Blacksburg Town Council Work Session – January 3, 2025

The Blacksburg Town Council held a work session on January 3, 2025, at the Blacksburg Motor Company. The meeting covered nine agenda items and a council/staff exchange, focusing on infrastructure funding, capital planning, downtown development, affordable housing, sustainability, land use, and governance processes. No formal votes were taken; discussions aimed to provide guidance for future actions.

Discussion Items

• Passenger Rail Station Authority Funding Discussion: Kevin Byrd of the New River Valley Regional Commission reviewed local funding obligations for the proposed Christiansburg rail station. Contributions are based on locality size and anticipated use, with Blacksburg facing a larger share. Byrd provided a handout detailing financial obligations for each locality and plans for parking and bus services.

• Capital Improvement Program FY2025/2026–2029/2030: Deputy Town Manager Matt Hanratty highlighted revenue and expenditure projections and detailed each CIP project by department. Town Manager Marc Verniel offered to answer questions, but Council had none.

• Year-End Budget Resolutions: Interim Finance Director Steve Ross summarized the upcoming year-end budget resolutions.

• Downtown Northwest District Update: Planning Director Andrew Warren noted the district was identified in the 2019 Downtown Strategic Plan. The proposed "floating" Downtown Northwest Zoning Ordinance Amendment would provide more detailed design standards than the underlying Downtown Commercial zoning. Council discussed building heights recommended by the Planning Commission and requested a tour to the top floor of the Gilbert Place building to observe the subject area.

• Potential Affordable Housing Fee Waiver Ordinance Revisions: Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer discussed revisions to the existing availability fee waiver to offer more flexibility, requiring Council approval. The item is slated to appear on a future consent agenda.

• 2025 General Assembly Legislation: Sustainability Perspectives: Sustainability Manager Carol Davis gave an overview of renewable energy and building efficiency legislative initiatives of interest to the Town, including policy priorities from the Virginia Energy and Sustainability Peer Network (26 localities). More information will emerge as the General Assembly progresses.

• Additional Discussion of Ordinance 2068 (Rezoning 402 Clay Street): Housing and Community Connections Manager Kim Thurlow reviewed the VHDA Reach Loan as a funding source for the affordable housing proffer accompanying the rezoning. She explained annual income verification, onsite monitoring every three years, and a lease addendum, and provided a value comparison of the Town’s potential investment relative to other affordable housing projects in the New River Valley.

• Boards and Commissions Appointment Process Discussion: Mayor Hager-Smith presented a proposed protocol for appointments and a revised statement of interest. Council was in overall agreement with the proposals.

• Donation of Land at 2700 Meadowbrook Drive: Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer explained the proposed donation of approximately 5 acres from Friends of the Huckleberry, Inc. Under the proposal, Friends may sub-lease the single-family home on the property to generate funds for advancing public trails in Blacksburg.

Council/Staff Exchange

• Deputy Town Manager Matt Hanratty updated Council on recent snow removal efforts, noting focus on bike and pedestrian areas. Planning Director Andrew Warren added that Code Inspector Kevin Dunn had canvassed areas reminding citizens of snow removal initiatives.

Key Outcomes

• Council requested a tour of the top floor of Gilbert Place to further assess building heights for the Downtown Northwest District.
• Council expressed general agreement with the proposed boards and commissions appointment protocol and revised statement of interest.
• The affordable housing fee waiver revisions are expected to be placed on a future consent agenda for Council approval.
• The land donation from Friends of the Huckleberry remains under consideration, with a sub-lease concept for trail funding.

The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.