Harrisonburg Planning Commission Meeting - December 10, 2025
Harrisonburg Planning Commission Meeting - December 10, 2025
The Harrisonburg Planning Commission met on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers. Six members were present (Commissioner Alsindi absent). The commission approved the previous meeting's minutes, conducted four public hearings on rezoning and zoning ordinance amendments, and received reports and updates. All four items were recommended for approval to City Council by unanimous 6-0 votes, with City Council consideration anticipated on January 13, 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (November 13, 2025): Approved by voice vote (6-0) with no corrections.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were received during the public comment period.
Discussion Items
4.a. Rezoning – 797 Chicago Avenue (Turkey Properties LLC)
- Staff recommended approval of a rezoning from R-5C and B-2C to R-5C and B-2, including proffer amendments, to accommodate a 57-unit apartment complex (Sunshine Apartments) and provide additional parking for La Morena restaurant. The proposal includes a boundary line adjustment to transfer approximately 3,235 square feet to the La Morena property to address a parking violation. The applicant, Gil Colman, stated the owner wants two parking spaces per unit plus visitor parking to avoid neighborhood parking spillover. Staff had recommended reducing parking in favor of open space, but the applicant insisted on sufficient parking. The motion to recommend approval passed 6-0.
4.b. Split Zone Rezoning – 1110 N Liberty Street (Valley Corner LLC)
- Staff recommended approval to rezone a +/-0.59-acre parcel from M-1 to R-3C (on a 0.38-acre portion for a duplex) and M-1C (on the remaining 0.21-acre portion for a coffee roasting facility, Broad Porch Coffee). Proffers include closing the North Liberty Street entrance, widening the Charles Street entrance, and dedicating sidewalk easements. Commissioners discussed the need for housing and workforce housing, with Vice Chair Porter noting the area's evolving character. The motion passed 6-0.
4.c. Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Reduced Side Yard Setbacks in R-8 District (AM Yoder & Co)
- The amendment modifies Section 10-3-59.4(11) to allow fire-rated, inoperable windows (openings) on the first floor of buildings with reduced side yard setbacks via special use permit, provided the bottom of the opening is no more than 10 feet above finished grade. The Fire Department supports the change, as openings above 10 feet create safety challenges for emergency responders. Staff recommended approval, and the motion passed 6-0.
4.d. Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Meat Processing and Storage by Special Use Permit in M-1 (Honest Meats LLC)
- The amendment adds a definition for “Meat processing and storage facility” and allows such facilities by special use permit in the M-1 district. It also clarifies that poultry processing is permitted by right under existing code. The applicant, Todd Rhea, noted that this would allow T&E Meats (a nearly 100-year-old business) to become conforming. The processing facility currently operates as a nonconforming slaughterhouse. Representative Rhea stated that Rockingham County produces 20% of Virginia's annual agricultural output, and the change is analogous to other jurisdictions. The Virginia Poultry Federation expressed support. The motion passed 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- All four public hearing items were recommended for approval to City Council on January 13, 2026, each with a recorded roll call vote of 6-0.
- Other Matters: The commission received the Rockingham County Planning Commission liaison report (Commissioner Kettler), a City Council report (Councilmember Dent), and a review of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) with a request for comments by January 2, 2026. A scam alert was issued regarding fraudulent emails impersonating city staff. The January 2026 agenda preview includes three items: a special use permit at 380 Sunrise Avenue, a special use permit at 660 Walnut Lane, and a rezoning at 2580 South Main Street.
Meeting Transcript
All right. I will open the December 10, 2025 meeting of the Harrisonburg Planning Commission. First order of business determination of a quorum. All members are present except for Commissioner Al Cindy, so we have six members present and therefore have a quorum. Next item of business is review and approval of the minutes of our November 13th meeting. I move to accept the minutes as presented. Second. All right. Moved by Vice Chair Order, seconded by Commissioner Kettler. Any discussion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed no. All right, you approve the minutes as presented. So moving on to new business. Item 4A, request from Turkey Properties LLC to rezone 797 Chicago Avenue. All right, good evening, you guys. My name is Meg Repkey, and I am a planner for the Department of Community Development. As mentioned tonight, our first project our first request is for an applicant requesting to requesting a rezoning and a proffer amendment for 797 Chicago Avenue. Here is a zoning map of the site. The existing site is R5C, B2C, and B2. And then requesting a proffer amendment to the R5C and rezoning the portions of the B2C to R5C and B2. Here is a land use guide of the map or the land use map of the area. And then here is an aerial of the site. A little bit of history on this site. This site has had rezonings that occurred both in 1995 and 2022 that are relevant for our conversation that currently regulate different portions of this property. The first rezoning occurred in May 1995 that rezoned multiple parcels from M from M1 to B2C. And then the second rezoning that occurred in April 2022 was a rezoning that rezoned a large portion of the parcel to from B2 and B2C to R5C for the project that is now known as Sunshine Apartments, which is currently under site plan review today. Sunshine Apartments is a planned is planned to contain two three-story multi-family dwellings with a total of 57 units. Also resulted in an increase of park, an increase of required parking that cannot be accommodated on the site today. A portion of the site that is being requested to be rezoned to B2 with no proffers is that is on 797 Chicago Avenue. And then here is an image of the site today. A red line copy of the proffers can be found within the staff report. The first proffer that they are amending is proffer number four, where they are adding in some clear of some language to clarify where the location of the fence would be for the neighboring property lines. With the amount of parking the applicant is wanting to provide, the applicant was able unable to find a location that they both that they and the city were able found acceptable to meet that 2022 proper requirement. In conversations with the applicant, staff had recommended the applicant reduce the size and footprint of the buildings and or reduce the number of parking spaces that they are wanting to provide in favor of providing more open space or better playground areas for the residents. However, the applicant would like to have two parking spaces for each of their units as well as additional visitor spacing or visitor parking spaces. There's updating pro updated formatting to proffer seven. Um just kind of cleaning that up a little bit. And then there was a new proffer number eight, where at staff's suggestion that the applicant had proffered number eight to restrict vehicular traffic to third street from the site. Um while the applicant does not plan to use third street today, um there are utilities within that area and that would restrict the development of it today. This we had suggested that they continue to include that proper that they included this proffer as a continuation from the 1995 B2C uh rezoning request. Um the main difference between this and the 1995 request is that the 1995 free zoning proffer required that a gate be installed. This new proffer would not require that they install a gate, but it would be restricted to vehicular access, they would not be able to use it in the future. And then just for your reference, this where the proper eight is referring to the strip of land to third street is circled in red on the screen. The request does not increase the development potential of the site beyond what has been previously approved, except for the increase in parking for La Morena for the La Morena property. Staff does recommend approval of the rezoning request. Thank you very much. Any questions of staff?
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