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Record of Proceedings

Blacksburg Planning Commission Meeting - January 24, 2020

Planning Commission — Friday, January 24, 2020
BodyBlacksburg, Virginia
SessionPlanning Commission
DateFriday, January 24, 2020
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:12:22

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:55

Citizens may address the planning commission during specified times on the agenda and are requested to adhere to the following.

2:02

Please speak at the podium, state your name and address, direct comments only to the commission.

2:09

Please limit speaking time to a maximum of three minutes.

2:13

Speak only once during a specific hearing or comment period.

2:17

Please silence cell phones, show respect for all speakers, and allow all opinions to be expressed in the tolerant atmosphere.

2:25

And with that, we'll call the meeting to order.

2:28

Can we have a roll call, please?

2:29

Mr.

2:29

Collie?

2:30

Here.

2:31

Mr.

2:31

Davis?

2:32

Here.

2:33

Ms.

2:34

Jones?

2:34

Here.

2:35

Mr.

2:36

Cassoff?

2:36

Here.

2:37

Mr.

2:37

Langrier.

2:38

It's not present.

2:39

Ms.

2:40

Money Hunt is present.

2:43

Great.

2:44

Oh, I'm sorry.

2:45

Mr.

2:46

Ford has been reappointed.

2:48

Uh is not yet appointed.

2:50

Okay.

2:50

He's on our list.

2:52

Next meeting.

2:55

Um with that, we uh first item of business is our consent agenda.

3:01

Tonight's consent agenda has uh four items on it.

3:07

The first being the approval of the planning commission minutes from December 3rd.

3:11

The second being a zoning ordinance amendment number 49 ordinance 1924, which is an amendment uh to um to Article 3270 3288 of the zoning ordinance for changes to the historic district related to the list of contributing structures, board membership, signage, review criteria, and provisions for parking.

3:38

Also for changes to other associated sections of the zoning ordinance related to the historic district.

3:45

And the action uh proposed action is the scheduled public hearing for February 4th.

3:52

Also rezoning 1900 nine ordinance nineteen uh twenty-two or request to rezone one point three nine acres of vacant land from RM48 medium density multi-unit residential zoning district to PR Planned Residential Zoning District at 400 Brose Drive by John Neal of Gay and Neal on behalf of Matthew Brady, uh BSD Bros Partners.

4:18

And the action for that item is uh scheduled the public hearing for February 4th.

4:25

Also rezoning 1905, ordinance 1906, a request to rezone 2.869 acres of property at 9102 Glade Road from RR1 Rural Residential Zoning to uh district to planned residential zoning district for multifamily housing in townhouses by Craig Stipes of Broad Street Partners.

4:53

And this request has been referred back to the planning commission by the town council.

5:00

And the action is to schedule public hearing for February 4th, 2020.

5:06

Do we have a motion?

5:09

Move approval of the consent agenda.

5:12

Second.

5:13

All those in favor?

5:14

Aye.

5:17

All right.

5:19

Moving on to tonight's public hearing.

5:21

Tonight's public hearing is CUP 19007, a conditional use permit request for office and club uses in the OTR Old Town Residential Zoning District on.341 acres at 205 Kent Street by Ryan Seavy, R Plus Incorporated, the applicant, and HCMF partnership, the property owner.

5:50

Additionally, and in conjunction with that is CUP 19008, which is a conditional use permit request for vehicle use of an alley for non-residential uses in the OTR Old Town Residential Zoning District on.0341 acres at 205 Kent Street by Ryan C.B.

6:13

of R Plus Incorporated, the applicant and HCMF partnership.

6:20

And we have a staff presentation combined for agenda items A and B above.

6:31

Thank you.

6:32

Thank you.

6:34

The first request that we'll be hearing this evening is the request for office in the Old Town Residential Zoning District.

6:40

The location is 205 Kent Street, as it is in the middle of the block.

6:45

It's just over a third of an acre.

6:47

The current zoning is Old Town Residential, and the adopted future land use is medium density residential.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Ordinance███████████████████████████████████35%
Procedural█████████████13%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Historic Preservation██████████10%
Parking█████████9%
Urban Planning████████8%
Community Engagement███████7%
Sustainable Development█████5%
Public Transportation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Blacksburg Planning Commission Meeting - January 24, 2020

The Blacksburg Planning Commission held a regular meeting on January 24, 2020, at 7:30 PM in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers of the Blacksburg Municipal Building. The meeting was called to order by Chair Andy Kassoff and adjourned at 8:40 PM. Commissioners present: T. Colley, J. Davis, M. Jones, A. Kassoff, G. Moneyhun. Absent: D. Langrehr. Staff present: K. Casper, E. Martin, K. O'Shea, K. Thomsen.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from December 3, 2019, were approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Zoning Ordinance Amendment #49 (ORD 1924): Amendment to §§3270-3288 regarding Historic District changes (contributing structures, board membership, signage, review criteria, parking) – scheduled for public hearing on February 4, 2020.
  • Rezoning RZN19-0009 (ORD 1922): Request to rezone 1.39 acres at 400 Broce Drive from RM-48 to PR Planned Residential – scheduled for public hearing on February 4, 2020.
  • Rezoning RZN19-0005 (ORD 1906): Request to rezone 2.869 acres at 900 and 1002 Glade Road from RR-1 to PR for multi-family housing and townhomes (referred back by Town Council) – scheduled for public hearing on February 4, 2020.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • David Club (537 Thistle Lane, Christiansburg; faculty member and Director of Cranwell International Center) expressed strong support for the project at 205 Kent Street. He stated the Cranwell Foundation's work would strengthen connections between the university, the town, and the global community, noting that international students contributed an estimated $156.7 million in economic activity in Congressional District 9 in the 2018-2019 academic year.

Discussion Items

Public Hearing: CUP19-0007 & CUP19-0008 – 205 Kent Street

  • Staff Presentation (Kinsey O'Shea & Emma Martin): Combined presentation for two conditional use permits: (1) Office and accessory club use in the OTR (Old Town Residential) zoning district on 0.341 acres; (2) Vehicle use of the rear alley for non-residential purposes. The property, owned by H C M F XXXIII Partnership and applied for by Ryan Seavy of r(plus) incorporated, involves rehabilitating an existing two-story home and constructing a one-story addition. Key details: 6 parking spaces (1 ADA) accessed via alley; proposed office hours 9 AM–7 PM Monday–Friday; up to 16 events/year with >50 attendees and 52 events/year with 30–50 attendees; sidewalk condition requiring construction within 5 years of site plan approval or when adjacent properties develop sidewalk; alley in poor condition but not required to be improved.
  • Applicant Presentation (Ryan Seavy): Highlighted sustainability measures (adaptive reuse, Passive House certification, photovoltaic systems, permeable paving). Noted surrounding non-residential and multi-family uses; ample public parking nearby (Kent Street Garage – 339 spaces, Architecture Annex – 156, Squires – 213, plus street parking). Reaffirmed that event guests would be directed to park off-site and walk.
  • Commission Discussion: Concerns raised about alley drop-offs, parking attendant enforcement, and maximum event attendees. Commission agreed to recommend a condition requiring a parking attendant during events to manage alley and Kent Street traffic flow (to be crafted with town attorney). Several commissioners praised the project's comprehensiveness and quality.

Unfinished Business

  • Zoning Ordinance Review Committee: Reported discussion on Historic District amendment #49.
  • Historic or Design Review Board: Discussed renovation of 302 Progress Street by Community Housing Partners.
  • Montgomery County Planning Commission: Reported approval of a rezoning for 107.8 acres off Prices Fork Road (agriculture to planned unit residential) and a special use permit for 51 acres (max building height 42 feet for townhouses), totaling 416 residential units with trail connections to schools.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (5-0) with items scheduled for February 4, 2020 public hearings.
  • CUP19-0007 (Office and Club Use): Motion by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Colley. Approved 5-0 recommending approval to Town Council with conditions including a parking attendant for events (to be formalized).
  • CUP19-0008 (Alley Use for Non-Residential): Motion by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Colley. Approved 5-0 recommending approval to Town Council.
  • Next Meetings: Work Session – January 21, 2020 at 5:00 PM; Regular Meeting – February 4, 2020 at 7:30 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Citizens may address the planning commission during specified times on the agenda and are requested to adhere to the following. Please speak at the podium, state your name and address, direct comments only to the commission. Please limit speaking time to a maximum of three minutes. Speak only once during a specific hearing or comment period. Please silence cell phones, show respect for all speakers, and allow all opinions to be expressed in the tolerant atmosphere. And with that, we'll call the meeting to order. Can we have a roll call, please? Mr. Collie? Here. Mr. Davis? Here. Ms. Jones? Here. Mr. Cassoff? Here. Mr. Langrier. It's not present. Ms. Money Hunt is present. Great. Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Ford has been reappointed. Uh is not yet appointed. Okay. He's on our list. Next meeting. Um with that, we uh first item of business is our consent agenda. Tonight's consent agenda has uh four items on it. The first being the approval of the planning commission minutes from December 3rd. The second being a zoning ordinance amendment number 49 ordinance 1924, which is an amendment uh to um to Article 3270 3288 of the zoning ordinance for changes to the historic district related to the list of contributing structures, board membership, signage, review criteria, and provisions for parking. Also for changes to other associated sections of the zoning ordinance related to the historic district. And the action uh proposed action is the scheduled public hearing for February 4th. Also rezoning 1900 nine ordinance nineteen uh twenty-two or request to rezone one point three nine acres of vacant land from RM48 medium density multi-unit residential zoning district to PR Planned Residential Zoning District at 400 Brose Drive by John Neal of Gay and Neal on behalf of Matthew Brady, uh BSD Bros Partners. And the action for that item is uh scheduled the public hearing for February 4th. Also rezoning 1905, ordinance 1906, a request to rezone 2.869 acres of property at 9102 Glade Road from RR1 Rural Residential Zoning to uh district to planned residential zoning district for multifamily housing in townhouses by Craig Stipes of Broad Street Partners. And this request has been referred back to the planning commission by the town council. And the action is to schedule public hearing for February 4th, 2020. Do we have a motion? Move approval of the consent agenda. Second. All those in favor? Aye. All right. Moving on to tonight's public hearing.

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