Blacksburg Planning Commission Regular Meeting - November 3, 2026

The Blacksburg Planning Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers of the Blacksburg Municipal Building. Commissioners approved the consent agenda, received staff and Town Council reports, and heard no public comments or public hearing testimony.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda by voice vote, with all in favor and none opposed, including the October 6, 2026 Planning Commission meeting minutes.
• Scheduled a public hearing for December 1, 2026, on Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOA) #57, which addresses marijuana uses and vape sales.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the public comment period, and no public hearings were held.

Discussion Items

• Unfinished Business: The Historic or Design Review Board representative was not present. A commissioner who listened to the Montgomery County Planning Commission reported that the county commission discussed marijuana/vape sales zoning similar to Blacksburg, a special use permit compliance matter for Altamond's Campground near Floyd County (where improvements had been made since the 1980s), and a cell tower fixture. The commissioner noted the challenge of reviewing land adjacent to unzoned Floyd County, including the absence of Floyd County GIS data.
• Additional Commissioner Item: A commissioner asked about a fence on library property next to a house. The Town Council representative responded that a resident had raised the issue, John Boyer of Public Works determined the wooden fence is on library property, and staff are working on the matter.
• Planning Director's Report: Nick Baker, filling in for Andrew and Kenzie, announced a Planning Commission work session on November 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at Blacksburg Motor Company's conference room one. Topics will include the marijuana/vape use ordinance review (with staff updates and a use matrix developed with legal), a Recode Blacksburg technical report follow-up, and a development project update. Baker also reminded the commission that the Blacksburg Horizon Survey, the comprehensive plan update survey, is open to the public until December 18, 2026, through the Let's Talk Blacksburg website; the current public engagement round has ended, and the next round will begin next year.
• Chair's Report: The chair offered no formal report but encouraged public participation in the comprehensive planning process, describing it as the backbone of what the commission and Town Council implement and noting it will shape Blacksburg over the next 10, 15, 20, 50, and 100 years.
• Town Council Report: The Town Council representative reported that Town Council did not hold its normal work session because of a special election to fill two Town Council seats for one-year terms. At the prior business meeting, Council held a public hearing on updating the town charter to reflect current boundaries. Boundaries had not been surveyed since 1973; the update was administrative, and the General Assembly must approve the charter change. The town's delegate and state senator agreed to carry the legislation.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously approved the consent agenda, including the October 6, 2026 meeting minutes and the December 1, 2026 public hearing on ZOA #57.
• Scheduled the next Planning Commission work session for November 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.; the next regular meeting is December 1, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
• The Blacksburg Horizon Survey remains open until December 18, 2026, and the next public engagement round will resume next year.