Blacksburg Town Council Work Session - February 21, 2023

This work session was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. to review public hearing items scheduled for the March 14, 2023 regular meeting. All council members were present except Town Manager Marc Verniel.

Review of Public Hearings for March 14, 2023

• Ordinance 2003 and Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for 1055 Plantation Road: Assistant Planning Director Kali Casper presented a proposal to amend the Planned Commercial Zoning on 4.573 acres of a 9.2-acre district to allow mini-warehouse use and other commercial uses. The applicant, Greg Stipes, described plans for a multi-story, climate-controlled storage facility of approximately 100,000 square feet with attached office space. Stipes showed images of similar facilities in other localities.

• Ordinance 2012 – Lead Inventory Grant: Engineering Director Randy Formica explained the ordinance to accept and appropriate $56,000 from the Virginia Department of Health for a lead inventory of the town’s water system.

• Ordinance 2013 – Transit Facility Grant: Blacksburg Transit Director Brian Booth presented renderings of proposed additions to the transit facility. The $4,511,000 grant will fund construction, with groundbreaking as early as summer 2023 and an estimated 18-month build time.

• Conditional Use Permit for Fit Body Boot Camp (2200 South Main Street): Kali Casper reviewed the CUP application for a personal improvement service (fitness studio) in the Office zoning district. The business will occupy 4,132 square feet of an existing 20,000-square-foot building; no exterior improvements are planned. Steve Semones of Balzer and Associates spoke on behalf of the applicant.

• Ordinance 2017 – Utility Easement Vacation (100 Country Club Drive): Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer briefed council on vacating a public utility easement to allow relocation of existing utilities.

Key Outcomes

No votes were taken during the work session. All items were reviewed in preparation for public hearings at the March 14, 2023 regular council meeting.