Blacksburg Town Council Work Session - October 6, 2025

The Blacksburg Town Council held a work session on October 6, 2025, at the Blacksburg Motor Company (400 South Main Street) beginning at 11:00 a.m. and adjourning at 12:35 p.m., followed by a closed meeting and reconvening at 12:52 p.m. Councilmembers Susan Anderson, Jerry Ford Jr., and Susan Mattingly were absent. The agenda covered the proposed indoor recreation facility location, three public hearings scheduled for November 12, 2025, a transit service update for Yellow Sulphur Apartments, a floodplain ordinance update, building code updates, a deferred discussion on a downtown northwest zoning district, and a closed meeting for legal advice on two contract disputes.

Indoor Recreation Facility Proposed Location

• Parks and Recreation Director Dean Crane and Adam Bastian of Keller-Slater Architects presented design updates for a proposed recreation facility emphasizing accessibility, courts, flexible spaces, and intergenerational programming.
• The Recreation Advisory Board unanimously selected Option 1 (the "Hub" site) after evaluating four options, citing its proximity to existing Community Center gyms and fewer drawbacks. The recommendation follows extensive community engagement in 2025, including public meetings and surveys.

Review of Public Hearings Scheduled for November 12, 2025

Ordinance 2096: Withdrawal of Land from Agricultural and Forestal District

• Planning Director Andrew Warren reviewed a request to remove 4.672 acres (including 3.18 acres within town limits) from the Agricultural and Forestal District (AFD). The property (zoned RR-1, used for single-family residential and agriculture) would be subdivided into three lots off Tree Top Ridge Road for single-family residential development. Withdrawal triggers roll-back taxes to be calculated by the Town Finance Department per State Code.

CUP-25-2: Automobile Dealership in GC-General Commercial

• Zoning Administrator Paul Patterson explained that Walker Auto Works seeks a Conditional Use Permit to operate an automobile dealership at 1711 N. Main Street (0.87 acre, zoned GC). The business imports classic vehicles from Japan for online sale, typically storing 10–15 vehicles indoors. It is low-impact, currently staffed by the owner with plans to add one employee.

CUP-25-3: Dance Hall Use in DC-Downtown Commercial and Companion Dance Hall Permit

• Paul Patterson reviewed a CUP request by Olaika Restaurant/Bar to operate a dance hall at 130 Jackson Street NW. The space would function as a restaurant (188 occupants before 10:00 PM) and a dance hall (up to 292 occupants after 10:00 PM). The applicant must also obtain a Public Dance and Dance Hall Permit. Staff recommends conditions including compliance with the application, no pyrotechnics, exterior lighting and security cameras, and approval of any exterior signage.

Yellow Sulphur Apartments – Transit Service Update

• Planning Director Andrew Warren and Blacksburg Transit Director Brian Booth provided an update. The revised project includes five four-story buildings with 320 units (up to 480 bedrooms), 28% open space, a clubhouse, pool, fitness room, dog park, and greenspace. Parking increased to 455 spaces (0.94 per bedroom), one building was removed, the layout reoriented, and a screening fence added along St. John Neumann Academy. A request to vacate the Holiday Lane right-of-way (Ordinance 2091) is pending.
• Transit service is limited; the nearest stop at the hospital creates unsafe pedestrian access along South Main Street. A preferred stop near 3601 Holiday Lane is under consideration but faces sidewalk and crossing challenges. Routing buses through the site is technically possible but not preferred by Blacksburg Transit. A mid-term plan (2029–2032) proposes extending the Main Street South route to the hospital, pending additional resources and pedestrian safety improvements.

Proposed Floodplain Ordinance Update

• Town Engineer Kafi Howard and Engineering Director Carolyn Howard presented proposed revisions prompted by a state review and recent developments. Key changes include renaming "floodplains" to Special Flood Hazard Areas for clarity, removing zoning exemptions in commercial areas to increase protection, allowing recreational vehicles to stay temporarily (up to 180 days), prohibiting any increase in floodwater velocity, and setting minimum elevation requirements for buildings’ lowest floors. A downtown floodplain study is planned for Fiscal Year 2027 to establish base flood elevations to support redevelopment. The anticipated timeline extends through 2026/2027.

Building Code Updates

• Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer presented a proposed update to the Town Building Code to enable stricter enforcement of building regulations. The update also revises the property maintenance section, allowing the town to hire contractors for necessary repairs or pursue a Class 1 misdemeanor charge.

Downtown Northwest Zoning District Discussion

• Town Manager Marc Verniel advised Council to defer this agenda item to a future meeting when all councilmembers are present.

Closed Meeting and Certification

• Council moved to a Closed Meeting under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711 (8) for advice from the Town Attorney on two contract disputes. After reconvening in open session at 12:52 p.m., Council adopted Resolution 10-A-25 certifying the propriety of the closed meeting. The vote was 4–0 (Sutphin, Colliver, Watson, Hager-Smith in favor; Anderson, Ford, and Mattingly absent).

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on agenda items 1–6, as this was a work session.
• The only vote was on Resolution 10-A-25 (passed 4–0).
• The Downtown Northwest Zoning District discussion was deferred.
• The public hearings for Ordinance 2096, CUP-25-2, and CUP-25-3 are scheduled for November 12, 2025.
• The floodplain ordinance and building code updates will be considered at future meetings.