intersection at Toms Creek and Broce Drive. She urged the Commission to protect the residential character of the area and reject the rezoning.
• Leanne Walton (parent of a child attending the nearby elementary school) discussed safety fears while walking to school along Toms Creek Road, citing the lack of designated crosswalks and the terrifying traffic conditions. She presented a list of approximately 50 signatures from neighbors opposing the development, collected over three weeks.

Discussion Items

• RZN 17-0004 (Ordinance #1840) – Rezoning at 509 Broce Drive: The Commission considered a request to rezone 2.22 acres from R-4 Low Density Residential to PRD Planned Residential Development for a multifamily project called Stonegate Apartments 2. Staff reported the proposal includes two three-story apartment buildings with 44 bedrooms, 46 parking spaces (1.05 per bedroom), 24 covered bicycle parking spaces (0.55 per bedroom), 26% open space, a trail, picnic area, and 20-foot front setback. The site is adjacent to single-family homes and across from existing Stonegate Apartments. The Comprehensive Plan designates the area as medium density residential (19.8 bedrooms per acre falls within that range). A neighborhood meeting was held on June 29, 2017, with concerns about density, construction traffic, parking, and building design. The applicant (April DeMotts) noted that feedback was addressed, and the proffer requires development in substantial accordance with the submitted plan. Commissioners discussed the need for affordable housing, the benefits of infill development near campus and transit (Toms Creek Road has a full-service bus stop), and the importance of improving pedestrian safety and crosswalks along Toms Creek Road. Commissioner Lancaster suggested forwarding traffic concerns to the town's traffic committee. The motion to recommend approval passed 6-0.
• Election of Officers: Kali Casper presented a slate of officers: Don Langrehr as Chair, Andy Kassoff as Vice Chair, and Mel Jones as Secretary. The Commission voted unanimously (6-0) to approve the slate. Commissioner Lancaster suggested considering two-year terms for officers in the future.

Key Outcomes

• Rezoning Recommendation Approved (6-0): The Commission voted to recommend approval of RZN 17-0004 (Ordinance #1840) to Town Council with the applicant's proffered condition. The motion was made by Commissioner Lancaster and seconded by Commissioner Jones (Ms.). The matter now goes to Town Council for a final decision.
• Consent Agenda Approved (6-0): Minutes and scheduling of two public hearings for November 7, 2017, were approved.
• Officers Elected (6-0): Don Langrehr (Chair), Andy Kassoff (Vice Chair), and Mel Jones (Secretary) were elected for the coming year.
• Next Steps: The Planning Commission will hold a work session on October 17, 2017, at 5:00 p.m. at the Blacksburg Motor Company. The next regular meeting is Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., which will include public hearings on the Southpark Drive rezoning and the Event Center zoning amendment.