Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Blacksburg Planning Commission Meeting - February 1, 2022: Rezoning, Conditional Use Permits, and Public Hearings

Planning Commission — Tuesday, February 1, 2022

BodyBlacksburg, Virginia

SessionPlanning Commission

DateTuesday, February 1, 2022

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:55:26

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Blacksburg Planning Commission.

0:06

Regular meetings are held here on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 30.

0:11

And we're in the Roger Eadpath, Hedge Path Chambers of the Blacksburg Municipal Building.

0:17

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

0:22

Citizens are encouraged, but not required to submit comments to the Planning Commission by email.

0:28

And view the hearing online or on local television, WTOB Channel 2.

0:33

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

0:41

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

0:49

Please speak at the podium.

0:52

You can remove your mask while you are at the podium speaking, if you would like, since you're behind the plexiglass.

1:00

Please state your name and address.

1:02

Direct your comments only to the commission.

1:05

Speaking time is limited to a maximum of three minutes.

1:09

There's a timer on the podium.

1:11

Those three little dots there that will turn yellow and then red to indicate when your three minutes are up.

1:19

You can speak only once during a specific hearing or comment period.

1:23

When you finish speaking, please print your name and address on the sheets on the clipboard that Casey has on the table, I believe.

1:35

Oh, right there.

1:36

Yeah.

1:36

There's pens.

1:40

We have pens, so you uh you can you or you can use your own pen.

1:44

This will help the staff in preparing the minutes of the meeting.

1:48

A wireless microphone is available to anyone requesting assistance.

1:53

If we could, let's take a moment now, and if you could all please silence your cell phones.

1:58

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

2:06

I'd like to appeal to your the angels of your better nature, and let's avoid clapping, cheering or booing if we could.

2:14

This is the largest audience we've had in a public hearing in a couple of years, so we all have to get our bearings.

2:23

If you could please refrain from carrying on any side conversations, that will help the night move forward.

2:29

It makes it difficult in the crowded room for others to hear.

2:33

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

2:36

May we have a roll call, please?

2:37

Mr.

2:38

Davis?

2:38

Here, Mr.

2:39

Ford, here.

2:40

Mr.

2:40

Herbine, here, Ms.

2:41

Jones, Mr.

2:42

Gasov, Miss Reinhardt.

2:44

Yeah.

2:44

I'm here.

2:44

We have a quorum.

2:46

Wonderful.

2:46

Thank you.

2:51

First I uh action on our agenda is to is the consent agenda, which is the approval of the planning commission minutes for January 4th.

2:59

And the action is to approve.

3:02

We have a motion.

3:03

I move approval of the consent agenda.

3:06

We have a second.

3:08

All those in favor?

3:12

Our public hearings tonight.

3:13

We have three.

3:14

Our first public hearing is rezoning 21005 ordinance 1979, which is a request to rezone 2.75 acres at 100 Country Club Drive from R5 Transitional Residential to Planned Residential by Community Housing Partners, the applicant, on behalf of Renjin Holt, the property owner.

3:37

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

3:41

Thank you.

3:44

This is a request to rezone property at 100 Country Club Drive Southeast.

3:49

The parcel is approximately 2.75 acres and is currently zoned R5 transitional residential.

3:55

There is one single family residence on the property that is vacant.

4:01

The timeline of this application started in November 1st with your initial application.

4:06

The dates that you see in gray have already passed.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Urban Planning███████████████████████████27%

Affordable Housing███████████████████████████27%

Zoning Ordinance██████████████████████22%

Public Safety████████8%

Transportation Safety███████7%

Procedural████4%

Economic Development██2%

Community Engagement██2%

Engineering And Infrastructure█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Blacksburg Planning Commission Meeting - February 1, 2022

The Blacksburg Planning Commission held its regular meeting on February 1, 2022, at 6:30 PM in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers, Blacksburg Municipal Building. The meeting included three public hearings: a major rezoning request for affordable housing at 100 Country Club Drive, and two conditional use permits for existing properties. The Commission voted on all items, with the most contentious decision (the rezoning) passing 4-3.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes (January 4, 2022): Motion to approve passed 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

RZN 21-0005 (100 Country Club Drive): Many residents spoke in opposition, citing concerns about density (proposed 52 bedrooms/acre vs. surrounding low-density), traffic safety (narrow roads, lack of sidewalks, cut-through traffic), building height (3-4 stories), insufficient parking (0.85 spaces/bedroom vs. town standard of 1.1), impacts on neighborhood character, and safety for children. Several speakers expressed support for affordable housing but argued that the scale was inappropriate for the site. A few residents (e.g., Kathleen Morris, Sarah Jacob) supported the project, noting the need for affordable housing and the applicant's responsiveness.
CUP 21-0007 (902 South Main Street): No public comments.
CUP 21-0008 (205 Washington Street SW): No public comments.

Discussion Items

RZN 21-0005/ORD 1979 – Rezoning to PR Planned Residential

Staff presented the proposal: a 56-unit/142-bedroom multifamily building on 2.75 acres, all units affordable to households earning 30-80% AMI for a minimum of 30 years via Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. The building would be three stories facing Country Club Drive and four stories facing the shopping center. A variance was requested for sidewalk configuration (2-foot planting strip, 7-foot sidewalk instead of standard 4+5).
Applicant (Mark Huffman, Community Housing Partners) highlighted design changes made in response to community feedback, including reduced building height, enhanced landscaping, a 7-foot sidewalk, and extension of affordability beyond 30 years.
Commission discussion: Commissioners expressed deep divisions. Mel Jones supported the project, citing strong need for affordable housing and the applicant's engagement. Jack Davis and Joel Herbein recommended withdrawal and redesign with community input. Tim Colley wanted more tweaking. Susanna Rinehart struggled with the trade-offs. Jerry Ford emphasized the need and the opportunity. Chair Andy Kassoff outlined reasons to support, referencing traffic analysis and the chance for affordable housing.
Motion to approve (including sidewalk variance) passed 4-3 (Rinehart, Kassoff, Jones, Ford yes; Herbein, Colley, Davis no).

CUP 21-0007 – General Office, Multi-Family Residential, Financial Institution

Staff (Paul Patterson) explained the request is to legalize existing uses at 902 South Main Street, correcting a 2013 change of use. No changes proposed. Staff recommended conditions on hours of operation and bicycle parking.
Applicant (John Spicer) stated no changes; simply a clerical fix.
Commission discussion: None. Motion to approve with staff conditions passed 7-0.

CUP 21-0008 – Two-Family Dwelling in OTR District

Staff (Kinsey O’Shea) presented the request for a duplex at 205 Washington Street SW, to be used as partially-subsidized short-term housing for Virginia Tech faculty recruits. A variance is requested for an existing nonconforming sidewalk.
Applicant (Carrie Woodring and Tom Koontz) detailed renovation plans, including unit layouts, finishes, and site improvements (reduced lot coverage to 47%, buffer yard, bike storage).
Commission discussion: Jack Davis expressed excitement about more non-student housing. Motion to approve with variance passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

RZN 21-0005 (100 Country Club Drive): Approved 4-3 to rezone from R-5 to PR Planned Residential, with the sidewalk variance. The project will proceed to Town Council for a public hearing on March 8, 2022.
CUP 21-0007 (902 South Main Street): Approved 7-0 with staff-recommended conditions.
CUP 21-0008 (205 Washington Street SW): Approved 7-0 with sidewalk variance.
Other: No citizen comments; Planning Director Anne McClung announced upcoming public input for ARPA funds via postcards; Town Council report noted ARPA project review and airport runway completion.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Blacksburg Planning Commission. Regular meetings are held here on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 30. And we're in the Roger Eadpath, Hedge Path Chambers of the Blacksburg Municipal Building. Due to 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 to adhere to the following. Please speak at the podium. You can remove your mask while you are at the podium speaking, if you would like, since you're behind the plexiglass. Please state your name and address. Direct your comments only to the commission. Speaking time is limited to a maximum of three minutes. There's a timer on the podium. Those three little dots there that will turn yellow and then red to indicate when your three minutes are up. You can speak only once during a specific hearing or comment period. When you finish speaking, please print your name and address on the sheets on the clipboard that Casey has on the table, I believe. Oh, right there. Yeah. There's pens. We have pens, so you uh you can you or you can use your own pen. This will help the staff in preparing the minutes of the meeting. A wireless microphone is available to anyone requesting assistance. If we could, let's take a moment now, and if you could all please silence your cell phones. Please show respect for all speakers and allow all opinions to be expressed in the tolerant atmosphere. I'd like to appeal to your the angels of your better nature, and let's avoid clapping, cheering or booing if we could. This is the largest audience we've had in a public hearing in a couple of years, so we all have to get our bearings. If you could please refrain from carrying on any side conversations, that will help the night move forward. It makes it difficult in the crowded room for others to hear. And 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, Mr. Gasov, Miss Reinhardt. Yeah. I'm here. We have a quorum. Wonderful. Thank you. First I uh action on our agenda is to is the consent agenda, which is the approval of the planning commission minutes for January 4th. And the action is to approve. We have a motion. I move approval of the consent agenda. We have a second. All those in favor?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com