Blacksburg Town Council Work Session - October 17, 2025

Note: The agenda and minutes identify this meeting as having taken place on October 21, 2025, but the provided date is October 17, 2025. This summary uses the provided date.

The Blacksburg Town Council held a work session at Blacksburg Motor Company on October 17, 2025. The session covered the FY2024 audit, review of upcoming public hearings, transportation planning, new firefighter positions, transit policy update, a boundary adjustment, and downtown zoning discussion.

FY2024 Audit Presentation

• Chris Banta of Brown, Edwards & Company presented the annual audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The Town's net position was positive, and staff received commendation for financial management.

Review of Public Hearings (November 12, 2025)

• Ordinance 2095: Rezoning ±2.7 acres at 1709 and 1711 Whipple Drive from Medium Density Multiunit (RM-48) to Planned Residential (PR). The project includes demolition of a single-family dwelling, retention of existing multi-family units, and construction of seven 4-bedroom townhomes (124 bedrooms), 100 parking spaces, and a 375-foot multi-use trail.
• Ordinance 2097: Lease of space on the North Main Street Water Tank to New River Valley Unwired Ventures, LLC and New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC for a one-year term.
• Ordinance 2098: Increase the bad check fee from $35 to $50.
• Ordinance 2099: Elevate the penalty for failure to obtain a business license to a Class 2 misdemeanor.
• Ordinance 2101: Update Town Code Sections 6-200 and 6-203 to reflect building code changes and establish civil penalties for property maintenance violations.

Prices Fork Road Transportation Planning

• Engineering Director Carolyn Howard presented two concurrent studies: a Town study on the Toms Creek Road corridor and a VDOT OIPI study on Prices Fork Road from the Village of Prices Fork to the North Main Street roundabout. The highest priority focus area is east of US Route 460 Bypass. Both studies will be finalized before the VDOT Smart Scale application in summer 2026.

New Firefighter Positions

• Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer presented a resolution to create two new full-time positions (Fire Lieutenant and Firefighter/Fire Inspector) and to reallocate funds from the General Fund contingency to the Fire Department personnel and benefits budget for FY 2025/26.

Blacksburg Transit Substance Abuse Policy

• Director Brian Booth explained the policy update to maintain compliance with federal drug and alcohol regulations, addressing minor issues from a July 2025 audit. Changes include updated testing language, post-accident procedures, refusal-to-test rules, on-duty alcohol limits, and replacement of SAP with EAP for voluntary referrals.

License Agreement: Temporary Construction Trailer at Midtown

• This item was withdrawn from the agenda with no further action needed.

Town Boundary Adjustment Discussion

• GIS Coordinator Ingrid Mans and Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer proposed a voluntary Boundary Adjustment Agreement to bring approximately 7.2 acres into the Town, correcting boundary errors and avoiding split parcels. Required notices were provided to affected property owners. Public hearings by the Town and County will be scheduled. The item will be on the next week meeting agenda.

Downtown Northwest Zoning District Discussion

• Planning Director Andrew Warren reviewed a proposed incentive-based zoning district to add to the existing Downtown Commercial district. It adopts a form-based approach with detailed design standards. After discussion, the Council agreed to limit building height to no more than 100 feet.

Key Outcomes

• The Council agreed to limit building height to 100 feet in the proposed Downtown Northwest Zoning District.
• The Town Boundary Adjustment will be placed on the next Town Council meeting agenda for further action.
• The license agreement for a temporary construction trailer at Midtown was withdrawn.
• The remaining items were discussed as part of the work session; no formal votes were taken, but they are scheduled for public hearings or future action.