OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Harrisonburg City Council Meeting – August 12, 2025

City Council & Planning Commission — Tuesday, August 12, 2025
BodyHarrisonburg, Virginia
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateTuesday, August 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:09:17

Transcript — Verbatim
2:07

Yes, ma'am.

2:12

I'll call our Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 City Council meeting to order.

2:18

Roll call, please Pam.

2:19

Mayor Reid.

2:20

Present.

2:21

City Manager Banks.

2:22

Here.

2:22

City Attorney Brown.

2:23

Here.

2:23

Vice Mayor Fleming.

2:25

Here.

2:25

Councilmember Al Sadude?

2:26

Here.

2:27

Councilmember Dent.

2:28

Here.

2:28

Councilmember Robinson.

2:29

Here.

2:30

Chief Tobia.

2:31

Here.

2:31

And Interim Chief Pollard.

2:33

Here.

2:34

Okay, I would ask for Chief Tobia to come up front and give us the outline maximum of occupancy and logistics for this evening.

2:43

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

2:45

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

2:46

Those who are in the overflow area this evening, welcome.

2:50

My name is Matthew Toby.

2:51

I'm the city fire chief and the fire official.

2:54

To manage uh the safety of everyone tonight, um we're going to ask for some very simple rules to be followed.

3:01

Um we are at capacity in this room.

3:04

Uh and so if somebody leaves, uh somebody else may be admitted to replace that seat.

3:11

So um just be aware there's restrooms in the back of the uh seating area and in the lobby.

3:16

For those who are in the overflow area, there's also restrooms available.

3:21

When the time comes for public comment, anyone who wants to be heard, uh, we will start in this chamber completely.

3:31

We'll work from the front to the back.

3:34

Uh and once everyone in this room has had an opportunity to speak.

3:38

Uh if you choose to remain, uh that's fine.

3:41

If you choose to leave, you are welcome to do so.

3:44

Uh for those who are in the lobby area or who are staged outside, uh, they will form a line.

3:51

Uh there will be permitted a single file line all the way from the exit door to the podium.

3:59

When an individual is done speaking who is in that line, they will need to turn and go back outside so that we do not exceed capacity.

4:08

You're not allowing anyone to stand along the aisles on the walls or stand in the back.

4:15

Um it is going to be a little bit warm this evening.

4:18

Uh if anyone has a medical issue of any kind, just raise your hand and we'll provide you support.

4:24

Uh for anybody who's in the lobby area, uh, all individuals in the lobby area who want to be able to speak will be allowed to do so.

4:33

Uh they will need to cue in line outside the door, uh, to the council chambers, uh, and they will be admitted after everyone who wants to speak in this room has had an opportunity to do so.

4:48

Is that a mayor?

4:48

Any questions for me?

4:50

That is it.

4:51

Thank you.

4:52

Thank you.

4:55

We will proceed and then we'll go back over those rules again when it's time for the public hearing.

5:01

Um I do ask that there's a lot of folks in here, and so we're gonna we're gonna keep moving through uh the agenda, but I do ask that there's a limited amount of chatter so that everybody can be heard and that we can hear people as well.

5:21

So please respect our procedures in City Hall.

5:29

Thank you.

5:30

All right, we will now um stand if you wish for a moment of silence or private prayer and remain standing for the budget allegiance.

6:05

Thank you.

6:07

I pledge us to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for Richard Stands.

6:16

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

6:27

We do have a special recognition this evening.

6:31

Um so I would like to call up Mark Finks, and if you want to bring anybody else with you, that is fine.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use███████████████████████████████████35%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Affordable Housing███████████11%
Historic Preservation██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Zoning█████5%
Parking Policy████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Urban Renewal████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Harrisonburg City Council Meeting – August 12, 2025

The Harrisonburg City Council met on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, with a full chamber and overflow area. The meeting included a special recognition, approval of a consent agenda, two public hearings on rezoning requests, and a board appointment. The most contested item was a request to rezone 10 parcels (The Link Apartments) from R-3 to B-1C, which drew extensive public comment and was ultimately tabled to the September 23, 2025 meeting with a directive for staff-facilitated engagement.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes from the July 22, 2025 City Council meeting approved.
  • Amendment to the Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Ordinance approved on second reading.
  • Special Event Applications approved for:
    • Eastern Mennonite University’s Royals Go Downtown (September 25, 2025, 5-8 PM)
    • Harrisonburg Half Marathon (October 4, 2025)
    • EMU Homecoming & Family Weekend (October 11, 2025)
  • Appointment of Maria Blair to the Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

On 320 South Main Street Rezoning

  • Marshall Price (applicant) stated the rezoning is to comply with parking regulations; he intends to continue business as usual.
  • Angela McClemary (241 Paul Street) asked about monitoring of the 100-vehicle trip threshold; staff explained the trigger for traffic impact analyses.
  • No other public comment was offered.

On The Link Apartments Rezoning (6.b.)

Over 60 speakers addressed the Council. Positions were divided:

In Support (approximately 18 speakers):

  • Isaac (Rockingham Drive), Weston Marcus (Blue Ridge Drive), Mike (downtown business owner), Keith May (listing broker) – stated he collected 102 signatures from business owners/employees in favor.
  • Sarah Baker McKeverly (bakery owner), Luciano Benjamin (217 S Liberty Street), Jay Langston (Shenandoah Valley Partnership), Peter Demby (Innovation Hub), Brad Cohen (Newman Avenue), Don Townsend (Sunset Heights), Erin Bishop (Build Our Park board), Felix Jost (Summit Avenue), W. Smallwood, and others.
  • Supporters emphasized the need for dense, walkable housing downtown, increased tax revenue (~$600,000/year), alignment with the 2040 Downtown Plan, reduced traffic from suburban development, and the project’s potential to support local businesses and provide housing for young professionals.

In Opposition (approximately 35 speakers):

  • Theresa Cubisack (91½ Franklin), Wayne Brown, Mike Baxter (515 S Mason), Cindy Furgeson, Kathy Moran, Marsha McGrath, Nancy Steller (487 Preston Drive), Frank Steller, Erin Garber (221 Paul Street), Stephanie Cook (221 Paul Street), Elizabeth Swallow (Fairview), Jeff Roy (519 Paul Street), Amy Roy (519 Paul Street), Loma Nichols (180 Diamond Court), Kelly Troxell (381 Paul Street), Candy (Old Town resident), Valerie Sulfaro (611 Ott Street), Jack McCaslin (611 Ott Street), Randy Kline (480 Hartman Drive), Karl Larson (S Mason Street), Kathy Whitten (Bridgewater resident), Alan Baker (281 Paul Street), Sierra Lambert, Wayne Wenger, Kathleen Kelly (Maplehurst Avenue), Mary Hoffman (215 Paul Street), Lindsay Denny (641 Ott Street), Sally Campbell, Joseph Enedy (Eastover Drive), Sheila Dart (271 S Liberty Street), Phillip Herrington (28 W Rock Street), Stephen Tenneson (507 Paul Street), Diane Gray (Lake Terrace), Kerry Pettit (Garbers Church Road), Joe Whitehill (Franklin Street), Angela McClemary (241 Paul Street), John Mansfield (Mason Street), and others.
  • Opponents cited concerns over building scale (six stories), aesthetics, loss of historic character, traffic impacts, parking overflow into neighborhoods, stormwater runoff, student-oriented design, lack of true mixed-use (only 2,000 sq ft commercial), long-term viability, and the project being out of scale with the downtown gateway.

Neutral/Requesting Further Study (approximately 7 speakers):

  • Emily Huffman (834 Vine Street) supported density but urged careful planning.
  • Bill Call suggested an AI video to visualize the project.
  • Matt Winters (pastor, Harrisonburg Baptist Church) voiced parking concerns from the Paul Street extension.
  • Haley (Farmers Market manager) worried about parking and construction noise.
  • Rob Alexander (977 S Dogwood) encouraged risk-taking while preserving short-term character.
  • Brian Robins (486 W. Market Street) criticized the architecture.
  • Kaitlen Townsend (302 S Dogwood Drive) had questions about unit mix and height before approval.
  • Panayotis “Poti” Giannakouros urged civic participation.

Discussion Items

6.a. Rezone 320 South Main Street (B-2 to B-1C)

  • Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, presented the request for the 11,000 sq ft property at 320 S Main Street (Elm Office Complex). He explained parking non-conformities, the need for rezoning to allow flexibility, and three proffers (no drive-through, no parking between building and street, traffic cap at 100 vehicle trips per peak hour). Staff and Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval.
  • Council discussion focused on safety of the existing parking layout and the voluntary removal of two parking spaces. No public opposition was voiced.
  • Vote: Unanimous approval (5-0).

6.b. Rezone The Link Apartments (R-3 to B-1C)

  • Adam Fletcher and Todd Rhea (applicant’s attorney) presented. The project includes 265 units (max), 400 structured parking spaces, 2,000 sq ft minimum commercial, Paul Street extension, and other proffers. Traffic Impact Analysis showed minimal impact; three intersection movements were already failing. Staff and Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval, though one commissioner later expressed regret.
  • Council members raised questions about resident demographics, student concentration, long-term property use, traffic mitigation (Paul Street extension), and housing affordability. Vice Mayor Fleming proposed tabling the item to allow a facilitated community engagement process.
  • Public hearing ran from 8:50 PM to 11:56 PM, with a short recess. After hearing all comments, Council discussed the motion to table.
  • Vote: Unanimous (5-0) to table the rezoning until the September 23, 2025 City Council meeting and direct staff to facilitate engagement between the developer and residents.

Boards and Commissions Appointment

  • Council approved the appointment of Maria Blair to the Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) prior to the public hearings.

Key Outcomes

  • 320 South Main Street Rezoning: Approved (5-0) with proffers.
  • The Link Apartments Rezoning: Tabled to September 23, 2025 (5-0). Staff to lead a facilitated community engagement process.
  • Consent Agenda: Approved including three special events and the stormwater ordinance amendment.
  • Board Appointment: Maria Blair appointed to CPMT (5-0).
  • Next Steps: The Link matter will return on September 23; potential changes may require additional Planning Commission review.

Other Matters

  • One public comment from Bucky Berry addressed Harrisonburg Police Department staffing and take-home vehicle use.
  • Council Member Alsaadun reported on National Night Out and an EMU liaison committee meeting.
  • Council Member Dent shared experiences from the Resilient Virginia Conference and a leadership program on climate and national security.
  • Vice Mayor Fleming noted a Healthy Community Collaborative meeting highlighting service provider challenges.

The meeting recessed at 11:56 PM and reconvened at 12:01 AM, adjourning at 12:15 AM.

Meeting Transcript

Yes, ma'am. I'll call our Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 City Council meeting to order. Roll call, please Pam. Mayor Reid. Present. City Manager Banks. Here. City Attorney Brown. Here. Vice Mayor Fleming. Here. Councilmember Al Sadude? Here. Councilmember Dent. Here. Councilmember Robinson. Here. Chief Tobia. Here. And Interim Chief Pollard. Here. Okay, I would ask for Chief Tobia to come up front and give us the outline maximum of occupancy and logistics for this evening. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Those who are in the overflow area this evening, welcome. My name is Matthew Toby. I'm the city fire chief and the fire official. To manage uh the safety of everyone tonight, um we're going to ask for some very simple rules to be followed. Um we are at capacity in this room. Uh and so if somebody leaves, uh somebody else may be admitted to replace that seat. So um just be aware there's restrooms in the back of the uh seating area and in the lobby. For those who are in the overflow area, there's also restrooms available. When the time comes for public comment, anyone who wants to be heard, uh, we will start in this chamber completely. We'll work from the front to the back. Uh and once everyone in this room has had an opportunity to speak. Uh if you choose to remain, uh that's fine. If you choose to leave, you are welcome to do so. Uh for those who are in the lobby area or who are staged outside, uh, they will form a line. Uh there will be permitted a single file line all the way from the exit door to the podium. When an individual is done speaking who is in that line, they will need to turn and go back outside so that we do not exceed capacity. You're not allowing anyone to stand along the aisles on the walls or stand in the back. Um it is going to be a little bit warm this evening. Uh if anyone has a medical issue of any kind, just raise your hand and we'll provide you support. Uh for anybody who's in the lobby area, uh, all individuals in the lobby area who want to be able to speak will be allowed to do so. Uh they will need to cue in line outside the door, uh, to the council chambers, uh, and they will be admitted after everyone who wants to speak in this room has had an opportunity to do so. Is that a mayor? Any questions for me? That is it. Thank you. Thank you.

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