Blacksburg Town Council Meeting – February 10, 2026: Consent Agenda, Public Hearings, Citizen Comments on ICE and Sidewalks, Appointments
Blacksburg Town Council Meeting – February 10, 2026
The Blacksburg Town Council met on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a Black History Month Proclamation presented by Mayor Michael Sutphin, recognizing the centennial of the observance. The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, conducted two public hearings, heard citizen comments on sidewalk safety and federal immigration enforcement, and made appointments to boards and committees.
Consent Calendar
- Town Council Minutes: Approved minutes from January 13 and January 20, 2026.
- Contract Amendment: Approved a contract amendment for program management/owner representative services related to the Transit Center.
- Ordinance 2110: Introduced an ordinance granting a franchise to Gigabeam Networks LLC for a fiber optic network and scheduled a public hearing for March 10, 2026.
- Ordinance 2112: Introduced an ordinance authorizing the lease of the Bennett House property at 303 Wilson Street and scheduled a public hearing for March 10, 2026.
- CUP-25-7: Scheduled a public hearing for March 10, 2026, for a conditional use permit for educational facilities (college/university) in the Research and Development district.
- Resolution 2-A-26: Adopted a resolution referring proposed amendments to the Floodplain Overlay District to the Planning Commission. All consent agenda items were approved unanimously by roll call vote (7-0).
Public Hearings
Ordinance 2108: Vacation of Public Utility Easements at 3503 and 3511 Holiday Lane
Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer explained that the ordinance vacates old easements from the 1970s to allow for new apartment development, with the town securing new easements. No public comment was received. The council unanimously approved the ordinance.
Resolution 2-B-26: Conditional Use Permit for General Office at 207 West Roanoke Street (CUP-25-5)
Zoning Administrator Paul Patterson presented that the request would amend a 1980 special use permit (previously limited to Virginia Tech administrative/faculty use) to allow general office use in the Old Town Residential (OTR) district. The Planning Commission recommended approval 7-0 (two absent). The applicant (John Skelton) was absent but emailed agreement with the recommended conditions (ADA parking, landscaping, bicycle rack, sign permit). No public comment. The council unanimously approved the resolution.
Citizen Comments
Seven citizens spoke during the public comment period:
- Jess Thornton (1403 Highland Circle) thanked staff for snow work but urged better sidewalk clearing enforcement, clearer communication, and strategies to address snow from plowing, emphasizing pedestrian safety on the Huckleberry Trail and Main Street (which is in the top 1% for pedestrian crash risk in Virginia).
- Lora Brown (Blacksburg) expressed concerns about ICE overreach and requested the council take a stand, proposing a legislative package including banning unmarked ICE vehicles, codifying no 287(g) agreements, prohibiting town collaboration with ICE, and protecting personal data.
- Madison Justice (Windsor Hills Apartment Complex) warned of liability risks for local governments that collaborate with ICE, citing warrantless arrests and excessive force allegations.
- Molly Garson (Blacksburg) advocated for the town to work with Montgomery County to proactively plan for ICE actions, referencing Minneapolis as a cautionary example.
- Dale Wimberley (1417 Crestview Drive) thanked the council, described growing authoritarian concerns, and urged a proactive plan (including zoning measures) to counter potential ICE detention facilities or other federal overreach.
- Alexa Casey (Greenwood Drive) supported a plan for ICE and also expressed apprehension about AI data centers.
- Alid Perez (Virginia Tech student) emphasized the importance of not complying with unlawful actions and expressed disappointment with Virginia Tech’s compliance with federal requests.
Appointments
- Appointment to Housing and Community Development Board: Lora Brown was appointed unanimously.
- Town Council Membership Appointments and Affiliations (effective January 1, 2026):
- Councilmember Joel Goodhart appointed to the New River Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, Corridor Advisory Committee, and Recreation Advisory Board, and as liaison to the Friends of the Farmers Market.
- Councilmember Andrew Kassoff appointed to the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Board, New River Valley Agency on Aging (alternate), Blacksburg Public Arts Committee, and as liaison to the Town/Gown Committee. Both appointments were approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items and public hearings were approved unanimously with no opposition.
- The council acknowledged citizen concerns regarding sidewalk clearing and ICE. No formal action was taken on those topics; however, Councilmember Kassoff requested that activists stay afterward to discuss further.
- The next meeting is scheduled for February 24, 2026, with a council retreat on February 12 and a work session on February 17.
Meeting Transcript
Will the council come to order and will the clerk please call the roll? Anderson, present Campbell. Present. Oliver. Here. Board. Here. Good hard. Here. Cassell. Present. Here. Will the Vice Mayor please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation. Underground. One of the privileges of being mayor is you get to interrupt the regularly scheduled program and issue proclamations. So I think this is actually my first proclamation I've done as mayor. Um and will be on Black History Month. And I we have some representatives from the Black Cultural Center at Virginia Tech students and faculty. So if they wanted to uh join me in the front, I will present this proclamation. See if this is the microphone. Oh, it is. Okay. Thank you all for joining us. Um whereas uh Black History Month provides an opportunity for communities across the nation to reflect on the history, culture, achievements, and enduring contributions of black Americans in every aspect of our society, and whereas the observance traces its origins to 1926 when historian and educator Dr. Carter G. Woodson established a week-long national recognition to ensure that black history would be studied, recognized, and preserved, an effort that has grown over the past century into a month-long national and international commemoration, and whereas the year 2026 marks the centennial of this tradition of public recognition, inviting renewed appreciation for the struggles endured, the progress achieved, and the leadership, creativity, scholarship, and civic engagement that continue to shape our communities, and whereas Blacksburg is home to institutions, organizations, and residents who are helping to advance understanding and dialogue through educational, artistic, and community building events throughout the month of February, whereas Virginia Tech's Black Cultural Center, student organizations, and campus partners are hosting programs that include community conversations, film series, panel discussions, creative workshops, musical performances, and opportunities for reflection and connection, and whereas the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation is presenting its annual soul food sampling at historic St. Luke and Oddfellows Hall on February twenty-first, highlighting local history, food traditions, and the experiences of former Newtown residents. And whereas these and other activities offer meaningful ways for residents to learn from one another, honor black history, and strengthen the sense of belonging that enriches the town of Blacksburg. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I'm Michael Sutfin, the mayor of the town of Blacksburg, Virginia, to hereby proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in the town of Blacksburg and encourage all residents to observe the month through participation in programs, conversations, and events that recognize the past, engage the present, and help shape a more inclusive future. We have several items on the consent agenda tonight. We'll also be approving that contract amendment. We'll be introducing that ordinance and scheduling a public hearing for March 10th. Item E is CUP 257, Educational Facilities, College, University, and RD Research and Development. We'll also be scheduling that public hearing for March 10th. And then the final item is resolution 2A26, a resolution referring proposed amendments to the floodplain overlay district contained in the zoning ordinance to the planning commission, and we'll be adopting that resolution tonight. What is the council's pleasure on the consent agenda? I move approval of the consent agenda. Second. We have a motion, a second. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, will the clerk please call the roll? Aye. Oliver. Aye. Ford? Aye. Good hard. Aye.
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