Blacksburg Town Council Work Session - November 25, 2025

Note: The provided agenda and minutes are dated December 2, 2025, but the user specified the meeting occurred on November 25, 2025. This summary uses the specified date and reflects the content of the agenda and minutes.

The Blacksburg Town Council held a work session on November 25, 2025, at the Blacksburg Motor Company, 400 South Main Street. Prior to the meeting, Town Manager Marc Verniel briefed the Council on a recent fire at the Foxridge Apartment Complex, which displaced residents; Virginia Tech Student Affairs arranged hotel accommodations, and a structural engineer will assess damage. The meeting covered follow-up on public hearing items, a strategic goals update, a capital improvement program briefing, and a closed session for real property acquisition.

Discussion Items

• Follow-Up on Public Hearing Items: Planning & Building Director Andrew Warren discussed Ordinance 2090 with staff updates. Assistant Planning & Building Director Kinsey O’Shea provided a development overview, and Engineering Director Carolyn Howard reported recent bike and pedestrian volumes, noting a plan to widen the sidewalk over a creek. Town Attorney Lawrence Spencer added that the applicants’ proffer is under review.
• Strategic Goals Update: Deputy Town Manager Matt Hanratty outlined the Town Council Strategic Goals work plan, focusing on enhancing recreation amenities, supporting downtown development, historic preservation, prioritizing transportation projects that move people not just cars, strengthening community wellbeing, expanding affordable and middle-income housing options, and improving clear, timely communication with residents. He reviewed key projects within each category.
• Capital Improvement Program Briefing: Town Manager Marc Verniel summarized the FY2027–FY2031 Capital Improvement Program, noting rising costs and strong revenue growth. The five-year plan includes about $78 million in General Fund projects covering upgrades to parks and trails, downtown improvements (parking deck, streetscape, restrooms), pedestrian and bicycle safety projects, Public Works renovations, and public safety investments such as new mobile radios and updates to St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall.

Key Outcomes

• The Council received a briefing on the Foxridge fire response and ongoing assistance to displaced residents.
• The Council discussed updates on Ordinance 2090 and related proffer review.
• The Council reviewed the Strategic Goals work plan, with no formal vote taken.
• The Council was briefed on the FY2027–FY2031 Capital Improvement Program.
• The Council adjourned to a Closed Meeting at 12:36 p.m. under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(3) to discuss the potential acquisition of a parcel in South Blacksburg for a public purpose.
• The Council reconvened at 12:52 p.m. and adopted Resolution 12-A-25, certifying the propriety of the closed meeting. The motion passed on a roll call vote: Anderson, Ford, Mattingly, Sutphin, and Watson voted yes; none voted no. Mayor Hager-Smith and Councilmember Colliver were absent.