Harrisonburg Planning Commission Meeting - January 8, 2025: Election of Officers, Zoning Ordinance Amendment, and CIP Introduction
Harrisonburg Planning Commission Meeting - January 8, 2025
The Harrisonburg Planning Commission held a regular meeting on January 8, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included the election of officers for 2025, discussion and a vote on a zoning ordinance amendment concerning nonconforming residential uses, adoption of updated rules of procedure, and the introduction of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY25-26 through FY29-30. The commission also received reports from the Rockingham County Planning Commission and City Council.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from December 11, 2024: Approved unanimously (6-0).
- Election of Officers: Richard Baugh was elected Chair, Brent Finnegan as Vice Chair, and Anastasia Montigney as Secretary. Valerie Washington was appointed as the Board of Zoning Appeals representative.
- Acknowledgement of Ethical Principles in Planning: All commissioners pledged to adhere to the American Planning Association's Ethical Principles in Planning.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the public hearing on the zoning ordinance amendment or during the general public comment period.
Discussion Items
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Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Nonconforming Structures and Uses (Article E): Staff presented a proposed amendment to Sections 10-3-20 and 10-3-21 of the Zoning Ordinance. The amendment would allow certain nonconforming single-family detached dwellings in the B-2 (General Business) and M-1 (General Industrial) districts that had lost their nonconforming status due to an increase in occupancy or conversion to multiple units to continue as nonconforming single-family detached dwellings, provided the total square footage remained unchanged and occupancy was limited to one family or two unrelated individuals. Staff explained that the amendment was developed in response to a previous tabled rezoning request for 895 North Liberty Street and aimed to provide a more flexible solution than a special use permit. Commissioner Alsindi raised a question about the occupancy limit, suggesting that limiting to one family (without the “two unrelated individuals” option) would be more consistent with the Comprehensive Plan's goal to eventually phase out residential uses in industrial zones. Other commissioners and staff discussed the balance between providing flexibility and maintaining strict regulations. Chair Baugh noted that the two-unrelated-individuals language mirrors the most restrictive occupancy in the city (UR district). After debate, the commission voted to recommend approval of the amendment as submitted by staff. The recommendation will go to City Council on February 11, 2025.
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Update to Planning Commission’s Rules and Procedures: Staff presented revised rules that clarify speaker time limits (generally three minutes, at the Chair’s discretion), allow the applicant to speak before and after the public hearing, and formalize the acceptance of written comments. The commission adopted the updated rules unanimously (6-0).
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Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Introduction: Staff introduced the draft CIP project sheets for FY25-26 through FY29-30. The CIP is a five-year planning tool for capital projects costing $50,000 or more. Staff noted the packet includes more projects than in previous years, including school and parks projects. Commissioners were asked to review the projects and submit any comments by January 29, 2025, with the full CIP (including summary tables and financial projections) to be presented in February.
Key Outcomes
- Zoning Ordinance Amendment (Nonconforming Uses): Motion to recommend approval to City Council passed 6-0. The amendment goes to City Council on February 11, 2025.
- Updated Rules of Procedure: Adopted unanimously (6-0). Effective immediately.
- CIP Review: Comments requested by January 29, 2025; full CIP to be presented in February 2025.
- February Meeting Preview: Staff reported that the February 2025 agenda will include two rezoning requests, one applicant-generated zoning ordinance amendment, and an alley closing request.
Reports
- Rockingham County Planning Commission Liaison (Commissioner Washington): Reported on the January 7 meeting, including a tabled rezoning for Silver Lake Welding Services (5-0), an ordinance amendment recommended for denial (5-0), and approval of a Comprehensive Plan amendment regarding development impacts on public facilities and schools.
- Board of Zoning Appeals: No items to report.
- City Council (Councilmember Dent): Noted that City Council had a reorganization meeting; Deanna Reed remains Mayor, Danny Fleming is Vice Mayor. Councilmember Dent continues on the Planning Commission.
Meeting Transcript
Of community development and each year I get to temporarily reside or preside over this meeting until you all select a new uh chairperson. Um so this meeting on January 8th, 2025 of the Planning Commission. Uh we have a quorum with all of the members present. There is a vacancy on the commission. So the next order of business is the election of officers, and the first officer uh you all would appoint is the chairperson. So with that, I will open the floor for nominations for new chair for the Harrisburg Planning Commission. I'd like to nominate Richard Baugh for chair. Second. Are there any other nominations? All right. Well, hearing none, uh, I'd like to ask for a voice vote. So if it all that are in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. If there are any opposed, please say nay. All right. At this time, I would like to turn the meeting over to our new chairperson, Richard Baugh. Thank you. More shuffling. All right. Hello, Mr. Chair. Madam Vice Mayor. Not any more. I guess that's right. That's right. You'll try you keep up that more than I do now. All right. Thank you for the vote of confidence. Uh our next item is to elect a vice chair. So the floor is now open for nominations for vice chair. I nominate Brent Finnegan for vice chair. Second. Any additional nominations. Hearing none, we'll go to voice vote. All in favor of Brent Finnegan as vice chair, say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, no. Congratulations, Mr. Finnegan. All right. And uh just for those of you who who may not know, uh, Board of Zoning Appeals has a little quirky thing to it because it's uh because it's creature of state statute, and so that's it. Most things that we do, we just vote and appoint. But this one, Mr. Russ has paperwork and submits it to the court, so on and so forth. And of course, Mr. Byrd had been our represent representative. So we do need to, and again, other things like liaison where we've sort of spread it around.
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