Blacksburg Town Council Regular Meeting – January 10, 2023

The Blacksburg Town Council held a regular meeting on January 10, 2023, at the Municipal Building. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, three public hearings, citizen comments, and council announcements. Key actions included approval of a conditional use permit for a hotel height increase (6–1), unanimous approval of zoning amendments for small-scale alcohol production, and a public hearing on the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) with a final vote scheduled for January 24, 2023.

Consent Calendar

• Town Council Minutes for November 22, 2022 and December 13, 2022: Approved.
• Ordinance 2008 (vacating a public utility easement at 1902 Research Center Drive): Introduced, public hearing set for February 14, 2023.
• Ordinance 2009 (vacating a greenway trail easement at 1505 Bradley Lane): Introduced, public hearing set for February 14, 2023.
• Resolution 1-A-23 (accepting certain streets for town ownership and maintenance): Adopted. All consent items passed unanimously on a roll call vote (7–0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scott Chandler (401 Willard Drive) opposed the proposed hotel height increase at 310 Midtown Way, citing constant rule changes and power outages during construction at Midtown.
• Javad Torabinejad (1600 Winslow Drive) expressed concerns about fairness to nearby residents, loss of views, noise and light pollution from the height increase, and questioned the necessity of a taller hotel given low occupancy rates at local smaller hotels.
• Jim Cowan, representing Midtown Redevelopment Partners, spoke in favor of the project, stating it would be a good addition to the mixed-use development and that the developer had been respectful of neighboring properties.
• Douglas White requested the engineering analysis for the Windsor Hills pump station project included in the CIP, asking the town to share the documentation.
• Javad Torabinejad (again) questioned several CIP improvements, including the study of Mount Tabor Road, and pointed out flooding issues along Toms Creek Road.
• Joann Dean (Kentwood Drive) commended the Town Manager for his informative presentation to the Newcomers group earlier that day.

Discussion Items

1. Resolution 1-B-23: Conditional Use Permit for Increased Height at 310 Midtown Way (CUP 22-0005)

• Staff Presentation: Kinsey O’Shea reviewed the request for a height increase above 60 feet in the downtown commercial district for a planned Embassy Suites hotel. The building proposes 137 guest rooms, 74 parking spaces, and an architectural height of 71 feet 8 inches (rounded to 73 feet for buffer). Staff recommended a condition requiring wider sidewalks along Church Street and Midtown Way, additional landscaping, and planters to mitigate pedestrian-level impacts.
• Planning Commission Recommendation: Approved 8–0 with staff-recommended conditions.
• Applicant Statement: John Neel of Foresight Design presented the design, noting enhanced setbacks (up to 183 feet from Eheart Street), extensive landscaping within public utility easement constraints, and a rooftop bar facing away from residences. He accepted the staff’s condition on wider sidewalks and urban landscaping.
• Council Discussion: Councilmember Bush questioned whether the adjacent PR3 parcel (townhomes) also included screening; staff confirmed landscaping is planned there. Councilmember Colliver raised concerns about Mr. Chandler’s report of power outages; staff said they would follow up with Virginia Tech Electric.
• Vote: Motion to approve passed 6–1, with Councilmember Bush voting no.

2. Ordinance 2002: Zoning Amendment to Define and Regulate Small-Scale Alcohol Production Facilities

• Staff Presentation: Planning Director Anne McClung explained the need to update zoning for small-scale breweries, cideries, distilleries, meaderies, and wineries. The amendment defines production limits, permissible districts (downtown commercial, general commercial, industrial, mixed-use), use standards (buffers, parking, delivery plans), and a compliance review process. The Planning Commission recommended approval 6–0.
• Council Discussion: No public comment. Unanimous approval on a roll call vote (7–0).

3. Recommended Capital Improvement Program (CIP) FY2023/24 – FY2027/28

• Staff Presentation: Town Manager Marc Verniel presented the five-year CIP, totaling $128 million across 121 projects. Key projects include a new parking structure (Progress Street), Draper Road streetscapes, downtown facade grants, South Point Park completion, Brush Mountain trail improvements, utility upgrades (Laurel Ridge water line, North Main water tank backup, Windsor Hills force main replacement), and transit fleet electrification. The plan accounts for 7.7% inflation, replenishes capital reserves, and strategically addresses maintenance needs.
• Disclosure: Councilmember Sutphin recused himself from voting on the Legacy Affordable Housing Development project due to his employment with Community Housing Partners; his written disqualification was filed.
• Council Action: Public hearing closed; the CIP will be considered for adoption at the January 24, 2023 meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (7–0).
• Conditional Use Permit (CUP 22-0005): Approved 6–1 (Bush dissenting). Staff condition for wider sidewalks and enhanced landscaping was adopted; applicant accepted the condition.
• Ordinance 2002 (Small-Scale Alcohol Production): Approved unanimously (7–0).
• Capital Improvement Program: Public hearing held; vote scheduled for January 24, 2023.
• Council Announcements: Vice Mayor Anderson promoted the annual Dialogue on Race event on January 28, 2023 (9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Christiansburg Middle School). Mayor Hager-Smith noted the Town of Blacksburg’s 225th anniversary on January 13, 2023.
• Next Meetings: Work session on January 17, 2023; regular meeting on January 24, 2023.