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Record of Proceedings

Blacksburg Planning Commission Meeting - September 7, 2021: Axe Throwing CUP and Consent Agenda

Planning Commission — Tuesday, September 7, 2021
BodyBlacksburg, Virginia
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, September 7, 2021
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:20

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Blacksburg Planning Commission today, Tuesday, September 7th regular meetings are held here on the first Tuesday of each month at the Rogery Hedge Path Chambers of the Blacksburg Municipal Building at 300 South Main Street.

0:39

Due to COVID health can uh COVID 19 health concerns, seating in the council chambers will be limited.

0:45

Citizens are encouraged but not required to submit comments to the planning commission by email and view the hearing online or on local television, WTOB Channel 2.

0:58

The meeting will be live streamed from WW Blacksburg.gov and recorded.

1:04

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

1:12

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

1:17

Please limit speaking time to a maximum of three minutes and speak only once during a specific hearing or comment period.

1:26

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

1:33

With that, we'll call the meeting to order.

1:35

May we have a roll call, please.

1:36

Mr.

1:36

Davis?

1:37

Here.

1:37

Mr.

1:38

Ford?

1:38

Here.

1:38

Mr.

1:38

Herbine?

1:39

Here.

1:40

Ms.

1:40

Jones.

1:40

Yeah.

1:40

Mr.

1:41

Cassoff.

1:41

Here.

1:42

Ms.

1:42

Reinhardt?

1:43

Here.

1:43

And the time here.

1:44

So everybody, full attendance.

1:46

Great.

1:47

Our first item is the consent agenda.

1:50

The consent agenda includes the approval of the planning commission minutes from August 3rd, and the action is to approve.

1:56

We also have ordinance 17 1974.

2:01

An ordinance continuing the aggregate the agricultural and forestal district per sections 3-300 to 3-303 of the town code.

2:13

And the action there is to schedule a public hearing for October 5th, 2021.

2:19

We also have AFD 21001 ordinance 1973, an ordinance allowing the removal of land from the North Side Park from the Agricultural and Forestal District.

2:31

And the action there is to schedule a public hearing for October 5th.

2:36

We also have rezoning 2104 ordinance 1971, a request to amend previous rezoning RZ 18005, the hub on 13.42 acres at 1200 Tom's Creek Road and 1200 Snyder Lane.

2:55

And the action there is to schedule a public hearing for October 5th.

2:59

We also have rezoning 22103 ordinance 1968.

3:06

A request to amend previous rezoning uh 17006 and rezoning 2000 two on 21 acres of the midtown development, formerly the Blacksburg Middle School site at 501 South Main Street.

3:24

And the sky there is to schedule a public hearing for October 5th.

3:29

Do we have a motion on the consent agenda?

3:31

I move uh approval of the consent agenda.

3:35

Second.

3:36

All those in favor of the motion.

3:38

Aye.

3:39

Aye.

3:41

Moving on to our public hearings.

3:43

Our first public first and only public hearing tonight is CUP 2104.

3:48

A conditional use permit for commercial indoor recreational use in the downtown commercial zoning district at 1310 Jackson Street by Blue Ridge Axe Throwing LLC, the applicant for downtown development company, the property owner.

4:06

And we have a staff presentation by Kenzie O'Shea.

4:10

Thank you.

4:22

The owner is downtown development LLC.

4:24

The property is 130 Jackson Street Northwest.

4:27

The parcel size is approximately 0.6 acres, while the interior space that we're discussing this evening is just under 3,000 square feet.

4:34

The current zoning is downtown commercial and the adopted future land use is downtown commercial.

4:40

On the screen, the parcel is outlined in yellow, and the space, the building, 130 Jackson Street is seen under the star.

4:47

And now zooming in, you can see the parcel has several different buildings on it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Ordinance████████████████████████████████████████40%
Urban Planning████████████████████████████28%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Public Safety███████████11%
Sustainable Development████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Blacksburg Planning Commission Meeting - September 7, 2021

The Blacksburg Planning Commission met on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at 6:30 PM in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. All seven commissioners were present. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, a public hearing for a conditional use permit (CUP) for a commercial indoor recreation use (axe throwing), committee reports, and scheduling of future meetings. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the August 3, 2021, meeting were approved unanimously (7-0).
  • ORD 1974: An ordinance to continue the Agricultural and Forestal District was scheduled for a public hearing on October 5, 2021.
  • AFD 21-0001/ORD 1973: An ordinance to allow removal of land for Northside Park from the Agricultural and Forestal District was scheduled for a public hearing on October 5, 2021.
  • RZN 21-0004/ORD 1971: A request to amend a previous rezoning (RZN 18-0005) for The Hub on 13.42 acres at 1200 Toms Creek Road and 1200 Snyder Lane was scheduled for a public hearing on October 5, 2021.
  • RZN 21-0003/ORD 1968: A request to amend previous rezonings (RZN 17-0006 and RZN 20-0002) on approximately 21 acres for the Midtown Development (former Blacksburg Middle School site) at 501 South Main Street was scheduled for a public hearing on October 5, 2021.

Public Hearing: CUP 21-0004 – Blue Ridge Axe Throwing

  • Staff Presentation: Kinsey O'Shea presented the request for a conditional use permit to allow up to 10 lanes of axe throwing (commercial indoor sports and recreation) with an ancillary by-right arcade use at 130 Jackson Street NW (0.6-acre parcel, ~3,000 sq ft interior). The use is in the Downtown Commercial (DC) zoning district. Staff recommended four conditions, including adherence to the application and addenda, signage limits (re-facing existing sign, ≤15 sq ft), hours of operation (Tue–Thu 12 PM–10 PM, Fri–Sun 12 PM–12 AM, with up to two extended hours until 2 AM per month), and written safety and alcohol policies. A special exception was recommended to allow 10 existing parking spaces to remain in front of the building line (contrary to Use and Design standards that require parking behind the front building line). Staff found no adverse impacts regarding traffic, noise, lighting, or other nuisances.
  • Applicant Presentation: Mitch Tyler of Blue Ridge Axe Throwing, LLC described the business model (existing locations in Roanoke and Lynchburg), expected creation of 18–22 above-minimum-wage jobs, adherence to World Axe Throwing League safety standards, written alcohol policies (no alcohol sold; private events with ABC permits allowed only when whole venue is rented), and commitment to sustainability (recycling used wood, LED lighting). The applicant confirmed no prepared food or alcohol will be served, and axe coaches remain with throwers at all times as safety officers. The business also includes a by-right arcade (25–30 games). The operating hours agreement with staff and town attorney includes up to two extended nights per month until 2 AM.
  • Public Comment: None.
  • Applicant Rebuttal: None.
  • Commission Motion and Discussion: Commissioner Jerry Ford moved to recommend approval of CUP 21-0004 with all staff-recommended conditions and the special exception for parking in front of the building line. Commissioner Jack Davis seconded. The motion passed 7-0 with no further discussion.

Committee Reports & Unfinished Business

  • Zoning Ordinance Review Committee: No meeting had occurred.
  • Historic or Design Review Board: Commissioner Jack Davis reported that the board approved an HVAC unit at Christ Episcopal Church.
  • Montgomery County Planning Commission: Commissioner Susanna Rinehart provided a brief written report noting one item of business was unanimously approved.

New Business

  • Chair's Report: None.
  • Planning Director's Report: Anne McClung reminded commissioners of the joint work session with Town Council on September 21, 2021, at 11:00 AM (at Blacksburg Transit) and the regular Planning Commission work session at 5:00 PM that same day.
  • Town Council Report: Commissioner Jerry Ford stated Town Council looks forward to the joint work session.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda Approved: 7-0.
  • CUP 21-0004 Approved (Recommended to Town Council): Motion to approve with staff conditions and special exception passed 7-0. The recommendation will be forwarded to Town Council for a public hearing likely in October 2021.
  • Future Meetings Scheduled: Public hearings for consent agenda items set for October 5, 2021. Joint work session (Town Council and Planning Commission) on September 21, 2021, at 11:00 AM; Planning Commission work session at 5:00 PM on the same day.
  • Adjournment: The regular meeting adjourned at 6:54 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Blacksburg Planning Commission today, Tuesday, September 7th regular meetings are held here on the first Tuesday of each month at the Rogery Hedge Path Chambers of the Blacksburg Municipal Building at 300 South Main Street. Due to COVID health can uh COVID 19 health concerns, seating in the council chambers will be limited. Citizens are encouraged but not required to submit comments to the planning commission by email and view the hearing online or on local television, WTOB Channel 2. The meeting will be live streamed from WW Blacksburg.gov and recorded. Citizens may address the planning commission during specified times on the agenda and are requested 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 and 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 a tolerant atmosphere. With that, we'll call the meeting to order. May we have a roll call, please. Mr. Davis? Here. Mr. Ford? Here. Mr. Herbine? Here. Ms. Jones. Yeah. Mr. Cassoff. Here. Ms. Reinhardt? Here. And the time here. So everybody, full attendance. Great. Our first item is the consent agenda. The consent agenda includes the approval of the planning commission minutes from August 3rd, and the action is to approve. We also have ordinance 17 1974. An ordinance continuing the aggregate the agricultural and forestal district per sections 3-300 to 3-303 of the town code. And the action there is to schedule a public hearing for October 5th, 2021. We also have AFD 21001 ordinance 1973, an ordinance allowing the removal of land from the North Side Park from the Agricultural and Forestal District. And the action there is to schedule a public hearing for October 5th. We also have rezoning 2104 ordinance 1971, a request to amend previous rezoning RZ 18005, the hub on 13.42 acres at 1200 Tom's Creek Road and 1200 Snyder Lane. And the action there is to schedule a public hearing for October 5th. We also have rezoning 22103 ordinance 1968. A request to amend previous rezoning uh 17006 and rezoning 2000 two on 21 acres of the midtown development, formerly the Blacksburg Middle School site at 501 South Main Street. And the sky there is to schedule a public hearing for October 5th. Do we have a motion on the consent agenda? I move uh approval of the consent agenda. Second. All those in favor of the motion. Aye. Aye. Moving on to our public hearings.

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