Blacksburg Town Council Meeting - January 14, 2025
Blacksburg Town Council Meeting - January 14, 2025
The Blacksburg Town Council held a regular meeting on January 14, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. All council members were present. The meeting included approval of a consent agenda, public hearings on the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and a postponed rezoning, citizen comments, and an appointment.
Consent Calendar
The consent agenda was approved unanimously (8-0) and included:
- Approval of minutes from December 3, 10, and 17, 2024.
- Resolution 1-A-25: Transfer appropriations from prior fiscal year encumbrances.
- Resolution 1-B-25: Transfer funds between capital projects and funds.
- Ordinance 2062: Introduce rezoning of 2.80 acres at 801 North Main Street from General Commercial and R-5 to Planned Residential; public hearing scheduled for February 11, 2025.
- Ordinance 2063: Introduce vacation of ±2,000 sq ft of alley right-of-way; public hearing February 11, 2025.
- Conditional Use Permit request to use an alley for non-single-unit dwellings; public hearing February 11, 2025.
- Ordinance 2072: Introduce regional tourism agreement; public hearing February 11, 2025.
- Ordinance 2074: Introduce acceptance and lease of property at 2700 Meadowbrook Drive; public hearing February 11, 2025.
- Confirmation of Blacksburg Fire and Rescue Squad Officers for 2025.
Public Hearings
Item A (Postponed): Ordinance 2068 rezoning 1.59 acres at 402 Clay Street from R-5 to Planned Residential was rescheduled from January 14 to February 11, 2025, by unanimous vote.
Item B: Recommended Capital Improvement Program (CIP) FY2025/2026–2029/2030 Town Manager Marc Verniel presented the five-year CIP, totaling nearly $170 million across 133 projects. Key highlights included:
- Progress Street parking deck reduced from $25–30M to $7M (over-under design).
- Draper Road streetscape improvements at $10M.
- Restoration of St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall at $187,000.
- Athletic fields renovation, trail completions, downtown restroom ($250,000), and bus replacements (including electric buses). Public comment:
- Jody Booze-Daniels (909 Allendale Ct) urged equal stewardship for St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall compared to other historic properties.
- Heather Nicholson (Montgomery County) and Christine King (Montgomery County) expressed appreciation for the proposed funding.
- Waverly Evans (205 Franklin Dr) questioned the $9M Draper Road cost and suggested alternatives for the downtown restroom (e.g., portable trailers). Council will consider final approval of the CIP at the January 28, 2025 meeting.
Citizen Comments
- Renee Kuhlman (500 Stonegate Dr) opposed the 801 North Main Street development, citing traffic congestion on Kabrich Street and Main Street. She challenged the adequacy of the $147,000 per floor affordable housing contribution and urged stricter regulations.
- Waverly Evans (205 Franklin Dr) identified the developer as LV Collective (via an LLC incorporated eight months ago in Delaware) and questioned whether the project would include affordable units. He noted that 43% of Blacksburg’s population lives at or below the poverty line (19,000 people) and urged consideration of local needs.
Appointments
Matthew Wright was unanimously appointed to the Blacksburg Recreation Advisory Board.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved 8-0.
- Ordinance 2068 (402 Clay Street rezoning) rescheduled to February 11, 2025.
- CIP public hearing completed; final vote set for January 28, 2025.
- Matthew Wright appointed to Recreation Advisory Board.
- The meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Council please come to order and will the clerk please call the rule. Anderson? Present. Oliver? Here. Ford? Here. Eager Smith. Here. Mattingley? Here. Sutfin? Here. Watson. Present. Will the Vice Mayor please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Pledge of allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation. Under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice. We will begin this evening with our consent agenda a little bit longer than it usually is. It begins with approval of town council minutes for December 3, 10, and 17. A resolution 1A 25 to transfer appropriations to the fiscal year 2024-2025 operating budget from prior fiscal year encumbrances. A resolution IB 25, transferring funds between capital projects and the general fund, VDOT revenue sharing fund and stormwater fund, returning funds from closed capital projects to the general fund balance, and stormwater fund net position and deappropriating unanticipated VDOT revenue sharing funds. We have also ordinance 2062, rezoning 2.8 acres of land at 801 North Main Street, 800 block of Cabrich Street, 100 block of Winston Avenue, and 900 block of Preggress Street from General Commercial and R5 Transitional Residential District to Planned Residential District Zoning. Ordinance 2063, vacating plus or minus 2,000 square feet of town owned alley right of way between the 800 block of Cabreach Street and the 900 block of Progress Street Northwest. The public hearing for that will also be February 11th. Conditional use permit request to use an alley for non-single unit residential dwellings between the 900 block of Cabrich Street and the 900 block of Progress Street Northwest. Also, Blacksburg Fire Officers and Blacksburg Rescue Squad Officers for 2025. We will confirm this slate that has been provided us. Second. We have a motion and a second. Will the clerk please call the roll? Oliver? Aye. Ford? Aye. Hi. Mattingley? Hi. Sutfin? Aye. Watson. Aye. Anderson. Aye. We had public hearings scheduled for this evening, and the very first item A has been postponed. So we want to take a vote this evening to schedule that along with other public hearings for February 11. And that ordinance is 2068, rezoning 1.5 acres of land at five at 402 Clay Street from R5 transitional residential to planned residential zoning.
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