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Record of Proceedings

Harrisonburg Planning Commission Meeting - October 14, 2026

City Council & Planning Commission — Wednesday, October 14, 2026
BodyHarrisonburg, Virginia
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateWednesday, October 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:55:31

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:00

Microphones are on ready.

0:02

I will call to order the October 14, 2026 meeting the Harrisonburg Planning Commission.

0:09

We definitely have a quorum.

0:11

All of us are here.

0:12

We're especially happy to see Commissioner Alcindy returning to us from his higher education commitments and other world travel.

Speaker 2

0:20

Thank you, sir.

0:21

I'm also happy to be here at 6 p.m.

0:23

instead of 3 a.m.

Speaker 1

0:27

I don't doubt that.

0:29

All right then.

0:30

So uh with that, first item is review of minutes to our September 9 meeting.

Unassigned speaker

0:43

I

Speaker 3

0:44

would like to move to be accept the minutes of submitted.

Speaker 1

0:47

Second.

0:48

All right.

0:49

Moved by Vice Chair Porter, seconded by Commissioner Kettler.

0:53

Discussion.

0:55

All in favor say aye.

0:58

All right.

0:58

Stand approved.

1:00

Well, any uh no?

1:02

Okay.

1:03

All right.

1:03

Stand approved.

1:04

All right, and then the minutes of the September 15 meeting.

Speaker 4

1:08

Move to approve the minutes from that meeting.

Speaker 1

1:11

Second.

1:12

Uh moved by Commissioner Kettler, seconded by Commissioner Jezi or discussion.

1:20

All in favor say aye.

1:22

Aye.

1:23

Aye.

Speaker 4

1:23

Aye.

1:23

Opposed, no.

1:24

All right.

1:25

Minutes stand approved.

Speaker 1

1:27

All right.

1:27

So under new business, we have one item, public hearing matter, item 4A, request to amend zoning ordinance to amend the definition of shopping center and provide parking calculations of shopping centers.

1:40

Ms.

1:40

So far.

Nirmasafle · Speaker 5Inferred

1:41

Good evening.

1:42

I'm Nirmasafle, planner with community development.

Unassigned speaker

1:50

So

Nirmasafle · Speaker 5Inferred

1:51

the proposed zoning ordinance amendment would amend the definition of shopping center in Section 10324 and add shopping centers to Section 10-32517.

2:02

The intent is to codify a long-standing interpretation for applying minimum off-street parking requirements for retail establishments to shopping center developments.

2:12

So the currently there is no specific parking calculation for shopping centers.

2:20

If the uses are known at the time of development, then uh we would use the parking calculations for the individual uses.

2:28

If the uses were not known at the time of development, uh we would apply the retail uh parking calculation.

2:37

Um it applied to shopping centers on of a combined that have a combined square footage of 10,000 square feet or

Unassigned speaker

2:46

more.

Unassigned speaker

2:49

So

Nirmasafle · Speaker 5Inferred

2:49

what the zoning amendment does is it codifies the current practice, uh, which would be then to apply the uh parking calculation to all shopping centers.

3:01

It clarifies the permitted uses at those shopping centers, um, and it provides clarity to property owners, prospective tenants, and developers, and it avoids having to recalculate parking when any of the tenants change and any of the uses change within the shopping center.

3:16

It does not expand the type of developments that we approve as shopping centers, and it does not change parking ratios that we would normally apply to shopping centers.

Unassigned speaker

3:29

So

Nirmasafle · Speaker 5Inferred

3:30

Section 10324 is amended to delete sales or service establishments and instead have mercantile establishments, personal service establishments, restaurant offices, places of assembly for the purpose of entertainment or education, or house of worship.

3:47

Uh the uses would be located on a common parcel, be interconnected, provide common parking for all facilities, and having multiple tenancy of a single or several large common structures.

4:00

They have to have a combined square footage of 10,000 square feet and otherwise present the appearance of what would we commonly know as a shopping center.

4:09

And so then we add shopping centers to the defin to the parking calculations of retail stores sales room and similar mercantile establishments.

4:20

Uh since the parking since the shopping center definition limits it to uh establishments of over 10,000 combined square feet, the parking calculation of one parking space for 250 square feet would apply.

4:38

Staff recommends approval of the zoning ordinance amendment.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Transportation Safety███████████████15%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Zoning████████████12%
Procedural███████████11%
Planning And Zoning██████████10%
Zoning And Land Use██████6%
Legislative Process██████6%
Cannabis Regulation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Harrisonburg Planning Commission Meeting - October 14, 2026

The Harrisonburg Planning Commission met on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The commission unanimously approved two recommendations to City Council: a zoning ordinance amendment clarifying shopping center definitions and parking calculations, and a request for variations from street design standards for The Lindsey development. It also discussed amendments to its bylaws, heard public comments, and received reports from the county and city council.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes from the September 9 and September 15, 2026 meetings were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 4.a (Shopping center amendment): Seth Roderick (Monte Verde Engineering) spoke in support of the change, describing it as a practical and timely improvement.
  • Item 5.a (The Lindsey variations): Laura Camarado, a Paul Street resident, opposed the request, citing existing traffic dangers and a history of personal property damage on Paul Street.
  • General public comment: No other members of the public provided comment.

Discussion Items

  • Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Shopping Centers (4.a): Planner Nirmasafle presented the proposed change, which revises the definition of "shopping center" to specify permitted uses and adds a parking calculation: 1 space per 250 square feet for centers with 10,000 or more square feet of gross floor area. Commissioners discussed concurrent uses (e.g., houses of worship with different peak hours) and the origin of parking ratios; staff noted that the broader zoning rewrite would address deeper issues. The amendment codifies existing practice. Staff recommended approval.
  • Subdivision Variations – The Lindsey (5.a): Planner Meg Repkey detailed the requested modifications: a 24-foot-wide roadway (standard: 34 feet), 12.5-foot curb radii, and access management exceptions for parking garage entrances on South Main and South Liberty Streets, as well as reduced spacing from existing entrances. Tom Hartman (Public Works) explained that the narrower dimensions suit the downtown context and meet VDOT maintenance minimums. Seth Roderick (applicant) confirmed the design aligns with the proffered concept from the rezoning. Commissioners raised concerns about traffic on Paul Street, garage queuing, bike and pedestrian accommodation, and communication with the adjacent church. The request was recommended for approval as presented.
  • Bylaws Amendments (5.b): Staff outlined two proposed amendments: (1) allowing the director of community development to designate the commission secretary, and (2) granting the chair discretion over applicant rebuttal during public hearings. The commission discussed the language and practical implications but took no vote; formal consideration is planned for the November meeting.

Reports

  • Rockingham County Planning Commission Liaison: A commissioner reported on the county's October 6 meeting, which featured a rezoning and two zoning ordinance amendments; all items passed 4-0.
  • City Council Update: A council member summarized recent council actions, including the approval of a battery energy storage system, a landfill solar feasibility study, a solid waste management ordinance, and a resolution on the 2030 census. Council also began discussions on the 2027 legislative agenda and requested planning commission input on cannabis facility zoning.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved (unanimous): Minutes from September 9 and September 15, 2026.
  • Approved (unanimous, recommendation to City Council): Zoning ordinance amendment revising the definition of "shopping center" and setting a 1-space-per-250-sq.-ft. parking requirement for centers over 10,000 square feet.
  • Approved (unanimous, recommendation to City Council): Subdivision variations and exceptions for The Lindsey development, including a 24-foot pavement width, 12.5-foot curb radii, and reduced access management spacing.
  • Next steps: The two recommendations will be heard by City Council on November 10, 2026. The bylaws amendments are scheduled for a vote at the November 12, 2026 commission meeting.
  • Future meetings: The next regular commission meeting is Thursday, November 12, 2026 (adjusted from the usual second Wednesday due to Veterans Day). The November 17 work session is cancelled so commissioners can attend the Safe Streets Harrisonburg open house.

Meeting Transcript

Microphones are on ready. I will call to order the October 14, 2026 meeting the Harrisonburg Planning Commission. We definitely have a quorum. All of us are here. We're especially happy to see Commissioner Alcindy returning to us from his higher education commitments and other world travel. Thank you, sir. I'm also happy to be here at 6 p.m. instead of 3 a.m. I don't doubt that. All right then. So uh with that, first item is review of minutes to our September 9 meeting. I would like to move to be accept the minutes of submitted. Second. All right. Moved by Vice Chair Porter, seconded by Commissioner Kettler. Discussion. All in favor say aye. All right. Stand approved. Well, any uh no? Okay. All right. Stand approved. All right, and then the minutes of the September 15 meeting. Move to approve the minutes from that meeting. Second. Uh moved by Commissioner Kettler, seconded by Commissioner Jezi or discussion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, no. All right. Minutes stand approved. All right. So under new business, we have one item, public hearing matter, item 4A, request to amend zoning ordinance to amend the definition of shopping center and provide parking calculations of shopping centers. Ms. So far. Good evening. I'm Nirmasafle, planner with community development. So the proposed zoning ordinance amendment would amend the definition of shopping center in Section 10324 and add shopping centers to Section 10-32517. The intent is to codify a long-standing interpretation for applying minimum off-street parking requirements for retail establishments to shopping center developments. So the currently there is no specific parking calculation for shopping centers. If the uses are known at the time of development, then uh we would use the parking calculations for the individual uses. If the uses were not known at the time of development, uh we would apply the retail uh parking calculation. Um it applied to shopping centers on of a combined that have a combined square footage of 10,000 square feet or more. So

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