Blacksburg Town Council Work Session – April 17, 2026

Note: The agenda and minutes for this meeting are dated April 21, 2026, but the instruction specifies the meeting date as April 17, 2026. This summary follows that instruction and notes the discrepancy.

The Town Council of Blacksburg, Virginia, convened a work session at the Blacksburg Motor Company, 400 S. Main St. Present were Mayor Michael Sutphin, Vice Mayor Susan Anderson, Councilmembers Darryl Campbell, Lauren Colliver, Joel Goodhart, and Andrew Kassoff, along with Town Manager Marc Verniel and Town Attorney Lawrence S. Spencer. Councilmember Jerry Ford Jr. was absent, as was Town Clerk Lorraine Spaulding. The meeting ran from approximately 11:00 a.m. to 11:33 a.m.

Review of Public Hearings Scheduled for May 12, 2026

a. EXP 26-1: Special Exception Request for parking at 1315 Rugby Lane. Senior Planner Caroline Collins presented the request, which would allow 17 front parking spaces for a proposed 93-room hotel at 1315 Rugby Lane. The unusual shape of the lot constrains parking options, with the building oriented toward Rugby Lane and most parking placed behind it while preserving existing vegetation. Staff found no safety concerns and recommended approval with conditions, including landscaping requirements and limiting front parking to the proposed 17 spaces.

b. Ordinance 2085: Amendments to the Special Flood Hazard Area Overlay District Regulations. Engineering Director Carolyn Howard outlined major revisions. Key changes include: clarifying that recreational vehicles may be located within Special Flood Hazard Areas for up to 180 days; requiring the lowest floor to be at least 1.5 feet above the base flood elevation; introducing a standard prohibiting any increase in floodwater velocity (while allowing increases in elevation and velocity only within the subject property); limiting these provisions to local streams over 100 acres; removing the exemption for the General Commercial zoning district; and exempting contributing structures.

Follow-Up Discussion of FY2027 Operating Budget

Town Manager Marc Verniel opened discussion on the FY2027 budget, noting that the next agenda packet will include updated funding decisions and salary adjustments. Council discussed the budget and agreed to schedule a Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation (BMCF) work session after July 1, 2026, to review its programming, outreach, and capital project updates.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken during the work session.
• Council agreed to schedule a follow-up work session with the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation after July 1, 2026.
• The two public hearing items (EXP 26-1 and Ordinance 2085) are scheduled for formal public hearing and possible action on May 12, 2026.
• An updated FY2027 budget packet with funding decisions and salary adjustments is expected in the next agenda packet.