OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Blacksburg Planning Commission Meeting - May 6, 2025

Planning Commission — Tuesday, May 6, 2025
BodyBlacksburg, Virginia
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, May 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 21:59

Transcript — Verbatim
0:33

Welcome to the uh regular meeting of the Blacksburg Planning Commission, which are held here at the Roger E.

0:39

Headspace Chambers in Blacksburg on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

0:44

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

0:51

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

0:57

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

1:05

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

1:14

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

1:15

May we have a roll call, please.

1:17

Mr.

1:17

Airman, Mr.

1:18

Ford, present.

1:19

Ms.

1:19

Jones.

1:20

Here.

1:20

Mr.

1:20

Cassall.

1:21

Present.

1:21

Mr.

1:21

Cassini.

1:22

Ms.

1:22

Reinhardt.

1:23

Here.

1:23

Ms.

1:23

Walker.

1:25

We have a quantum.

1:26

Wonderful.

1:27

First item is our consent agenda.

1:29

The first item on the consent agenda is approval of the Blacksburg Planning Commission minutes of April 1st, 2025.

1:36

And the proposed action is to approve.

1:39

The second item on the consent agenda is rezoning 252.

1:42

Clyde's view planned residential rezoning request from R5 Transitional Residential to PR Planned Residential at 103 Zephyr Jefferson Street.

1:55

And the action proposed action is to schedule a public hearing for June 3rd.

2:00

And the last item on our consent agenda is rezoning 253, a rezoning amendment request from RZN 24 to ORD 2062, approved March 25th, 2025, for the property around 801 North Main Street, Cabridge Street, Winston Avenue, and Progress Street.

2:23

And the proposed action is to schedule a public hearing for June 3rd, 2025.

2:28

Do we have a motion?

2:29

I move approval of the consent agenda.

2:32

Second.

2:32

All those in favor?

2:34

Aye.

2:35

Moving on to public hearings.

2:37

We have none.

2:39

We'll open the floor for citizen comment.

2:42

Would any citizen like to address the planning commission on any issue?

2:52

Good evening, Mr.

2:53

Chairman, the planning commission.

2:54

My name is John Neal, 1260 Radford Street, Christopher Virginia.

2:58

Just want to let you know that I'm here to answer any questions you might have when you get into your unfinished business.

3:04

And I did have one handout that I thought just there were some questions at the work session if I don't.

3:10

Sure.

3:12

Just to remind it, kind of a an illustration of some of the great challenges on one of your questions.

3:51

Thank you.

3:54

Any other citizen like to address the commission on any issue?

3:58

Yes.

3:59

Would you like to?

4:00

Please come forward.

4:02

State your name and address.

4:10

Good evening.

4:11

My name is Annette Bach, Professor Emerita.

4:14

My tax parcel is 209 Farmingdale Lane, Blacksburg, which is completely surrounded by the total proposed plans.

4:23

Just last evening, fire trucks were summoned to the end of Farmingdale Lane, reconfirming the need for maintenance and direct access to the 460 bypass.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████37%
Urban Planning███████████████████████████████████35%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████23%
Public Engagement█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Blacksburg Planning Commission Meeting

Date: May 6, 2025 | Time: 6:30–6:52 PM | Location: Blacksburg Municipal Building, 300 S. Main St.

The Blacksburg Planning Commission held a regular meeting on May 6, 2025, chaired by Andy Kassoff. The commission unanimously approved a consent agenda, heard citizen comments on the Farmingdale subdivision, and approved two variances and the preliminary plat for that subdivision. All seven present commissioners voted in favor of each motion. (Member B. Britt was absent.)

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved the April 1, 2025 Planning Commission minutes (8-0).
  • RZN-25-2 (Clydesview): Scheduled a public hearing for June 3, 2025 on a rezoning from R-5 to PR at 103 Jefferson Street.
  • RZN-25-3 (North Main Street): Scheduled a public hearing for June 3, 2025 on a rezoning amendment for properties around 801 North Main Street, Kabrich Street, Winston Avenue, and Progress Street.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • John Neel (Foresight Design Services, 1260 Radford Street, Christiansburg, VA) stated he was available to answer questions regarding the Farmingdale variances and distributed a handout illustrating trail-building difficulties in the area.
  • Annette Bach (Professor Emerita, 209 Farmingdale Lane, Blacksburg) requested fencing around her property to prevent erosion, a “forever clause” ensuring the HOA maintains the stormwater pond, and noted that recent emergency calls on Farmingdale Lane confirm the need for direct access to the US 460 Bypass.

Discussion Items

PLAT-24-16 & Farmingdale Variance Requests

Andrew Warren, Planning and Building Director, presented the two outstanding variance requests:

  • Section 5-303: Request not to dedicate right-of-way to adjoining properties. Staff recommended against dedication because of limited connectivity, the Town’s low priority for the Toms Creek/Farmingdale connector, and maintenance concerns over a private gravel drive.
  • Section 5-500: Request not to construct a multi-use trail beyond the existing 800 linear feet of proposed trail. The variance would avoid building 4,000–4,500 additional linear feet of trail in an existing easement along US 460 Bypass.

Commissioner Mel Jones asked about stormwater and erosion control oversight; Warren responded that the Town’s engineering department reviews plans and maintains maintenance agreements.

Commissioner Michael Ermann reported that the Historic or Design Review Board has openings and is seeking new members, particularly those with backgrounds in architecture, construction, or property ownership in the historic district.

Key Outcomes

  • Variance 5-303 (Right-of-way dedication): Approved 8-0. Motion by Jerry Ford Jr., seconded by Mel Jones.
  • Variance 5-500 (Multi-use trail construction): Approved 8-0. Motion by Jerry Ford Jr., seconded by Susanna Rinehart.
  • PLAT-24-16 (Preliminary Plat for Farmingdale Major Subdivision, 210 Farmingdale Lane): Approved 8-0. Motion by Jerry Ford Jr., seconded by Susanna Rinehart. The subdivision creates 20 new lots on approximately 108 acres (6 acres developed), with three new remainder lots (A, B, and one dwelling on lot C).
  • Upcoming Events: Planning Commission Retreat on May 8, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the Blacksburg Motor Company building. Next regular meeting June 3, 2025, at 6:30 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the uh regular meeting of the Blacksburg Planning Commission, which are held here at the Roger E. Headspace Chambers in Blacksburg on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. 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, 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 the tolerant atmosphere. With that, we'll call the meeting to order. May we have a roll call, please. Mr. Airman, Mr. Ford, present. Ms. Jones. Here. Mr. Cassall. Present. Mr. Cassini. Ms. Reinhardt. Here. Ms. Walker. We have a quantum. Wonderful. First item is our consent agenda. The first item on the consent agenda is approval of the Blacksburg Planning Commission minutes of April 1st, 2025. And the proposed action is to approve. The second item on the consent agenda is rezoning 252. Clyde's view planned residential rezoning request from R5 Transitional Residential to PR Planned Residential at 103 Zephyr Jefferson Street. And the action proposed action is to schedule a public hearing for June 3rd. And the last item on our consent agenda is rezoning 253, a rezoning amendment request from RZN 24 to ORD 2062, approved March 25th, 2025, for the property around 801 North Main Street, Cabridge Street, Winston Avenue, and Progress Street. And the proposed action is to schedule a public hearing for June 3rd, 2025. Do we have a motion? I move approval of the consent agenda. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Moving on to public hearings. We have none. We'll open the floor for citizen comment. Would any citizen like to address the planning commission on any issue? Good evening, Mr. Chairman, the planning commission. My name is John Neal, 1260 Radford Street, Christopher Virginia. Just want to let you know that I'm here to answer any questions you might have when you get into your unfinished business. And I did have one handout that I thought just there were some questions at the work session if I don't. Sure. Just to remind it, kind of a an illustration of some of the great challenges on one of your questions.

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