Harrisonburg City Council Meeting - May 13, 2025

The Harrisonburg City Council met on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, with Mayor Deanna R. Reed presiding and all five council members present. The meeting included a Police Week proclamation, a consent agenda, four public hearings, regular reports, two supplemental appropriations, public comments, and a closed session. The meeting adjourned at 11:28 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 5-0, by roll call vote, the minutes of the April 22, 2025 City Council meeting.
• Approved the special event application for Priscilla May-Maiden’s Wedding Reception on Sunday, June 8, 2025.
• Approved the special event application for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance’s Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series on Wednesday evenings from June 25-September 10, 2025, including a Saturday date on July 5, 2025.
• Approved the special event application for the Valley 4th Run on Friday, July 4, 2025.

Public Hearings

6.a Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Accessory Building Setbacks on Through Lots

Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, presented a request from Miranda Ebersold to amend the Zoning Ordinance to reduce the minimum setback of accessory buildings on through lots in the UR, Urban Residential District. The applicant requested a five-foot setback from the public street right-of-way; staff and the Planning Commission (5-0) recommended a ten-foot setback instead, citing utility locations, future street widening, sight lines, and consistency with other districts. The amendment would affect about 49 parcels; 26 already have accessory buildings within ten feet and 22 within five feet of the rear property line.

Quinton Callahan, representing the applicant, supported the five-foot setback, arguing that more existing structures would come into conformity, that ten feet can encourage parking of vehicles, trailers, and campers between the accessory building and the street, and that five feet better serves sight lines and usable yard space. Council Member Dent supported the ten-foot staff recommendation as a safety measure; Council Members Robinson and Alsaadun expressed support for five feet, with Alsaadun saying the applicant’s immediate need and existing neighborhood conditions justified it.

A motion to approve the staff-recommended ten-foot setback failed 2-3 (Fleming and Dent yes; Reed, Alsaadun, and Robinson no). A subsequent motion to approve the applicant’s five-foot setback carried 5-0.

6.b Special Use Permit – 1812 Erickson Avenue

Mr. Fletcher presented a request from KP’S CARS LLC for a special use permit in the B-2 General Business District to allow multiple-family dwellings and/or mixed-use buildings at 1812 Erickson Avenue. The proposed development plan includes two 20-unit buildings for a total of 40 units, 20 parking spaces, one-bedroom units, a pedestrian connection to Erickson Avenue, and a requested 12-month extension for a total of 48 months to begin construction. Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval with an additional condition requiring a sidewalk or shared-use path from Erickson Avenue toward the Walmart property; the applicant requested that condition be removed.

Frank Gordon, applicant, said the project is planned as permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals, described the need for low-barrier housing with wraparound services, noted the Community Services Board waiting list, and explained that the project’s financing margins are extremely tight. He said he was negotiating with Walmart about completing the path and asked Council to omit the sidewalk condition. Amber Robinson, permanent supportive housing supervisor for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board, expressed full support for the project, cited the urgent need, and noted that of 40 individuals currently served, only three own vehicles. She said the 20-space parking plan reflects actual tenant needs.

Council members praised the project as meeting a need for the city’s most vulnerable residents. The motion to approve the special use permit omitted staff condition 6 and included the additional 12 months for a total of 48 months to begin construction; it carried 5-0.

6.c Rezoning – 380 Sunrise Avenue

Mr. Fletcher presented a request from Jason Burch to rezone two parcels at 380 Sunrise Avenue, approximately 13,300 square feet, from R-1 to R-8C conditional. The rezoning would bring the property closer to conformance with setback requirements for a planned home addition; a proffer prohibits more than one dwelling on the property. Staff and the Planning Commission (5-0) recommended approval. No one spoke at the public hearing. The rezoning request was approved 5-0.

6.d Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Public Hearing

City Manager Ande Banks said the FY 2025-2026 budget was presented on April 8, 2025, and noted one requested amendment: because of increased Rockingham County landfill fees, the proposed sanitation fee reduction would be decreased from $3.00 to $2.00, with the extra $1.00 covering the fee increase. The additional cost to the city was estimated at about $170,000.

Public speakers:

• Nadia Dames, a Rockingham County resident, urged the city to establish a Housing Trust Fund, citing the 2021 City Council resolution and the number of existing housing trust funds nationally and statewide.
• Sam Nichols, 340 Maryland Avenue, also urged a Housing Trust Fund, recommended adding housing as a budget category and hiring someone to bring in outside funds rather than a technical advisor, and said housing trust funds typically leverage $5-$7 for every $1 invested.
• Panayotis Giannakouros spoke about the proposed 4% pay increase for city staff compared to a 3% raise for school staff, funding for aesthetic nuisance enforcement, and housing insecurity.

Council discussed uncertainties in federal funding, including school nutrition funding and public transportation funding; the need for conversations with JMU if transportation funds are cut; the city’s healthy contingency fund; the decision not to raise real estate taxes in FY 2025-2026; previous use of $2 million in ARPA funds toward housing; the structure needed for a Housing Trust Fund; and decreases in court-appointed attorney costs (44%) and Middle River Jail costs (about 30-31%, or $1.85 million) after the city’s final buy-in payment. No vote was taken on the budget at this hearing.

Regular Items

7.a Planning Commission Annual Report 2024

Adam Fletcher presented the Planning Commission’s annual activity report for 2024 and a 2015-2024 comparison. Council accepted the report by unanimous voice vote.

7.b Weldon Cooper Population and School Enrollment Projections

Zach Jackson, researcher with the Weldon Cooper Center’s Demographics Research Group, presented population, housing, and K-12 enrollment projections, joined virtually by Quin Cai and Sol Baik. Key data included: annual city population growth has slowed to about 0.5%, with population approaching 60,000 by 2030; K-12 enrollment grew 41% from 2010 to 2024, compared with 3% statewide; 60% fewer residential units were built in the 2010s than in the previous decade; older housing, built before 2010, accommodated a larger share of enrollment growth; a housing scenario of 1,332 units was modeled; and student generation rates ranged from 42 K-12 students per 100 single-family homes to 83 per 100 mobile homes, with 75 per 100 townhouses built in the 1980s. The standard projection showed enrollment growing by 4% (262 students) over 10 years, peaking at 6,839 students in 2028, while housing development alone was not expected to maintain enrollment without continued migration and births. Council discussed the reliability of student records versus census data, the role of international migration, and implications for school planning. The presentation was received and filed.

Supplementals

• Approved 5-0 a supplemental appropriation of $1,950,000 for the General Capital Projects Fund for Station 5 ($530,000), the Sprayground at Samson Park ($400,000), the University Boulevard project, and the Public Safety Building roof replacement ($300,000), funded by interest earnings, speed camera funds, and ECC fund balance.
• Approved 5-0 a supplemental appropriation of $235,740 for various grant funds awarded to departments, including $15,000 for the Smart Growth Community Connectors Project, and police and fire grant funds.

Public Comments & Testimony

James Sheets, 265 North Main Street, spoke about difficulties using Harrisonburg Public Transit in his wheelchair, including drivers not properly securing his wheelchair, stops located in grass and inaccessible curbs, a driver closing the door on his arm, unanswered complaints to city staff, a trespass notice after he was told not to ride, and needing a FOIA request to obtain a driver’s name. He asked for help and provided contact information.

Quinton Callahan spoke as a partner in the Northside Village Project at Mount Clinton Pike and North 11, saying 58 townhomes are planned, six units under construction are already under contract, all are intended to be owner-occupied, and local contractors are being used. He thanked staff for the process.

Council and Staff Updates

Vice Mayor Fleming reported on the Southern Cities Economic Initiative planning grant, the Safe Routes to School event, a Virginia Municipal League legislative update, the Virginia First Cities meeting, his election as Vice Chair, and warnings about federal workforce cuts in Virginia. Council Member Robinson thanked public works staff member Andrea Troyer, highlighted the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, and announced the Resilient Amid Resistance marker dedication on May 17, 2025. Council Member Dent reported on an energy summit, a meeting with Congressman Ben Cline, and a National League of Cities letter concerning the Inflation Reduction Act. Council Member Alsaadun reported on a meeting with Valley Early Education Reimagined (VEER) about child care needs. Mayor Reed noted Eastern Mennonite University’s commencement.

Closed Session and Adjournment

At 10:48 p.m., Council moved to enter closed session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act for discussion of the disposition of publicly held real property and consultation with legal counsel. The agenda and live transcript listed both Subsection 3 and Subsection 7; the adopted minutes record the motion as citing Subsection 3 only. Council reconvened at 11:27 p.m., unanimously certified that only lawful public business matters were discussed, and adjourned at 11:28 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 5-0.
• Accessory building setback amendment approved 5-0 with a five-foot setback; the ten-foot staff alternative failed 2-3.
• Special use permit for 1812 Erickson Avenue approved 5-0 without staff condition 6 and with 48 months to begin construction.
• Rezoning of 380 Sunrise Avenue approved 5-0.
• FY 2025-2026 budget public hearing held; no adoption vote was taken, with a proposed sanitation fee reduction adjusted from $3.00 to $2.00.
• Planning Commission Annual Report accepted.
• Weldon Cooper report received and filed.
• Both supplemental appropriations approved 5-0.
• Closed session certified and meeting adjourned at 11:28 p.m.