Harrisonburg City Council Meeting – September 8, 2026

The City Council met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included six public hearings, several regular agenda items, and discussions on passenger rail, utility merger participation, and an automatic license plate reader (ALPR) ordinance. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the August 25, 2026 City Council meeting were approved by a 5–0 roll call vote.

Public Hearings

• 6a: PY2025 CDBG CAPER – Kristin McCombe, CDBG program manager, presented the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report. No public comments were received. The public hearing was closed with no action required.
• 6b: Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rental at 387 Monticello Avenue – Adam Fletcher, director of Community Development, presented the request for a short-term rental in an accessory building. Staff and Planning Commission (6–0) recommended approval. No public comments. Council approved the permit with conditions by a 5–0 vote. Discussion addressed future accessory dwelling unit (ADU) state code changes.
• 6c: Special Use Permit for Recreational/Leisure Use at 291 W. Wolfe Street and 336 W. Market Street – The applicant, VG Harrisonburg Storage LLC, proposed indoor recreation (rock climbing, pickleball, and other activities) in a former industrial building. Staff and Planning Commission (6–0) recommended approval with amended conditions. Public speakers:
  • Mary Boitnott (55 N. Brook Ave.) expressed concerns about parking, traffic, and outdated street signage.
  • Benjamin Ho (applicant representative) stated they anticipate one tenant with one specific activity.
  • Amanda Presgraves (260 W. Wolfe St.) spoke in favor, noting excitement for neighborhood activation and requested traffic calming.
  • Neil Detwiler and Kristin Grimshaw (potential climbing gym operators) described plans for a climbing wall and futsal courts, emphasizing family-friendly recreation. Council approved the permit with staff’s recommended conditions (including a traffic impact analysis trigger for uses generating over 100 vehicle trips in peak hours) by a 5–0 vote.
• 6d: Comprehensive Plan Amendment – Northeast Neighborhood Small Area Plan – Nirma Soffle, planner, presented the plan (the city’s first small area plan) developed through the Community Connectors Program grant to address harms from 1950s/60s urban renewal. Staff and Planning Commission (6–0) recommended approval. Public comment:
  • Panayotis “Poti” Giannakouros expressed caution about Strategy 8.5, arguing that code enforcement can be a technique for displacing residents. Council approved the amendment by a 5–0 vote.
• 6e: Zoning Ordinance Amendment – “Poultry Hatchery” Definition – Adam Fletcher presented an amendment to add a definition for poultry hatcheries as a permitted-by-right use in M-1 zoning, clarifying long-standing interpretation. Three existing hatcheries (George’s and Cargill) are in M-1. No public comments. Council approved by a 5–0 vote.
• 6f: Supplemental Appropriation – $22.1 Million – Larry Propst, finance director, presented the annual supplemental request: $12 million for encumbrances, $8.8 million for unexpended grants, and $1.2 million new grant from Virginia Housing Development Authority for a housing workforce investment program. No public comments. Council approved by a 5–0 vote.

Regular Items

• 7a: Variance from Subdivision Ordinance at 704 N. Liberty Street – Adam Fletcher presented a request to waive sidewalk construction along North Liberty Street. Staff recommended denial; Planning Commission voted 4–2 to recommend approval. Council discussed the ordinance’s requirements and the implications of granting variances for market-rate housing. A motion to deny the variance carried 4–1 (Council Member Dent dissenting).
• 7b: Personal Property Tax Relief Resolution for Tax Year 2026 – City Attorney Chris Brown presented the resolution setting the tax relief percentage at 18.2%, based on $1,522,583 from the Commonwealth. Council adopted the resolution unanimously (5–0).
• 7c: Mosaic Design for Sprayground Pumphouse at Ralph Sampson Park – Amy Snider, deputy city manager, and donor Steve Carpenter presented the proposed mosaic design by Scott Supraner, funded by $100,000 in private donations. The design depicts a historic diver from Harris Pool, reflecting community input after four iterations. Council approved the design unanimously (5–0).
• 7d: Tow Company Policies and Fee Schedule – This item was tabled to the September 22, 2026 meeting by unanimous consent.
• 7e: Discussion Concerning Passenger Rail – KC Kettler, representing Blue Ridge Rail, presented a proposal for passenger rail service to Harrisonburg. He noted 680 public comments already submitted (exceeding the 500 goal) and a September 30 deadline for inclusion in the state rail plan. Discussion emphasized benefits for college students, seniors, and tourism, and compatibility with the Shenandoah Rail Trail. Council directed staff to draft a formal letter or resolution of support requesting Harrisonburg be added as a future destination in the 2026 DRPT rail plan. Motion carried unanimously.
• 7f: City Participation in SCC Proceedings – Dominion Energy/NextEra Energy Merger – Council Member Dent explained the merger would create the largest regulated public utility in the U.S. The State Corporation Commission hearings begin in November, with a September 11 deadline to file participation. Filing does not imply a pro/con position but allows the city to stay informed and express interests based on adopted climate goals. Council directed the city attorney to file a petition to participate. Motion carried unanimously.
• 7g: Drafting an ALPR Ordinance – Council Member Alsaadun requested an ordinance prohibiting the city’s procurement, installation, maintenance, and operation of automatic license plate readers, following the termination of the Flock contract. City Attorney Brown noted an ordinance does not require a public hearing but must appear on an agenda for two readings. Council directed staff to draft an ordinance for consideration at the September 22, 2026 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Other Matters – Public Comments

• Panayotis “Poti” Giannakouros spoke about code enforcement, alleging that city code enforcement “terrorizes” residents and uses surveillance-like tactics to pressure property owners.

Council and Staff Reports

• Council Member Alsaadun noted Senator Warner’s Labor Day visit.
• Council Member Dent urged public comment on the proposed federal rescission of the Roadless Rule (deadline September 21), announced the Sustainability Success Summit (September 18), and her attendance at NY Climate Week.
• Council Member Robinson reported on Kids Castle ribbon cutting, the Community Criminal Justice Board conference, and an upcoming Shenandoah Black Heritage Project event (September 19).
• Vice Mayor Fleming noted an upcoming Virginia Municipal League legislative committee meeting.
• Mayor Reed reported on Kids Castle, JMU Block Party, and upcoming African American Festival (September 12) and Pride Festival (September 20).
• City Manager Ande Banks noted September 11 is the 25th anniversary; a stair climb event will honor first responders.

Key Outcomes

• Approved (all 5–0): Consent agenda minutes; special use permits for 387 Monticello Ave and 291 W. Wolfe St/336 W. Market St; comprehensive plan amendment for Northeast Neighborhood Small Area Plan; zoning ordinance amendment for poultry hatchery; supplemental appropriation of $22.1 million; personal property tax relief resolution at 18.2%; mosaic design for sprayground pumphouse.
• Denied (4–1): Subdivision variance at 704 N. Liberty Street.
• Tabled: Tow company policies and fee schedule to September 22, 2026.
• Directives issued: Draft letter/resolution supporting passenger rail; file petition to participate in SCC Dominion/NextEra merger proceedings; draft ALPR ordinance for September 22, 2026 meeting.