Blacksburg Town Council Work Session – February 21, 2025

The Blacksburg Town Council held a work session on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 6:45 PM at the Blacksburg Motor Company, 400 South Main Street. The meeting focused on reviewing public hearings scheduled for March 11, 2025, discussing downtown façade grant and outdoor dining program guidelines, and a proposed relocation of the Housing and Community Connections (HCC) office. No formal votes were taken; all presentations were informational and preparatory for future Council actions.

Review of Public Hearings Scheduled for March 11, 2025

The Council reviewed five items slated for the March 11, 2025, public hearing.

a. Ordinance 2070 – Sanitary Sewer Code Amendment
Planning Director Andrew Warren summarized proposed changes to Town Code Section 5-701. Key updates include allowing the by‑right use of basement pumps without requiring a subdivision variance, clarifying that Septic Tank Effluent Gravity (STEG) or Septic Tank Effluent Pumping (STEP) systems must be used for development applications involving multiple homes (not individually‑developed homes), and removing the former definitions of “minor” and “major” subdivisions.

b. Ordinance 2071 – Speed Limit Reductions (Phase I)
Comprehensive Planner Maeve Gould reviewed proposed lower speed limits on various town streets as part of a phased initiative to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users. A slideshow of affected streets was presented.

c. CUP-24-4 – Lighting at Toms Creek Ballfield
Senior Planner Caroline Collins detailed a Conditional Use Permit request to upgrade lighting at 2100 Toms Creek Road. The current lights are outdated and cause light spillage; proposed replacements would be 60 feet tall, improving visibility and player safety while allowing later field use.

d. Ordinance 2068 – Rezoning at 402 Clay Street
Town Planner Matthew Sampa reviewed a request to rezone 1.59 ± acres from R‑5 Transitional Residential to Planned Residential. The applicant seeks modifications to allow reduction or elimination of open space requirements for projects under 2 acres and to eliminate one street‑oriented entrance required to contain principal windows. Housing and Community Connections Manager Kim Thurlow detailed the affordable housing commitment and compliance monitoring that would be required if the rezoning is approved.

e. 801 North Main Street Rezoning Package
Assistant Planning Director Kinsey O’Shea, Engineering Director Carolyn Howard, and applicant Chris Johnson of LV Collective presented three linked requests:

• Ordinance 2063: Vacation of approximately 2,000 square feet of Town‑owned alley right‑of‑way between the 800‑block of Kabrich Street and the 900‑block of Progress Street NW.
• Ordinance 2062: Rezoning 2.80 ± acres at 801 North Main Street, 800‑block Kabrich Street, 100‑block Winston Avenue, and 900‑block Progress Street from General Commercial and R‑5 to Planned Residential District.
• CUP-24-3: Conditional Use Permit to use the alley for non‑single‑unit residential dwellings, providing access to 22 townhome‑style multifamily units.
  The proposed development includes an 8‑story multifamily building with ground‑floor commercial space and up to 759 total bedrooms. O’Shea presented revised renderings showing wider sidewalks along Kabrich Street. Howard reviewed channel improvements that would mitigate upstream flooding and cause no adverse downstream effects, upgrading the infrastructure and culvert system.

Downtown Façade Grant and Outdoor Dining Program Guidelines

Business Solutions Manager Angie Marcolini provided an overview of the façade grant regulations, eligibility requirements, and funding disbursement, along with proposed marketing materials. She also noted minor housekeeping revisions to the outdoor dining program. The guidelines will be formally presented at the next Council meeting.

Housing & Community Connections Office Relocation (Thomas Connor House)

Deputy Town Manager Matt Hanratty described the planned relocation of the HCC office to the Thomas Connor House, prompted by Virginia Tech’s decision not to renew the lease on the current building. The move will better serve citizens by placing HCC closer to the Municipal Building. The vacated office space will be repurposed for Parks and Recreation summer camps.

Council Discussion

Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith circulated a prior proclamation related to Multiple Sclerosis, asking whether Council wished to continue supporting it. She also advised Council of a request for a proclamation for Global Love Day and asked for review.

Key Outcomes

• All five public hearing items (Ordinance 2070, 2071, 2068, 2062, 2063, and CUP-24-4 and CUP-24-3) remain scheduled for the March 11, 2025, public hearing. No Council action was taken at this work session.
• The Downtown Façade Grant and Outdoor Dining Program guidelines will be brought to the next Council meeting for formal consideration.
• The HCC office relocation to Thomas Connor House is proceeding; no vote was required.
• Council will review and likely continue supporting the Multiple Sclerosis proclamation and consider the Global Love Day proclamation at a future meeting.