Blacksburg Planning Commission Regular Meeting - November 5, 2020

The Blacksburg Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, November 5, 2020, at 6:31 PM in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. The meeting lasted approximately 24 minutes, with all seven commissioners present. The Commission approved the consent agenda, which included scheduling two public hearings for December 1, 2020, and held a public hearing on a conditional use permit for a real estate office at 1117 South Main Street, approving it unanimously. No citizen comments were received.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Approved the minutes from the October 6, 2020 meeting unanimously (7-0).
• Zoning Ordinance Amendment #55/ORD 1921: Scheduled a public hearing for December 1, 2020, to consider amending the process for posting notice signs for public hearings.
• RZN 20-0005/ORD 1941: Scheduled a public hearing for December 1, 2020, for a rezoning request of 40.34 acres at 1900 Toms Creek Road from RR-1 to PR Planned Residential.
• CUP 20-0005: Cancelled the November 5, 2020 public hearing for townhomes at 1820 North Main Street and rescheduled it for December 1, 2020.

Discussion Items

• CUP 20-0004 – General Office Use at 1117 South Main Street:
  • Staff Presentation: Town Planner Emma Martin presented the request by Lincoln I, LLC (applicant Steve Semones of Balzer & Associates) to operate a real estate office in a former single-family home on a 0.419-acre lot. The proposal includes widening and improving the existing driveway, creating 8 parking spaces at the rear, landscaping, screening, an ADA-accessible entrance, and a monument sign illuminated at night. Staff recommended conditions regarding substantial conformance, office hours, and evening lighting. A modification was requested to allow a reduced 8-foot-wide buffer yard on the south side with a 6-foot screening fence instead of the required 4-foot fence and evergreen trees due to the driveway location.
  • Commission Questions: Commissioners asked about asphalt vs. impervious paving, fence location and sizing, tree size requirements, and after-hours building illumination.
  • Applicant Response: Steve Semones addressed the commissioners' questions.
  • Commissioner Motion: Commissioner Ford moved to approve with staff conditions and the buffer yard modification; seconded by Commissioner Jones. Commissioner Davis expressed concern about the amount of impervious pavement. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 7-0.
• CUP 20-0004: Approved 7-0 with staff recommended conditions and the buffer yard modification.
• Scheduled Public Hearings: December 1, 2020, for ZOA #55, rezoning at Toms Creek Road, and the rescheduled CUP for townhomes.
• Reports: Chair Kassoff reported that the Zoning Ordinance Review Committee met on November 9, 2020, to discuss ZOA #55. Commissioner Ford reported on the latest Montgomery County Planning Commission meeting and on Town Council actions, including approval of a franchise agreement for Shentel Communications, a boundary adjustment on Yellow Sulphur Road, review of the Climate Vulnerability Assessment, and discussion of a new chapter for the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.