[1:13] >> Will counsel please come to

[1:14] order and will the clerk please call the roll.

[1:17] >> Anderson.

[1:18] >> Present.

[1:18] >> Bush.

[1:19] >> Here.

[1:20] >> Colliver.

[1:20] >> Here.

[1:21] >> Ford.

[1:21] >> Here. >> Smith.

[1:22] >> Here.

[1:23] >> Mattingly.

[1:23] >> Here.

[1:24] >> Sutphin.

[1:24] >> Here.

[1:25] >> Will the Vice Mayor,

[1:27] please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

[1:34] >> Pledge of Allegiance.

[1:39] [ Overlapping speakers ]

[1:52] >> We're going to begin as all evenings

[1:55] with the consent agenda and we're

[1:57] going to break it into two pieces tonight.

[1:59] Uh, so let's begin with the first items,

[2:03] and that includes approval of

[2:05] the town council minutes for April 18 and 25.

[2:09] Ordinance 2018 to amend town code section

[2:13] 14-107 pertaining to civil penalties

[2:16] for inoperable vehicle violations.

[2:19] We are introducing it this evening.

[2:22] The public hearing will be June 13th.

[2:25] Ordinance 2024 to amend town code Section 12-606,

[2:30] pertaining to residential parking permits.

[2:33] We are introducing it this evening,

[2:35] and we will have a public hearing for that,

[2:37] also on June 13.

[2:39] And finally, a resolution granting a special exception

[2:42] related to parking at 1284 North Main Street.

[2:46] We'll have a public hearing on June 13.

[2:49] So stay tuned.

[2:50] June 13, it's gonna be a big night.

[2:54] Let's see what is, uh- what is council's pleasure

[2:57] on the part A of the consent agenda.

[2:59] >> I move approval of the consent.

[3:02] Agenda Items A,

[3:03] B, C and D.

[3:05] >> Second.

[3:06] >> We have a motion and two seconds.

[3:10] Will the clerk please call the roll.

[3:12] >> Bush.

[3:12] >> Aye.

[3:13] >> Colliver.

[3:14] >> Aye.

[3:14] >> Ford.

[3:15] >> Aye.

[3:15] >> Hager Smith.

[3:16] >> Aye.

[3:17] >> Mattingly.

[3:17] >> Aye.

[3:18] >> Sutphin.

[3:18] >> Aye.

[3:19] >> Anderson.

[3:20] >> Aye.

[3:22] >> Ready for the second part?

[3:23] >> Do you need to do reading for?

[3:25] >> Yeah. I have a statement to

[3:26] read about, uh, the second part.

[3:28] The Virginia State and Local Government

[3:29] Conflict of Interests Act requires that I make

[3:31] disclosure to be recorded in town records

[3:33] in any case in which I'm forbidden to participate.

[3:35] Therefore, I make the following disclosure.

[3:37] The transaction involved is

[3:38] the approval of the Housing and Urban Development,

[3:40] or HUD 2023 Annual Action Plan,

[3:42] with the vote scheduled for today.

[3:45] My personal interest is my employment and

[3:47] community housing partners which receives HUD funding.

[3:49] The funding is part of the annual plan.

[3:52] CHB headquarters is located at

[3:53] 448 Depot Street in Christiansburg, Virginia.

[3:56] I affirmatively state that I will not vote or in

[3:58] any manner action on behalf of

[3:59] the Town Council regarding this approval.

[4:01] It is my understanding that

[4:02] this item will be removed from

[4:03] the consent agenda on May 9 and voted on separately.

[4:06] I will then abstain from voting on this item.

[4:09] >> Thank you.Uh, so our final item on

[4:13] the consent agenda is

[4:14] Housing and Urban Development 2023 Annual Action Plan.

[4:20] I move approval of Item E.

[4:23] >> Second.

[4:24] >> We have a motion and the second.

[4:25] Will the clerk please call the roll.

[4:27] >> Colliver.

[4:28] >> Aye.

[4:28] >> Ford.

[4:29] >> Aye.

[4:29] >> Hager Smith.

[4:30] >> Aye.

[4:31] >> Mattingly.

[4:31] >> Aye.

[4:32] >> Sutphin.

[4:33] >> Aye.

[4:34] >> Anderson.

[4:35] >> Aye.

[4:35] >> Bush.

[4:35] >> Aye.

[4:38] >> Okay. Moving on to public hearings.

[4:40] Uh, the first is ordinance 2022 to amend

[4:45] the zoning ordinance to update

[4:47] the accessory apartment permit program

[4:49] by amending 1270,1271,

[4:51] 3021, 3023,

[4:53] 3031, 3042,

[4:55] 3041, 3042,

[4:58] 3, 3111,

[5:01] 3113 and 4212 permit detached accessory apartments.

[5:06] >> And [inaudible] has the staff report.

[5:09] >> So I know council has talked

[5:10] about this at several work sessions.

[5:12] I do have a presentation, but I'll

[5:13] go through it fairly quickly.

[5:15] Um, the history of accessory apartments.

[5:17] We do have the older accessory apartments

[5:19] that date back to the '60s and '70s,

[5:22] and those are legal nonconforming apartments.

[5:24] We did in 2017 create

[5:26] an accessory apartment program and

[5:28] add that use back into the zoning ordinance.

[5:30] Our goal being to add

[5:31] more variety in housing options for our residents.

[5:34] Um, we at that point only allowed

[5:36] interior attached units, like a basement apartment.

[5:39] That was a fairly conscious decision of let's

[5:41] try it out in a more limited way and then expand it,

[5:44] and that's what we're really doing this evening.

[5:46] The districts that it's allowed in R4,

[5:48] our most common single family district, RR1 and RR2.

[5:52] We're not changing those zoning districts.

[5:55] So we really haven't seen a lot of upticks since 2017.

[5:58] There are probably a lot of reasons for that.

[6:00] People may not be aware of the program.

[6:02] There's cost in either

[6:03] finishing or adding an accessory unit.

[6:06] There could be people who are only

[6:07] interested in a detached unit,

[6:09] they could already have one.

[6:11] They may be more interested in the homestead program,

[6:13] our short term rental, and

[6:14] those are two different programs.

[6:16] Um, we have had

[6:17] some problems, and we've talked about them,

[6:19] of trying to use the accessory apartment program

[6:22] to obtain a whole unit,

[6:23] but really only homestay use.

[6:25] We've worked with the town attorney to

[6:27] kinda beef up that section of the ordinance.

[6:29] So your amendment this evening

[6:31] is to allow detached units.

[6:32] Probably the most common is like a garage apartment.

[6:35] We'll set standards for those units,

[6:36] we're updating the standards for

[6:38] the attached units and we're

[6:39] updating the program requirements.

[6:42] Our zoning amendment process.

[6:43] This is an amendment to the text of the zoning ordinance.

[6:46] It went to our zoning ordinance

[6:47] review committee, to Planning Commission.

[6:49] The ordinance before you this evening

[6:51] reflects their input.

[6:52] The Planning commission held

[6:53] their public hearing in April

[6:55] and recommended approval by a vote of 7-0.

[6:58] We always have a public input meeting

[7:00] on our zoning ordinance amendments.

[7:01] We did have one attendee and

[7:03] indicated he was interested in a detached unit.

[7:06] We are retaining the key program components

[7:08] from 2017 which

[7:10] require owner occupancy approval

[7:13] through the program prior to starting the use,

[7:14] and annual renewal,

[7:16] the recordation of a deed restriction,

[7:18] and again that you can not use it for the homestay use.

[7:22] The 1270 is kinda the process section.

[7:25] We are making some changes to that,

[7:26] clarifying that it is for

[7:28] detached single family only one

[7:30] accessory apartment per lot or parcel.

[7:32] We are allowing them on non conforming lots.

[7:35] We're clarifying the relationship to

[7:36] the planned residential district and in that

[7:39] your planned residential rezoning

[7:40] had to have addressed the ability to

[7:42] have accessory apartments rental

[7:44] by the unit, not by the bedroom.

[7:46] And again, that reinforcement

[7:47] of the difference between the two programs,

[7:49] accessory apartment and homestead.

[7:52] >> The types of standards we needed to

[7:54] look at to update were size,

[7:55] proportionality of the lot,

[7:57] location on the lot, height setbacks,

[7:58] residential character.

[8:00] Uh, we sorted them into three categories.

[8:02] Standards that apply to both types

[8:04] of unit attached and detached.

[8:06] Those that apply only to attached

[8:08] and those that apply only to detached.

[8:10] We are kind of trying to

[8:11] reinforce that overall character.

[8:13] It is a full second dwelling unit.

[8:14] We wanted to be in keeping with

[8:16] the character of a single family neighborhood.

[8:18] We wanted to feel accessory and there are

[8:21] a lot of ways to kind of integrate an accessory unit.

[8:23] Those can be with roof line, window patterning,

[8:25] exterior colors, materials, things of that nature.

[8:29] The current maximum size for

[8:31] an accessory apartment is 800 sq ft.

[8:33] There are communities that have smaller 500, 650.

[8:36] There are communities that have larger up to 1,200,

[8:39] we do wanna still have that accessory feel.

[8:42] The new proposed maximum is 1,000 sq ft.

[8:45] So that would be an axo- absolute maximum of 1,000 sq ft.

[8:48] Uh, we're also looked at that

[8:50] 80% of the floor area of the primary structure.

[8:53] If you kind of do the math, uh,

[8:56] the 80% would kick in,

[8:57] if your home is less than 1,250 sq ft.

[9:00] Most of the homes in town are larger than that,

[9:02] so they would default to that maximum 1,000

[9:04] sq ft. We also have standards

[9:06] in the districts for floor area ratio

[9:08] that would apply to an attached unit,

[9:11] because it is adding to

[9:12] the mass and scale of your existing home,

[9:14] it would not count towards the detached unit.

[9:17] Um, and if we did count it,

[9:19] it would make it unlikely that people would be

[9:20] able to do the detached unit.

[9:22] Your detached unit needs to be behind

[9:24] the primary building line of your primary structure.

[9:27] It can only take up a maximum of

[9:29] 30% of the land behind that,

[9:31] which is a back and side yard,

[9:33] and lot coverage still applies.

[9:35] We don't think that's going to be an issue.

[9:37] Uh, we kind of put together some of

[9:38] the standards in this chart which was

[9:40] included in your staff report.

[9:41] And also, at your last work session,

[9:43] we kind of walked through a couple of

[9:44] examples just to say we had

[9:45] applied all of these standards

[9:47] together to see how they would work,

[9:49] ah, and they worked well on both kind of

[9:51] larger and smaller lots than the minimum lot size.

[9:54] In terms of height, some of the other standards were

[9:57] going with a maximum height of 28 ft,

[10:00] there's a limitation of 20 ft at

[10:02] the eaves of the- where the detached unit occurs.

[10:05] We've also clarified we're using

[10:06] the same method of measurement,

[10:08] of measuring it at the grade

[10:09] that we do for all other units.

[10:12] Setbacks- set and rear setbacks are 7.5 ft.

[10:15] Some communities have gone smaller.

[10:17] We had some concerns about being that close,

[10:19] but also potential conflicts

[10:21] with public utility easements.

[10:23] Uh, we also put in some wording

[10:24] about where decks and patios could be,

[10:27] that they need to not be on the kind of shortest,

[10:29] tightest, closest sides, uh,

[10:31] for- to the kin- minimize

[10:33] the experience of a neighbor

[10:34] of having those outdoor spaces.

[10:37] Parking when we considered this in 2017,

[10:40] we did not add a parking standard.

[10:42] You are not prohibited from adding parking,

[10:44] if you would like, but you are not required to.

[10:46] We're not changing that standard,

[10:48] we're also not changing the occupancy standard.

[10:50] We're going to keep our existing standard

[10:52] where the occupancy is cumulative.

[10:54] It's not one for the house

[10:55] and one for the accessory unit.

[10:57] Um, we want to keep

[10:59] the idea of including universal design standards.

[11:02] I think those are good for everyone.

[11:04] You may not need them now,

[11:05] you may need them in the future.

[11:06] So we are making that not a requirement,

[11:08] but trying to encourage people as they think about

[11:11] a detached or attached unit

[11:13] to try to incorporate some of those standards.

[11:16] In terms of implementation,

[11:17] we'll probably do a lot more this time litl-

[11:19] to kind of get the word out.

[11:20] Uh, we've been working with,

[11:22] um, housing and community connections.

[11:23] They've been incredibly helpful,

[11:25] and they have a guide from

[11:26] Charlottesville that I think is really useful

[11:28] to help someone who may be intimidated by the process.

[11:32] It really is a nice explanation.

[11:34] We anticipate having a similar guide

[11:36] that we can have for Blacksburg.

[11:38] Um, we also had some input from, um,

[11:41] websites for City of Raleigh that did

[11:42] a design competition to show

[11:44] different types of units and their sizes.

[11:46] So I think we have a lot more resources we

[11:48] can tap into in terms of our implementation.

[11:52] And that concludes my remarks,

[11:53] but I'd be happy to answer any questions you might

[11:55] have. You have questions?

[12:01] >> Thank you. Uh, let's see.

[12:08] Do we have public comment on this topic?

[12:15] No public comment on standalone accessory apartments?

[12:19] Okay. Seeing none, uh,

[12:22] what is counsel's pleasure with ordinance 2022?

[12:26] >> I move approval of ordinance 2022.

[12:28] >> Second.

[12:29] >> We have a motion on a second,

[12:31] will the clerk please call the roll.

[12:33] >> Ford.

[12:33] >> Aye.

[12:35] >> Smith.

[12:35] >> Aye.

[12:36] >> Hunningly.

[12:37] >> Eye.

[12:37] >> Santon.

[12:38] >> Aye.

[12:39] >> Anderson.

[12:39] >> Aye.

[12:40] >> Bush.

[12:40] >> Aye.

[12:41] >> Oliver.

[12:41] >> Aye.

[12:43] >> Moving on to Ordinance 2007,

[12:46] an Ordinance rezoning 44.85 acres of land at

[12:51] 1006 Glade Road from rural

[12:53] residential to planned residential zoning.

[12:57] And, um,

[12:58] since nobody wanted to speak at the last ordinance,

[13:01] I'm assuming most people here are for- are here for 2007.

[13:05] Ah, I want to welcome you to chambers.

[13:08] Some of you have been here before and others have not.

[13:11] Um, and it is not unusual for, um,

[13:14] an action like this to, ah,

[13:16] be an introduction to citizens about how things work.

[13:21] Um, I want to ask before we get started,

[13:23] that we listen to one another respectfully,

[13:26] that we assume good intention,

[13:28] and that we use the power of our words with care.

[13:32] And that is to say,

[13:33] I won't- I won't have any personal attacks here tonight.

[13:37] Um, by large,

[13:39] I think most of us in

[13:40] council chambers tonight share common ground.

[13:43] I've heard from many people who

[13:44] clearly value the environment,

[13:47] the history, and the quality of life in Blacksburg.

[13:50] All of us can learn from those who have

[13:52] gone before us here in the place that we love.

[13:55] And so I wanted to make you all aware that

[13:58] there are books outside

[14:00] that anyone of you can take for free.

[14:02] And this was written in memory of her father by, uh,

[14:07] Arlene Hale Lambert,

[14:08] who lives at the uh,

[14:10] headwaters of Tom's Creek.

[14:12] And she tells a little bit

[14:14] about Blacksburg history and she

[14:15] tells you why our community gardens

[14:17] are named after her father.

[14:19] And I think any of you,

[14:21] uh, would be interested in the book.

[14:23] They are in a big box outside of foyer.

[14:25] So I hope you'll help yourself to one as you leave.

[14:29] >> And I'll be stepping out during

[14:31] this public hearing at our March 7th work session,

[14:34] I read my disclosure statement.

[14:35] In short, I won't read the

[14:36] whole thing is very similar to what

[14:37] I read for the consent agenda.

[14:39] But in short, my employer, Community Housing Partners,

[14:41] is administering the newer Home Trust

[14:43] and this proposal involves several units.

[14:46] I don't know how many units in the new home trust.

[14:48] So thank you.

[14:50] >> Thank you. Staff report.

[14:54] >> Kasey Hodges has the staff report.

[14:56] >> Thank you. Good evening.

[14:59] This is a rezoning request

[15:01] in the 1,000 block of Glade Road.

[15:03] The property is approximately 45 acres

[15:05] and is located off Glade Road

[15:07] next to the farm development,

[15:08] which was recently completed.

[15:11] There were a number of Planning Commission work sessions

[15:13] prior to the public hearing where

[15:15] staff covered different concepts from

[15:16] the application at each work session.

[15:20] The application that was

[15:21] reviewed by the Planning Commission

[15:22] featured a vehicle connection to Village Way South.

[15:24] Though the provision of this connection required

[15:26] several variances to subdivision standards.

[15:29] The applicant had presented an option

[15:30] to eliminate the connection, though ultimately,

[15:32] this did not make the change until

[15:34] the April 28th revised application.

[15:37] At the public hearing for Planning Commission,

[15:39] the recomme- the request was recommended for

[15:41] approval though the motion failed by a vote of 2-5.

[15:46] The applicant presented an option to

[15:48] eliminate the connectivity at the March 7,

[15:50] 2023 Town Council work session.

[15:53] Based on the discussion following that work session,

[15:55] the applicant indicated that

[15:56] they would remove the connection.

[15:58] The applicant did remove the connection and

[15:59] incorporated several other application

[16:01] changes that had been discussed at

[16:03] other work sessions in the April

[16:05] 28, 2023 application revision.

[16:08] The application under consideration today is dated

[16:10] May 5th, 2023.

[16:15] >> This aerial photo shows

[16:16] the development out- development area outlined in blue.

[16:19] The properties that abut on

[16:21] the south and west along Glade Road and

[16:23] Shadow Lake Road are zoned RR1 and

[16:25] developed generally as single family residences.

[16:28] The village at Tom's Creek PR and

[16:29] the Farm PR are also

[16:31] neighbors to the north and the south.

[16:34] The application entails the construction

[16:37] of 176 single family,

[16:39] two family, and townhome residential units.

[16:42] There will be a mix of community land,

[16:44] trust, affordable homes,

[16:45] mixed income market rate homes,

[16:48] and higher end market rate single family homes.

[16:51] The applicant will also construct

[16:52] public streets, sidewalks, and trails,

[16:55] as well as public utilities,

[16:56] including a new sanitary sewer pump station.

[16:59] There is a related request to remove the parcel

[17:01] from the Tom's Creek Basin Seward area

[17:04] to serve the development with

[17:05] traditional gravity sewer instead of

[17:06] steps stag or septic tanks.

[17:08] The applicant is requesting town commitment on

[17:10] several items including affordable housing

[17:13] with the town's Arpa funding,

[17:14] financial contribution to Stormwater management to

[17:16] construct a regional quality and quantity wet pond,

[17:20] cost share for necessary sanitary sewer upgrades

[17:23] based on the proposed route for the sanitary utility.

[17:28] These related requests have been reviewed as

[17:30] part of the overall rezoning request.

[17:34] On the screen is the development plan to orient you,

[17:37] the graphic in the middle is

[17:38] turned 90 degrees clockwise from

[17:40] the aerial image with

[17:41] the corresponding roads shown in color.

[17:43] The development is divided into two sections,

[17:46] the south area to the left

[17:47] containing smaller market rate homes,

[17:49] as well as the proffered affordable homes.

[17:51] And the north area to the right,

[17:53] which will contain all single family market rate homes.

[17:56] There's one access point to

[17:57] the development from Glade Road.

[17:59] A pedestrian trail is provided to Village Way South,

[18:02] as well as to the existing trail

[18:03] at the village at Tom's Creek.

[18:06] The criteria for evaluation of

[18:07] rezoning requests is found in your staff report,

[18:09] but generally requires conformity

[18:11] to the comprehensive plan,

[18:13] evaluating the relationship of

[18:14] the proposed change to

[18:15] the general planning vision of the town,

[18:17] and whether or not the development

[18:19] furthers the purposes of the zoning ordinance.

[18:21] The need and the justification for the change,

[18:23] which is the applicant's burden to

[18:24] prove and the effect of

[18:25] the proposal on any public infrastructure

[18:27] and the surrounding area.

[18:29] The future land use map is seen on the screen and you

[18:32] can see it is within the low density residential,

[18:34] future land use designation,

[18:35] which allows up to and

[18:37] including four dwelling units per acre.

[18:39] This property did undergo

[18:40] a comprehensive plan map amendment in 2021,

[18:43] which changed from very low density residential

[18:46] to low density residential.

[18:48] It is now located in an urban development area,

[18:50] and it is split between the

[18:51] suburban residential and rural,

[18:53] undeveloped neighborhood

[18:54] employment service area categories.

[18:56] These characteristics regarding these designations were

[18:58] provided in the staff report and the staff appendix.

[19:03] Nearly half of respondents

[19:04] in the Comprehensive Plan Survey

[19:05] desired more affordable housing options in town.

[19:09] The town has focused on providing

[19:10] assistance to low income households,

[19:12] and the establishment of the Community

[19:13] Land Trust allows the town

[19:15] to address shortages across other income brackets.

[19:19] In response to the growing need for affordable housing,

[19:21] the applicant is proffering

[19:22] affordable units in the mix of homes.

[19:25] A total of 24 homes will be proffered with

[19:27] permanent affordability and income restrictions

[19:29] that I will later discussed in the presentation.

[19:32] The applicant is proposing to divide

[19:34] the development based on the housing type.

[19:36] The south area will contain

[19:37] the proffered dev- proffered affordable units,

[19:39] as well as smaller homes on

[19:41] smaller lots to be sold at market rate.

[19:44] The north area of the development will contain

[19:46] market rate detached single family homes,

[19:48] similar in size and scale to those

[19:50] adjacent in the village of Tom's Creek.

[19:53] Beginning in 2023, town will conduct 2020- 22,

[19:57] 32 reviews on all rezoning requests

[20:00] to ensure that public infrastructure,

[20:01] especially arterial and collector roads,

[20:04] are accommodated in the proposed development

[20:06] in conformance with the comprehensive plan.

[20:08] The roadway connection at Glade Road is in

[20:10] keeping with the intent of land use connectivity.

[20:14] In the evaluation of

[20:15] the application against the zoning ordinance,

[20:18] staff reviews the request for

[20:19] its conformity to the purpose of the zoning district.

[20:22] The purpose of the PR district is to encourage

[20:24] communities that offer a variety of housing options.

[20:28] The intent of the district is to give

[20:29] greater flexibility than

[20:30] the conventional zoning districts

[20:31] allow in order for the applicant to develop

[20:34] a project that is of improved design quality,

[20:36] that may provide new approaches to homeownership,

[20:39] or that provides an efficient use of

[20:41] land to decrease development costs.

[20:43] It is the applicant's burden to prove that

[20:45] the application meets the intent of the district.

[20:47] In exchange for flexibility in

[20:49] the PR district, the plan,

[20:51] application and proffers are binding,

[20:53] any significant deviation would require the applicant

[20:56] to amend the district through the public hearing process.

[20:59] The current zoning is here on the screen,

[21:01] it is in the green RR1 zoning district.

[21:05] As we begin to evaluate the land use request,

[21:08] the overall development standards

[21:09] are taken into consideration.

[21:11] Overall standards apply, such as open space,

[21:13] canopy coverage, and gross density.

[21:16] Individual lot standards regulate

[21:18] the development on individual residential parcels,

[21:20] whether north or south.

[21:22] The overall standards for

[21:23] the development are seen on the screen.

[21:26] The green areas indicate the open space that

[21:28] is being provided in the- in the development.

[21:34] Diving further into the proposed standards,

[21:35] the applicant has provided two sets of standards for

[21:38] the development based on the

[21:39] two parts of the development.

[21:44] This chart is very busy.

[21:46] It's found on page 12 of the January 13 staff report,

[21:49] and illustrates the proposed district standards

[21:51] in the first two columns,

[21:52] in green and red.

[21:54] Compared with the overall village

[21:56] at Tom's Creek development,

[21:57] the neighboring homes on Village Way South,

[22:00] the overall RR1 standards,

[22:02] and the neighboring homes in

[22:03] the RR1 district on Shadow Lake Road and Glade Road,

[22:06] as well as the standards at the farm PRD.

[22:09] I'm not going to discuss each of

[22:10] these individual standards for the development areas.

[22:13] The standard charts for each of

[22:14] the development different areas is-

[22:16] in the north and south are found on page

[22:18] 14 and 15 of the staff report.

[22:20] As you can see on the screen,

[22:21] the south proposed standards are significantly

[22:23] more intense than the surrounding area

[22:25] except for the farm.

[22:26] Including the proposed standards

[22:28] in the north part of the development.

[22:29] The north area standards are more

[22:31] comparable to the surrounding neighborhood.

[22:33] I'll touch on several of the standards that

[22:34] contribute to the overall feel of the development.

[22:38] Setbacks provide space on

[22:39] parcels where structures cannot be built.

[22:41] Setbacks will vary based on the unit type.

[22:44] Attached units will have zero setback for interior walls,

[22:47] while detached units will have setback all around.

[22:50] The applicant has further added

[22:51] a restriction for minimum building separation.

[22:54] This will help to accommodate

[22:55] driveway location restrictions that they have

[22:57] proposed in order to reduce front yard pavement.

[23:01] Florida area ratio is a regulation that

[23:02] provides proportionality for homes to the lot.

[23:06] They have added a proffer of

[23:07] maximum square footage to help ensure that

[23:09] homes as constructed in the development

[23:11] are relatively similar in size and scale.

[23:14] The proposed square footage is less than

[23:16] what the Florida area ratio would allow,

[23:18] which means that homeowners in the future may be able to

[23:21] add square footage to their homes by

[23:22] finishing basements or adding on.

[23:26] The applicant has provided a pattern book that provides

[23:30] information on architectural styles and

[23:32] materials for the different housing types provided.

[23:34] The applicant does request a modification to

[23:36] the use and design standards for town homes to

[23:39] not require front facade variability and instead provide

[23:42] differentiation between adjacent units

[23:44] using other architectural features.

[23:47] This slide shows a number of the different types of

[23:50] physical architectural variation possible for

[23:52] single and attached units in addition to color,

[23:55] which is not apparent in these elevations.

[23:58] On the screen are the- are examples of

[24:00] the north area market rate homes as well.

[24:05] >> The applicant has proposed

[24:07] a restriction on themselves that has- that will

[24:09] reduce the number of

[24:10] double width driveways that

[24:11] can be adjacent to one another,

[24:13] addressing a concern that

[24:14] large blocks of front yard may be paved for parking.

[24:17] Due to the small lot nature

[24:19] of the south area of development,

[24:20] the applicant does request

[24:21] several other modifications with regard to parking.

[24:25] This slide shows the modifications needed for

[24:27] the parking layout proposed

[24:28] based on the proposed layout from the applicant.

[24:30] In the items seen on the screen,

[24:32] the applicant is requesting to

[24:33] eliminate the standards except the last

[24:35] where they have proposed a modification that

[24:36] I'll go over in the next slides.

[24:40] This graphic provided by

[24:42] the applicant illustrates the application of

[24:44] the restriction for no two double width driveways

[24:47] adjacent to one another.

[24:49] What you see in purple,

[24:50] highlights the permitted locations

[24:52] of the double width driveways.

[24:54] You can see in the blocks of four town homes,

[24:56] each end unit has a side driveway as shown in blue.

[25:00] The light purple also indicates the area that

[25:02] the applicant specifies will be

[25:03] a minimum of 20 feet wide.

[25:06] This slide also illustrates

[25:07] the concepts regarding vehicles backing into the street,

[25:10] and parking in front of the building line.

[25:14] The subdivision ordinance specifies

[25:16] a minimum distance from the edge of

[25:17] a driveway to an intersection.

[25:20] The graphic provided by the applicant ind-

[25:22] indicates that due to the narrow lot frontage and depth,

[25:24] some lots will simply not

[25:26] meet the minimum distance requirements.

[25:28] They are requesting a variance to min-

[25:31] reduce the minimum from 50 feet to 20 feet.

[25:35] The planned residential zoning district

[25:36] allows applicants to propose

[25:38] an alternate parking ratio based on

[25:39] a number of factors including unit type,

[25:41] target market, proximity to services,

[25:43] and access to trails and transits.

[25:46] The applicant is proposing a minimum of

[25:47] two off street parking spaces per unit,

[25:49] which is consistent with single family uses.

[25:53] The applicant is proposing a non-traditional method of

[25:55] achieving overall canopy coverage

[25:57] over the lifespan of the development.

[25:59] Typically, development canopy coverage is usually

[26:01] satisfied at the beginning of

[26:02] a development with planting new trees.

[26:04] Over time, the trees reach

[26:05] maturity based on the species and will

[26:07] ultimately cover some percentage

[26:09] of the overall development.

[26:10] The applicant is proposing

[26:11] a different approach that includes

[26:13] planting some new trees,

[26:14] but allowing nati- natural species progression,

[26:17] to provide canopy over time as the open space progresses

[26:20] from post agricultural fields to shru- shrub thickets,

[26:23] to mixed hardwood forests.

[26:26] The method of planting some trees now,

[26:28] and allowing others to grow

[26:30] over the lifespan of the development is

[26:31] a reasonable approach to allow for

[26:33] natural biodiversity to develop,

[26:34] and to limit the upfront costs of planting.

[26:37] However, this method of planting

[26:39] and achieving canopy coverage and

[26:40] landscape vision over time is

[26:41] untested in the town as a standard.

[26:44] There are places that have in town that have

[26:45] naturally grown up over time to provide canopy.

[26:48] However, it's unknown what the true

[26:49] outcome for development of the size,

[26:51] in managing both manicured and more naturalized spaces

[26:54] together through the HOA.

[26:56] The town does not have a metric

[26:57] to follow this sort of approach

[26:59] to ensure the development is on

[27:00] target to achieve the required canopy.

[27:03] The applicant has proffered several timing mechanisms and

[27:05] implementation strategies that are

[27:07] in response to these concerns.

[27:09] One is that the Homeowners Association will be

[27:11] responsible for implementing the recommendations,

[27:13] from their hired expert.

[27:15] And that there will be target

[27:16] metrics at specified times,

[27:18] after their development con-

[27:19] commences to require minimum canopy coverage.

[27:24] This graphic from the application shows

[27:26] all of the different types of landscape areas.

[27:28] The purple and green areas

[27:29] indicate areas of successful management.

[27:32] Orange is managed turf, red is recreation.

[27:35] Specific vegetation for embankments is also called out.

[27:39] This graphic from the application shows

[27:40] the theoretical progression of canopy coverage over time.

[27:43] While we often think of only trees

[27:45] as providing canopy coverage, shrubs,

[27:46] and ground cover do provide some canopy coverage as well,

[27:49] and may be more effective in managing

[27:51] erosion due to their ground covering nature.

[27:55] The applicant is proposing a street tree ratio of one for

[27:58] every 80 feet in the north area and

[27:59] one for every 100 feet in the south.

[28:02] In addition, each yard in

[28:03] the south area will have one tree,

[28:05] and at least two shrubs or another tree.

[28:08] Yards in the north area will

[28:09] each have one tree in the front yard,

[28:11] and each yard will also be required to have

[28:13] at least four trees and or shrubs.

[28:17] The subdivision ordinance requires sidewalks to be

[28:19] constructed on at least one side

[28:21] of all new streets within a subdivision,

[28:22] and on existing streets adjacent to the subdivision.

[28:26] The applicant is requesting several different variances

[28:28] to different requirements for sidewalks and trails.

[28:31] They are requesting to construct trail

[28:33] in lieu of sidewalk for some segments.

[28:35] They are requesting to reduce the buffer strip

[28:37] between the curve and the sidewalk from 4 ft,

[28:39] 3 ft. And they are requesting to eliminate

[28:41] sidewalk on street E in

[28:42] the north area of the development.

[28:44] Lastly, they are requesting to

[28:46] provide grass trails instead of

[28:47] paved or gravel trails to

[28:49] the interior of the development,

[28:51] to the internal open space areas.

[28:54] This graphic illustrates the different variances

[28:56] needed with respect to the street.

[28:58] The ora- the blue

[29:00] indicates buffer reduction between the,

[29:01] uh, sidewalk and the curb.

[29:04] The orange is trail in lieu of sidewalk,

[29:06] the red is the elimination of sidewalk,

[29:09] and the green are the locations of the grass trails.

[29:13] Public utility easements are

[29:14] required around the perimeter of

[29:16] all new developments and around

[29:17] the pro- property lines within the development.

[29:20] The applicant is requesting a modification to reduce

[29:23] public utility wid- width easement- easement widths,

[29:27] where they are adjacent to existing easements.

[29:31] This graphic illustrates the locations in yellow,

[29:33] where a seven-and-half public utility easement

[29:36] will be provided in the development where the

[29:37] adj- adjacent to existing PUEs offsite.

[29:44] Standard curve and gutter CG6 is

[29:46] required on all new streets and typical subdivisions,

[29:48] but the planned residential district allows applicants to

[29:50] request variances to these subdivision standards as well.

[29:54] The applicant is proposing an alternate curve

[29:55] and stormwater conveyance method,

[29:57] which they say will reduce overall development costs.

[30:00] The graphic illustrates the typical street sections for

[30:02] the south area on top and the north area on the bottom.

[30:06] The top section shows that

[30:07] the development will have sidewalk,

[30:08] grass strip on one side of the street,

[30:10] roll top curb on both sides,

[30:12] and two travel lanes.

[30:13] The North area has roadside ditch with no curbing,

[30:16] sidewalk would be provided in an easement.

[30:20] In evaluation of the rezoning request includes

[30:22] an analysis of the projected transportation impacts,

[30:25] with a turn lane warrant and a level of service analysis.

[30:29] A turn lane is warranted for

[30:30] the development and the additional

[30:31] right of way required for

[30:32] its construction has already been

[30:34] dedicated to the town during the farm development.

[30:38] The applicant's proposed sanitary sewer route identified

[30:41] several areas that would be negatively

[30:43] impacted by the proposed development.

[30:45] The applicant is- is working with the town for

[30:48] a cost share solution that provides

[30:50] the necessary infrastructure to support the development,

[30:52] as well as addressing existing infrastructure needs.

[30:58] Stormwater management is required for

[30:59] all new development to address quality and quantity.

[31:02] The areas downstream of this development have

[31:04] faced ongoing stormwater issues in recent years.

[31:07] The applicant is proposing a regional stormwater facility

[31:09] that will address quality

[31:10] and quantity for the development,

[31:12] as well as improving

[31:13] the quality of the downstream channels.

[31:15] They are requesting town

[31:16] financial assistance in order to provide this benefit.

[31:19] This graphic shows the location of

[31:21] the proposed wet pond in the center and pink,

[31:23] as well as the other dry

[31:24] stormwater management areas below it,

[31:26] near the bypass and near

[31:28] Shadow Lake Road to the top of the screen.

[31:30] The graphic also shows the location of

[31:32] the revised Creek Valley overlay as

[31:34] provided by the applicant

[31:35] based on the criteria in the ordinance,

[31:37] rather than relying on the older data.

[31:41] >> As we wrap up, the applicant

[31:42] has submitted a proffer statement.

[31:43] The most recent revision was submitted May 5th.

[31:45] I will go over these proffers generally.

[31:48] The first is that the applicant-that

[31:50] the development will be in

[31:51] substantial conformance with the application.

[31:53] The second will be that the Homeowners Association

[31:55] will be created to

[31:56] establish-will be established to

[31:59] enforce the proffers and the application requirements.

[32:02] The third proffer pertains to the open space,

[32:04] including the minimum that will be provided,

[32:06] the trails that will be provided,

[32:08] the ownership and maintenance of

[32:09] the open space areas except the public trails,

[32:13] as well as the language and

[32:14] information regarding their hiring

[32:16] an expert to follow

[32:17] through the managed successional areas.

[32:20] The fourth proffer regards all of

[32:22] the landscaping commitments that the applicant is making,

[32:24] including the minimum canopy coverage,

[32:26] street tree ratio, and minimum requirements.

[32:29] The managed successional landscaping generally.

[32:32] The pond edge shade trees and their requirements.

[32:35] The yard land-the additional

[32:37] yard landscaping for each lot,

[32:39] as well as the timing mechanisms for

[32:40] those canopy targets and

[32:42] compliance with zoning ordinance species.

[32:45] The fifth proffer, uh, regards

[32:47] the recreation amenities and includes their commitment

[32:49] to active and passive recreation amenities in

[32:51] Phase II and Phase I of the project.

[32:54] The sixth proffer regards their trails to be

[32:56] constructed per the exhibit in the application.

[32:59] The seventh proffer prohibits

[33:01] construction vehicles on Village Way South provides for

[33:04] a barrier and written notification except when

[33:06] connection of the trail is necessary.

[33:10] The fifth proffer contains

[33:12] the information regarding the Affordable Housing Units.

[33:15] Ten of these units will be proffered for households up to

[33:18] 80%- earning up to 80% AMI,

[33:21] 10 units for households, from 80-100% AMI.

[33:25] Four units for households, 100-120% of AMI.

[33:29] These will all be put into the Land Trust.

[33:31] All of these units will be single-family detached.

[33:34] They will all meet, half energy efficiency or

[33:36] sustainability standards for the 24 affordable units,

[33:39] they will either be earth craft

[33:40] certified or have a HERS rating of 55 or better.

[33:44] There will be sold to eligible buyers and the transfers

[33:47] to-the property will be transferred to the Land Trust.

[33:52] That the sales price will be determined by

[33:54] HUD formulas at the time of readiness.

[33:57] And that the 10 units up to 80% AMI will

[33:59] be to be completed by the town

[34:02] ARPA deadline and furthering

[34:04] the rate of completion of

[34:05] the remainder of the affordable units.

[34:07] The ninth proffer talks

[34:10] about the mix of housing types for

[34:12] the south area between

[34:14] the single-family units- two-family units, and townhomes.

[34:17] Talks about the maximum square footage at

[34:19] the initial certificate of occupancy and proffers

[34:22] a HERS rating of 65 or better for

[34:24] the remainder of the market rate homes in the south area.

[34:28] The 10th Proffer commits

[34:30] to single-family homes only in the north area,

[34:32] as well as solar readiness as

[34:34] well and minimum HVAC requirements.

[34:37] The 11th proffer determines the phasing talks

[34:40] about Phase 1 with those ARPA deadline homes.

[34:44] The 12th proffer regards rental restrictions and

[34:47] the allowance for accessory dwelling units or homestay.

[34:51] The 13th proffer includes the recalculation of

[34:53] 100-year floodplain and the commitment to

[34:56] develop within- in conformance with the regulations of

[35:00] the floodplain with regard to

[35:01] the location of the pump station and the trail.

[35:04] The last proffer is that the applicant will provide

[35:06] speed limit signs for

[35:07] 15 miles per hour in the development.

[35:10] There are many variances and

[35:12] modifications for this request.

[35:14] These have been provided to you in

[35:15] prior staff reports, but in general,

[35:17] they're listed on the next three slides in

[35:19] the order in which they appear in the ordinances.

[35:22] The first four pertain to parking.

[35:26] Next is the modification for

[35:27] an alternate street tree ratio,

[35:32] a variance request to not provide a right of way or

[35:35] road connection to the property to

[35:36] the Northwest of the development.

[35:39] A variance to allow street A to exceed

[35:41] the maximum length for a cul-de-sac, which is 900 feet.

[35:44] Street A is approximately 2,600 feet or half a mile.

[35:48] A variance to allow roll-top curb,

[35:50] and roadside ditch instead of standard CG6.

[35:53] A variance request to reduce

[35:55] the minimum block length from 500 feet to 200 feet.

[35:58] On this screen, the first two variances

[36:00] deal with driveway separation

[36:01] from the property line and

[36:03] driveway separation from intersections.

[36:05] The next four variances pertain to

[36:07] the various sidewalk and trail

[36:09] variance requests as previously discussed.

[36:11] And lastly, the request to

[36:13] reduce the public utility easement widths

[36:14] for certain lots where there are

[36:16] existing PUEs on adjacent parcels.

[36:18] That concludes my presentation I'll be

[36:20] happy to answer any questions that you have.

[36:23] >> I have one question for now.

[36:27] In your slide on HOA and all of

[36:29] the different things that have to happen with the HOA,

[36:33] can you talk at all about

[36:35] the enforcement mechanism that

[36:37] the town has especially in the beginning?

[36:40] >> Yes. As with any-

[36:44] as with any planned residential development

[36:46] or really any development within town,

[36:48] the regulations that govern

[36:50] it are part of the zoning ordinance.

[36:52] And so if there

[36:54] are- if there are violations to the standards,

[37:00] they become pursued as

[37:02] violations of the zoning ordinance.

[37:03] And so we would pursue them as zoning violations through

[37:06] our typical research and

[37:09] investigation process with the town attorney

[37:11] and the zoning administrator.

[37:13] Does that answer your question?

[37:15] >> Good start.

[37:17] >> How else can I help?

[37:18] >> Well, I'm just curious about some of

[37:20] the items that the HOA is responsible for,

[37:23] and I don't need you to go back to that slide.

[37:26] But there were several items

[37:27] and I'm just trying to- I've never been

[37:28] a part of an HOA I haven't had that pleasure.

[37:32] Um, so,

[37:34] I'm just curious about how a new neighborhood first,

[37:38] you've got to form one,

[37:39] and you've got to get the people,

[37:41] and then you've got to get your bylaws,

[37:42] I'm sure and I'm sure there's a whole,

[37:44] but I'm just wondering how that

[37:45] enforcement works within that group.

[37:48] We've had some emails from people in

[37:50] the village- village of Thomas Creek that are in HOAs.

[37:55] Some of them have been positive experiences

[37:57] and some of them may be less so.

[37:59] So I'm just curious about the two things,

[38:01] about how the proffers that

[38:03] are- that the developer is proposing,

[38:07] there seems to me to be a disconnect between that and

[38:10] how- perhaps how they actually work get formed,

[38:13] get implemented, and then when

[38:16] those issues don't happen, who's responsible?

[38:20] >> Sure, I

[38:22] think the applicant can probably speak a little bit more

[38:24] to where they intend to go

[38:27] with kind of the vibe of the HOA,

[38:31] but in general, we can talk a little bit about kind of

[38:34] that transitional phase between

[38:36] the development control period and that HOA period.

[38:39] So this development is going to be

[38:41] constructed over a number of years,

[38:43] and during some of that phase,

[38:46] the developer is still going to be in

[38:47] control of the land and what goes

[38:50] on on that property and so

[38:52] the way that their application has been set up,

[38:54] especially with regard to

[38:55] the landscaping and things like that,

[38:58] those items are going to be

[38:59] started at the very beginning.

[39:00] And so the developer actually is going to have to

[39:03] hire the person that

[39:05] the HOA will then have to keep on, carry on.

[39:07] So the same kind

[39:10] of regulations and restrictions that they're

[39:12] providing for the HOA are also

[39:14] going to be applied to the developer based on

[39:15] their language and based on how we would

[39:17] also govern that through

[39:19] the site plan and construction process as well.

[39:22] But I think the applicant can probably

[39:23] talk a little bit more- more about

[39:24] what they want kind of the homeowners association to be.

[39:28] But in general, the town does

[39:30] not- does not have any jurisdictional authority over

[39:34] private HOA covenants unless there's

[39:36] some other way that they are in violation of other codes.

[39:42] >> Thank you.

[39:44] >> Other questions.

[39:47] >> Thank you, Kenzie. Moving on

[39:51] to the applicant's statement for Ordinance 2007.

[39:59] >> I think I know all of them.

[40:03] So, um, you know about the survey

[40:07] to ask the town residents

[40:09] what their most pressing concerns were,

[40:12] and the main point was the lack of affordable housing.

[40:16] Well, we have heard that and we're providing

[40:18] 24 houses in perpetuity for 99 years.

[40:22] In my case, I'm hoping for a good 20.

[40:26] Um, also council members have expressed a desire or

[40:29] hope that a developer would provide workforce housing.

[40:33] So we have heard that and we are

[40:36] providing 109 units for people.

[40:39] Say, for example, Marla, son-in-law,

[40:42] who is the only teacher in

[40:43] a school who can afford to live in this town.

[40:46] And the people who teach your kids,

[40:48] the people who provide your healthcare,

[40:51] the people who provide your safety,

[40:53] the people who work for town

[40:55] should be able to afford to live in town.

[40:57] It's a justice issue.

[40:59] I want to thank you all for all the effort that you

[41:01] all provided and your concern and consideration,

[41:05] and staff and all their help.

[41:07] I hope you'll consider it.

[41:09] And if not, this project- this

[41:12] property where if not now when. Thanks.

[41:20] >> Meredith Jones with Eden & Associates.

[41:22] Good evening, council.

[41:23] I'm going to start and talk, um, really big picture to

[41:26] you tonight because I think we've had

[41:28] lots of time for details in the work sessions and things.

[41:30] Happy to answer questions if you have them, obviously.

[41:33] Um, so- so I'd like to

[41:35] start with your evaluation criteria.

[41:37] Kenzie mentioned this. Um,

[41:38] this is our burden to prove.

[41:40] We feel like we've done that in your application.

[41:43] I am going to talk very,

[41:45] um, you know,

[41:46] sort of high level about some of these,

[41:48] um, tonight just to give you, again,

[41:51] an indication that we feel like

[41:53] this development meets what

[41:55] the ordinance would say for

[41:57] a re-zoning meets the master,

[41:59] meets the goals of the comp plan, etc.

[42:01] So these are the questions you all are

[42:03] probably pretty familiar with them at this time.

[42:05] The need in the justification for the change.

[42:08] So again, we know this project looks different,

[42:11] um, and functions a little different.

[42:13] That's on purpose because our objective is different

[42:15] from any other development

[42:17] up to this point in Blacksburg.

[42:18] And that's to provide for the affordability,

[42:20] diversity, and mixed-income housing.

[42:22] Um, this requires as we've discussed

[42:24] density beyond that of one unit per acre,

[42:27] which is the underlying zoning.

[42:29] Um, and as we know, density affords, uh,

[42:31] that affordability and mixed-income housing

[42:34] that we- we so very much need in this town.

[42:37] Um, it also,

[42:38] lot size flexibility that

[42:40] other zoning districts do not offer, um,

[42:43] as we know FAR's balloon the lot sizes,

[42:46] and so doing smaller,

[42:47] more affordable lots is not

[42:49] necessarily in the existing districts,

[42:51] hence the need for our rezoning.

[42:53] And then product type flexibility that

[42:55] other zonings also don't offer.

[42:57] Um, you know, we're- we are asking

[42:59] for a number of variances that deal with townhomes.

[43:02] Townhomes are written in this town for student housing,

[43:05] parking in the rear,

[43:06] um, or um,

[43:07] parking lots and that's not what's desired here.

[43:10] We want a seamless feel across our neighborhood.

[43:14] So for that reason we are- we

[43:15] are asking for variances and we

[43:17] do need this- this rezoning district

[43:19] to provide that for us.

[43:21] Environmental flexibility such as

[43:22] the canopy coverage that we've all covered, um,

[43:25] and talked about that Kenzie touched

[43:27] on at regional stormwater opportunities that may or may

[43:30] not be able to happen without

[43:32] a rezoning due to the- the density and being

[43:34] able to afford those additional regional facilities

[43:37] that we're providing additional

[43:39] space in those regional facilities.

[43:41] And then finally, I want to talk about variances.

[43:43] Um, these are allowed in the PRD.

[43:46] Um, as of late staff has, um,

[43:49] pointed those out to you in the process,

[43:51] but even some of our neighboring developments

[43:53] have those variances as well.

[43:55] They were not pointed out through the rezoning so

[43:57] that's a little bit of a difference

[43:58] as we're going through this time.

[44:00] Um, and we feel like we're not

[44:01] sacrificing quality in these variances.

[44:04] We feel like we're making

[44:05] a better neighborhood for Blacksburg.

[44:07] We feel like we are substituting

[44:09] good equals for the things that

[44:10] we are asking for variances for,

[44:12] and so in terms of the curve and gutter.

[44:15] As an example, we are

[44:16] providing that in places where we don't need that,

[44:19] we're not providing it.

[44:20] Um, why- why pay for that if not needed?

[44:23] Um, so what is the relationship of

[44:25] the proposed change to the comprehensive plan goals?

[44:29] These are goals directly from

[44:31] the comprehensive plan and I

[44:32] believe that we meet all of them.

[44:35] Um, we are consistent with the future land use plan at-

[44:38] at less than or equal to

[44:39] four units- dwelling units per acre.

[44:41] It's a well-designed pedestrian

[44:43] friendly with sidewalks and trails,

[44:46] walkable, bikeable, and encourages

[44:48] use of alterna- alternative transportation modes.

[44:52] We're providing much needed,

[44:53] affordable, and mixed income housing as you know.

[44:56] We're providing owner-occupied housing and have put

[44:58] the controls in to make sure that that is the case here,

[45:02] um, to eliminate those student lifestyle conflicts

[45:06] that often happen in town.

[45:07] We're providing equity and inclusion by

[45:10] providing housing to different income ranges for people.

[45:14] Creating private parks, recreation amenities,

[45:16] preserving open space.

[45:17] Respecting the headwaters of

[45:19] Tom's Creek with the

[45:20] additional measures that we've taken,

[45:21] and I'll talk about that a little bit more.

[45:23] And creating reliable infrastructure.

[45:27] So what is the anticipated effect of

[45:29] the development on public services and facilities?

[45:32] We have evaluated all of these through this process.

[45:35] As you know, we are improving

[45:37] stormwater beyond the current requirements.

[45:39] We are providing a reliable new water system

[45:41] and sewer system that will provide for

[45:44] future capacity for the town and relieve

[45:47] existing capacity issues on University City Boulevard.

[45:51] Um, we are increasing

[45:52] the town's trail network in connectivity,

[45:55] um, through four different connections

[45:57] outside of our property.

[45:59] Um, the development is causing

[46:00] new significant traffic issues

[46:03] as evidenced by our traffic study.

[46:06] Um, we altered our road connection to

[46:07] Village Way South when

[46:09] negative effect had resulted for people,

[46:12] and we're adding

[46:13] privately maintained Stormwater open

[46:15] space and recreation facilities

[46:16] that is managed by Homeowners Association.

[46:18] So, that has no burden on the town.

[46:22] How does this re-zoning further

[46:23] the purposes of the zoning ordinance?

[46:25] This is directly quoted

[46:27] from the comprehensive, I mean, I'm sorry,

[46:29] from the zoning ordinance in

[46:30] the purposes create and preserve affordable housing.

[46:33] That's what we're trying to do.

[46:36] Uh, these other purposes

[46:37] are what I call our housing goals,

[46:39] but they directly align with

[46:41] the purposes that are in the zoning ordinance.

[46:43] Provide attractive,

[46:44] well-built homes for diversity of income ranges,

[46:47] seamlessly integrated through architecture and driveways.

[46:51] And parking to bring

[46:53] people together throughout the community.

[46:55] Enlarge the real estate tax base,

[46:57] as well as place these residents near

[46:59] retail opportunities fueling the economy.

[47:02] Again, this location being

[47:03] close to University City Boulevard,

[47:06] provide housing on an infill parcel with

[47:08] existing infrastructure which we have and surrounding us,

[47:12] thus preventing urban sprawl.

[47:13] All things purposes within the zoning ordinance.

[47:17] Providing convenient access to surrounding

[47:19] properties with public trail connections,

[47:22] We're providing for over 4,000 feet of bikeways and over

[47:25] 3,500 feet of sidewalk in this development.

[47:28] There's only one road that we're

[47:29] asking for a variance for sidewalk

[47:31] or any means of- of traversing it off-road.

[47:37] Environmental goals to provide

[47:39] protection to the headwaters of Tom's Creek.

[47:41] We believe we are doing that and

[47:44] going beyond what would be required, um,

[47:46] by reducing flooding for downstream property protection,

[47:50] by improving water quality

[47:52] beyond the requirements for added stream health.

[47:55] Preserving the springs on our site,

[47:57] and protecting the creek valley

[47:58] overlay and floodplain areas

[48:00] by staying out of them.

[48:01] We're providing for a healthy environment.

[48:03] And again, these in bold come directly

[48:05] from the purposes in the zoning ordinance.

[48:08] Provide for a healthy environment through the use of

[48:09] purposeful natural open space in

[48:11] excess of the requirements.

[48:13] Our open space is 35% which is in excess of

[48:16] the 20% requirement for PRD.

[48:20] We're encouraging wildlife and habitat evolution

[48:23] through the managed successional areas,

[48:24] which will eventually produce forested areas,

[48:27] which traditional landscaping requirements

[48:30] as the canopy coverages are written,

[48:31] does not- does not typically

[48:33] create forested areas after 20 years.

[48:38] That is something that is in the- in

[48:40] the zoning ordinance and the comprehensive plan.

[48:42] Um, net increase of wetland areas across our site.

[48:46] So yes, we are removing some,

[48:47] but we are also replacing that with more than we have

[48:50] today, providing energy-efficient buildings.

[48:53] We've got house ratings for the South area,

[48:55] solar amenities,

[48:57] and heating and cooling standards for the North area.

[49:00] Um, and then reducing carbon emissions

[49:02] with our sustainable location.

[49:03] All things that are purposes.

[49:06] Um, this is a list of

[49:07] the changes that have happened during

[49:08] the council process and you all are aware most of those.

[49:12] I'm not going to touch on them individually,

[49:14] but reading through them,

[49:15] um, I do want to point

[49:16] out the managed successional areas.

[49:19] We will begin the transformation as

[49:21] soon as the development construction begins,

[49:23] that's been written into our proffer.

[49:25] The developer will- will take over

[49:27] that responsibility and then transfer it to the HOA.

[49:30] We have tightened the management regulations for

[49:32] the developer HOA team and the town's oversight.

[49:38] Um, we believe these changes will provide

[49:41] a more sustainable diverse community

[49:43] for future residents of Blacksburg,

[49:45] and one in which the town can point to as

[49:46] a role model for private-public partnerships.

[49:49] Finally, I want to say that we- we

[49:51] have shown you that this development contains

[49:53] anything but substandard infrastructure and conditions.

[49:57] In fact, it contains or exceeds

[49:59] the same ingredients as

[50:00] every other neighborhood in Blacksburg,

[50:02] including those surrounding the site with one exception.

[50:06] It also contains affordable and mixed-income housing

[50:09] that will all be owner-occupied.

[50:11] We've put those controls in to ensure this development

[50:14] has the quality- will succeed. I'm sorry.

[50:18] We- we put controls in to

[50:20] ensure that this quality development will succeed,

[50:22] and by a developer that has

[50:23] already proven he can succeed.

[50:25] Please, we request that you approve

[50:27] this development so that we can move

[50:28] forward with this good work to provide

[50:30] Blacksburg with the housing it needs.

[50:33] >> Thank you. Do you have any questions?

[50:36] >> Does anybody have questions?

[50:37] >> I have one Meredith,

[50:39] I was hoping you could talk a little bit

[50:41] about what you're proffering

[50:43] in terms of rental restrictions,

[50:45] just so that everybody can

[50:46] understand that especially myself.

[50:49] >> Sure. Um,

[50:50] let me grab that to make sure. Let me see that right.

[51:00] >> So our restrictions will be, um,

[51:04] if- if you are an owner of a piece of

[51:06] property or an owner of a house in our development,

[51:09] that you cannot- cannot rent it, um,

[51:13] less than 12 months or more than 24 months,

[51:17] um, at one time.

[51:19] Which means that, um,

[51:22] within a- sorry,

[51:23] that's within a six-year period.

[51:25] So if somebody goes on sabbatical,

[51:28] as often happens in our town,

[51:29] they would be able to allow a rental to go into

[51:32] that property between a year or two,

[51:36] um, in duration,

[51:37] but after that they would have to occupy it themselves.

[51:40] Um, we are also saying that short-term leases of

[51:44] one week or less are limited to

[51:45] only four per calendar year,

[51:48] um, and it's

[51:50] subject to the Town of Blacksburg Homestead Program,

[51:53] so we would follow all the regulations

[51:54] in the town homestay program for that.

[51:57] It gives our association,

[51:59] and this goes back to the question that you were asking,

[52:01] um, that that the right to remove that privilege,

[52:04] if the association decides it's being abused,

[52:07] they can remove any of

[52:08] those privileges if they get, uh,

[52:10] complaints, um,

[52:12] or take measures to enforce those provisions.

[52:16] >> That's very helpful. Thank you.

[52:19] >> Okay.

[52:20] >> You have other questions?

[52:22] >> I have a- I have a question,

[52:23] and I think you've tried to answer it at a work session,

[52:26] but I've gotten several emails from

[52:28] folks who really are concerned about parking.

[52:31] And so I know there's,

[52:32] uh space, uh, for each house to park.

[52:35] I think the concern is more- what if somebody comes over?

[52:39] You know, where are the guests going to park?

[52:41] Um, will there be parking on both sides of

[52:44] the street or on all streets or one street?

[52:48] And I know that, um,

[52:49] this typically happens at the site plan phase.

[52:52] And so you may not be prepared

[52:54] to be super specific but, um,

[52:56] but a little- little specificity would- I think would

[53:00] help neighbors to try to

[53:01] understand better the parking situation.

[53:03] >> Sure- okay- yeah.

[53:04] I mean, typically that is something that we would

[53:07] look at in the site development stage, um,

[53:09] but I do think our roads are 26 feet wide on road,

[53:14] uh, Street A and Street B or 26 feet wide.

[53:18] Um, and- and that allows for parking

[53:20] on one side, which side?

[53:22] I couldn't really tell you tonight,

[53:24] but as we get into design,

[53:26] we- we should be able to identify

[53:28] which side of the road has more space,

[53:30] and again that- how we'll look at

[53:32] that is what kind of units,

[53:34] what types of units are we putting on the lots,

[53:36] where exactly are those driveways,

[53:38] and where can we, you know,

[53:39] we have lots of rules about

[53:40] the driveways now in this development,

[53:42] but where can we find that space in between driveways?

[53:46] Because we don't have mailboxes,

[53:47] we have a gang- a ganged mailbox,

[53:49] so that's not going to be a conflict,

[53:50] which is pretty typical in a lot of our neighborhood.

[53:53] So parking in between,

[53:55] driveways will be identified,

[53:56] and if we can make more space there, we certainly will.

[53:59] Um, but it's one of those things where,

[54:01] um, you can put parking on one side of the road,

[54:04] you can sign that there's

[54:05] no guest parking on the other side of the road,

[54:07] but what it comes down to really our- our neighbors,

[54:11] um, being courteous to each other.

[54:13] If you see someone- there's

[54:14] plenty of sight distance in our neighborhood,

[54:15] you can see someone coming,

[54:17] you know, you tend to slow down,

[54:19] let that person pass if it's tighter,

[54:21] but with a 26-foot wide road,

[54:23] that still leaves you 18 feet to pass vehicles.

[54:27] And so, yeah, you

[54:28] may be in a situation where you might be

[54:30] yielding to someone coming on- going a little bit slower,

[54:33] which is a good thing.

[54:35] Um, I wanted to also mention to you that,

[54:37] um, that area between, um,

[54:43] the north area and the south area where

[54:46] we- we don't have frontage for lots there,

[54:49] uh, that's about 750 feet,

[54:52] and so there will be able to be,

[54:54] and we can certainly provide, uh, uh,

[54:57] you know a sha- a substantial shoulder there,

[54:59] but there will be able to be parking along that,

[55:02] and that equates to about 30-35 spaces in that area.

[55:06] So you'd have to walk a little ways,

[55:08] but that's pretty common in- in dense neighborhoods.

[55:12] Um, so I- I think- had I answered your question?

[55:16] >> Yes. Thank you.

[55:19] >> Other questions? Thank you.

[55:25] Okay. We are moving on now

[55:28] to public comment on Ordinance 2007,

[55:31] and I want to remind people to please, um,

[55:35] state your name and your address as you come forward,

[55:38] but also, since I think quite a few of

[55:41] the people here tonight are speaking to this,

[55:43] if not all, to this ordinance,

[55:45] you might wish to queue up at

[55:47] the back of the room so that there's not

[55:49] a lot of time spent shuffling and

[55:50] trying to get through bouncy chairs.

[55:53] Um, and I think that that will,

[55:55] uh, that will help us all out.

[55:57] When you're finished speaking,

[55:59] we have a signage sheet here,

[56:01] and that will also make things more

[56:03] elegant because we won't, uh,

[56:05] flub the spelling of your name or your address,

[56:09] so, um, anyway.

[56:13] Time to begin, and Robyn,

[56:14] I think you know how those- the stoplight works?

[56:16] >> Yes, thank you. And I hopefully

[56:18] you won't take the whole time tonight.

[56:19] So Robyn Jones,1224 Village Way South.

[56:22] >> Uh, good evening.

[56:23] Tonight, you will hear from members

[56:24] of the Tom's Creek Sustainability Coalition.

[56:26] Most of us are addressed in green,

[56:28] and perhaps others who have concerns about the request to

[56:31] rezone 1006 Glade Spring

[56:34] for Glade Spring Crossing Development.

[56:36] As a member of the coalition, as an individual,

[56:38] I have been engaging with the town directly on

[56:40] this project since our first letter on January 9th.

[56:43] Many of our concerns and questions have

[56:45] remained consistent throughout these four months.

[56:47] As I have reflected on this,

[56:49] I have wondered why.

[56:50] Perhaps it's the questions we ask

[56:52] or maybe even how we've asked them,

[56:54] but perhaps it's also that we weren't able to engage in

[56:56] real dialogue or learning throughout the process.

[57:00] As you know, the process allows- itself

[57:01] allows for the applicant and the town to have

[57:03] meetings and conversations in

[57:05] real-time to ask questions and get and give feedback.

[57:08] For the citizens it doesn't really work the same way,

[57:11] we're able to send messages and ask for meetings with

[57:13] the town to give input and ask questions,

[57:16] but it's not really the same,

[57:17] sort of, give and take.

[57:19] We are able to use public comment,

[57:21] but it's also one-sided.

[57:22] So while these ideas, thoughts,

[57:24] and messages and input may have been

[57:26] received and aside from the,

[57:28] um, removal of the vehicular road,

[57:30] we don't really know how it's been heard.

[57:33] For us, this project was,

[57:34] and always it has been more than the road.

[57:37] So as a result of this process,

[57:38] we have become frustrated with the other.

[57:41] And citizens such as myself

[57:42] keep sending emails as you know,

[57:44] and recipients like yourselves

[57:46] probably get overwhelmed and more than irritated.

[57:50] Over the last few months,

[57:50] I've had the pleasure of meeting

[57:51] with Jerry Ford and Susan Mattingly,

[57:54] uh, Lauren Carragher and

[57:55] Susan Anderson and Kenzie Austrey.

[57:58] It was in those meetings that I felt heard.

[58:00] I hope that these folks would also say that I listened,

[58:03] as I myself have

[58:04] much better in person than I am on email.

[58:07] I wanted information about the process,

[58:09] the application, the impacts, and the benefits.

[58:12] and when Randy Formica thoroughly answered

[58:13] the coalition's long list of sewer questions recently,

[58:16] I was so appreciative to learn more about the specifics,

[58:18] but more importantly, it

[58:20] reit- it reiterated confidence that the town

[58:21] was very much doing their due diligence

[58:23] and thinking about the same things that we were.

[58:27] Tonight, my neighbors will share their thoughts,

[58:28] some of them will tell you how they think

[58:30] the development will be experienced by future residents,

[58:32] some will have questions,

[58:34] some will have more input.

[58:36] If you are able in your comments and deliberations,

[58:38] let us know that you've heard and what you've-

[58:40] what you've heard and what you've

[58:42] considered to help make your decision.

[58:44] I'm convinced that the residents and

[58:45] the town are striving towards the same goals,

[58:48] development that is equitable and affordable,

[58:50] respectful of the environment,

[58:52] safe and compliant, innovative, and sustainable.

[58:55] So I hope you hear those goals and

[58:57] intentions and the messages that you have

[58:59] been- that you've already received

[59:01] and that's what you will hear tonight. Thank you.

[59:03] >> Thank you.

[59:17] >> Hello. I'm Rob Solomon from

[59:19] 1507 Trillium Lane in the Village Tom's Creek.

[59:23] I have some questions regarding, um,

[59:25] the- I don't feel were addressed by

[59:27] the developer regarding trees and landscaping.

[59:30] Since open space trees don't compensate for

[59:32] a lack of ordinance required by street trees,

[59:36] how will the reduction of

[59:37] required street trees keep temperatures down?

[59:40] And will Blacksburg maintain their tree city status?

[59:45] Number 1, how can develop-

[59:46] the developer claim environmental justice and

[59:49] cut down five acres of existing trees?

[59:52] Request to plant 226- fewer street trees

[59:55] and intensify soil erosion with excessive grading.

[1:00:00] Also hosting a- a nature expert

[1:00:03] once a year to mitigate invasive plants.

[1:00:08] >> Thank you.

[1:00:19] >> Hi, my name is Kasey Hodges.

[1:00:20] I live at 1223 Village Way South.

[1:00:22] I wanted to speak to you about transportation.

[1:00:25] The application notes that the Glade Spring Crossing

[1:00:27] offers convenient access to local grocers,

[1:00:30] shops, and restaurants.

[1:00:31] And states that the community will be able to

[1:00:34] access public transit and be in

[1:00:36] walking and biking distance of

[1:00:37] University City Boulevard in

[1:00:39] minutes from downtown Blacksburg in Virginia Tech.

[1:00:42] This is a very idealistic painting of

[1:00:44] a picture that does not work very well in reality.

[1:00:48] It is true that the top corner of

[1:00:50] the property is a half a mile from a transit stop.

[1:00:53] But if you don't live in the first lot,

[1:00:55] the additional walking to get to

[1:00:56] the bus stop is required.

[1:00:58] And some houses in the development

[1:01:00] are more than a mile from the transit stop.

[1:01:03] And then the transit system in Blacksburg is

[1:01:05] designed to move students to and from campus.

[1:01:08] While there are some routes like the two-town trolley,

[1:01:11] the stop on UCB goes to squires.

[1:01:15] The Glade Spring application

[1:01:17] states that the transit is- is

[1:01:18] a half a mile walk and this will

[1:01:20] encourage residents to use mass transit.

[1:01:23] I believe this is an exaggeration.

[1:01:25] The words sound good, but they're not reality.

[1:01:28] The applicant notes that they feel the application

[1:01:30] promotes Number 13 of the comprehensive plan,

[1:01:33] encouraging designs that move

[1:01:35] people rather than vehicles.

[1:01:37] But have they asked regular users how they feel

[1:01:40] about the half-mile walk or more in each direction?

[1:01:43] How long it takes them to get to

[1:01:44] places on the bus and where they

[1:01:46] actually want to go and

[1:01:48] what shopping they need available to them?

[1:01:50] Along UCB, they're probably not headed to

[1:01:53] Chantilly Lace or Bonomo's Plaza or Volume II Bookstore.

[1:01:59] I have several friends with

[1:02:00] lower incomes that live in the affordable apartments,

[1:02:03] um, on the north side of town.

[1:02:05] They do not own vehicles.

[1:02:07] They frequently take the bus to and from work.

[1:02:10] The drive from their apartment to

[1:02:12] Virginia Tech or Kroger is 10 minutes.

[1:02:14] The bus ride is 45 minutes.

[1:02:17] When they go to work, they have to plan over

[1:02:19] an extra hour in each direction for commuting.

[1:02:22] Most of them are wage workers,

[1:02:23] and due to the commutes and the bus schedules,

[1:02:25] they can only work six hours

[1:02:27] in the same amount of time as

[1:02:28] someone who has a car can work eight hours.

[1:02:31] If they missed the bus and need to

[1:02:32] wait, they're late for work.

[1:02:34] If they missed the bus on the way home,

[1:02:36] they may not be home when

[1:02:37] their children come home from school.

[1:02:40] On the bus route, they can get to VT using one bus.

[1:02:43] But if they need to go further,

[1:02:44] like to the doctor or to the international food store,

[1:02:47] or if they do not work at VTA,

[1:02:49] second transfer is necessary.

[1:02:51] This increases travel time and the transfer is

[1:02:53] just another opportunity to miss a bus or a connection.

[1:02:56] Another problem with the BT is since

[1:02:58] its job is to move VT students,

[1:03:00] it works on the VT schedule.

[1:03:02] During summer breaks and other VT breaks,

[1:03:05] the bus schedule changes

[1:03:07] and it makes it much more difficult for

[1:03:09] full-time residents working to stay on

[1:03:11] a consistent schedule to take a bus to and from work.

[1:03:14] The proposal makes a lot of assumptions that sound good,

[1:03:17] but they're poorly supported and

[1:03:19] this is just one example. Thank you.

[1:03:21] >> Thank you. Anybody up next?

[1:03:31] >> Hello. My name is Becky Fritz,

[1:03:34] and I live at 1507 Trillium Lane

[1:03:36] in the village of Tom's Creek.

[1:03:39] Um, so I was not initially intending to speak tonight.

[1:03:42] I came with my husband, Rob,

[1:03:44] who has the concerns about

[1:03:45] the landscaping and trees, um,

[1:03:48] but I watched the recent WDBJ newscast

[1:03:51] with an interview with Mr. Hopper,

[1:03:55] and I felt like I needed to address some of

[1:03:56] the statements that he made.

[1:03:59] To quote Mr. Hopper,

[1:04:01] he described this development as a classic example.

[1:04:05] As a win-win for public-private partnership.

[1:04:09] And that's what we hope this will be.

[1:04:12] And this will certainly be a win

[1:04:14] for the builders and the developers financials.

[1:04:17] It may be a win

[1:04:19] limited for 10 families seeking affordable housing.

[1:04:24] Casey's already mentioned some-

[1:04:25] some concerns and doubts associated with that,

[1:04:29] but that's where the winning stops.

[1:04:30] That doesn't benefit the other 152 housing units

[1:04:34] in the plan who have to deal with

[1:04:35] roads with no sidewalks,

[1:04:37] drainage ditches instead of curbs.

[1:04:40] A lack of landscaping,

[1:04:42] as my husband Rob mentioned,

[1:04:44] and no or little parking.

[1:04:48] And many of those units built on 15%-20% slopes.

[1:04:53] It certainly doesn't benefit the other neighbors

[1:04:55] downstream on Glade or in my neighborhood,

[1:04:58] the village at Tom's Creek.

[1:05:00] This was followed by his statement in the interview.

[1:05:04] The way there's such a dearth of

[1:05:05] housing product in this town,

[1:05:07] they'll sell like crazy and then we'll have

[1:05:09] 42 for rich people on the other end.

[1:05:12] They'll be expensive, but that will actually

[1:05:14] fund the rest of this being subsidized.

[1:05:17] That doesn't sound like a equitable housing seamlessly

[1:05:21] dispersed and integrated by

[1:05:24] architecture that was described earlier.

[1:05:29] It sounds like two very different distinct developments

[1:05:33] separated by a moat in the form of

[1:05:34] a storm water management pond.

[1:05:39] It sounds like this plan

[1:05:40] is gonna perpetuate divisiveness.

[1:05:43] Mr. Hopper additionally stated,

[1:05:46] it means a lot to me and

[1:05:48] gratitude is the most strained of human emotions.

[1:05:52] But I'll know that I did something that's

[1:05:53] good for this town and there'll be

[1:05:55] people living here who can't afford

[1:05:57] to, and that's profound.

[1:06:00] Um, as one who live next

[1:06:02] to this overly dense development.

[1:06:05] My purpose- personal sense

[1:06:07] is that he's not driven by generosity,

[1:06:11] rather this is driven by greed,

[1:06:14] excess, and perhaps self-affirmation.

[1:06:19] We've sent the town requests for

[1:06:21] details around the financials of this project,

[1:06:24] only to be told that the town really doesn't have any.

[1:06:27] And to be repeatedly told in this very venue by

[1:06:30] the developer that the numbers are

[1:06:32] so tight that we can't lose a unit,

[1:06:35] and we must have all of the variances approved

[1:06:38] to get the density up and the unit calls down.

[1:06:43] So it would be nice if we could actually see some

[1:06:46] of the information that we've

[1:06:47] requested so we can all review it.

[1:06:51] You know, it's we all

[1:06:52] understand that developers, you know,

[1:06:54] want to make money and that's what they do.

[1:06:58] But I think to mask this in some sort of motive-

[1:07:02] mask his motives in a cloak of unappreciated gratitude,

[1:07:06] or that he's just doing this out of- out of

[1:07:08] the bottom of his heart for the town of Blacksburg.

[1:07:10] >> Thank you. Your time is up.

[1:07:12] >> Ah, thank you.

[1:07:17] >> That's the kind of personal attack,

[1:07:18] I hope I don't hear again. Who's next?

[1:07:27] >> Hello, my name is Chris Bondrend and I live

[1:07:29] at 1219 Village Way South.

[1:07:32] I've tried to visualize this glaze crossing

[1:07:36] development and try to imagine if

[1:07:37] I was living in that development,

[1:07:40] since those future residents

[1:07:42] aren't here to speak for themselves.

[1:07:45] That person, you know,

[1:07:46] has worked hard all day,

[1:07:47] indoors, all week possibly,

[1:07:49] and they want to spend some time outdoors

[1:07:51] in their yard in their neighborhood,

[1:07:53] they live on the south side with one of the center units,

[1:07:55] so their entire front yard is just the slope driveway.

[1:07:59] There's no trees, so their front porch is very

[1:08:03] hot and so they proceed to the backyard for some relief,

[1:08:07] there is a proposed tree back there but

[1:08:09] the yard is pretty small and so there's

[1:08:11] a limited space to stretch their legs or for

[1:08:13] their children to play so they venture down the street.

[1:08:17] There are not many stre- trees or

[1:08:18] yard trees due to the allowed variance.

[1:08:22] So the sidewalk is hot and

[1:08:23] the street- and the asphalt is even hotter.

[1:08:27] They have to transverse the multiple parked cars along

[1:08:29] the way and they pass endless rows, driveways,

[1:08:32] and townhouses with limited green space,

[1:08:35] with only a few single units having that space.

[1:08:39] They look for the neighborhood open space,

[1:08:42] but the closest they can get to it

[1:08:43] is to access through other people's property,

[1:08:45] which they don't want to do and

[1:08:48] much of that space is deg- designated for

[1:08:50] just a few trees as part of

[1:08:52] the managed succession planning and weeds

[1:08:55] and tall grasses have taken over most of that.

[1:08:58] They finally find a backyard transitional strip

[1:09:02] at the end of the street where they can try to

[1:09:04] navigate to the south side,

[1:09:06] open space and the managed turf areas.

[1:09:09] But it's really not accessible for bikes or

[1:09:10] strollers since it's not paved.

[1:09:13] And like the entire neighborhood,

[1:09:14] the turf is not really flat but a

[1:09:16] very slope- steep slope.

[1:09:19] The one true recreation area on

[1:09:21] the south side is located

[1:09:22] right next to the farm development,

[1:09:24] which is congested and loud.

[1:09:27] They could travel up to Glade rolled entrance,

[1:09:30] but traffic is even worse up there,

[1:09:32] it's not really safe for their children.

[1:09:35] They could travel down the very

[1:09:36] steep slope to North side,

[1:09:38] which is at least a quarter mile

[1:09:40] where they have more accessible open space.

[1:09:43] There's still limited shade

[1:09:45] due to the managed succession planning,

[1:09:47] and majority of that area is really

[1:09:49] the giant to dry ponds,

[1:09:51] the wet pond and what is called vegetated embankments.

[1:09:56] By this time they're tired, the children are hot,

[1:09:58] so they just work their way back up

[1:10:00] the long incline up to their house.

[1:10:03] They admit they've had

[1:10:04] some exercise and stretch their legs,

[1:10:06] but it wasn't much of a relaxed or enjoyment.

[1:10:09] I'd like the council to consider

[1:10:11] these images when they make their decision of

[1:10:13] this overly dense and congested development

[1:10:16] and vote no tonight.

[1:10:18] The town and developer can do

[1:10:19] better and should be able to create a neighborhood

[1:10:22] that doesn't go beyond the future land use

[1:10:24] and where town residents would like to call home.

[1:10:27] Thank you for your consideration.

[1:10:29] >> Thank you. If you'll go to that signing,

[1:10:32] Chris, thank you. Who's next?

[1:10:39] >> Good evening.

[1:10:46] My name is Rebecca Weaver High Tower,

[1:10:48] and I live at 1207 Village Way South.

[1:10:50] But for the next three minutes,

[1:10:52] I'm a future resident of Glade Springs Crossing.

[1:10:55] I divorced three years ago and I wanted to stay in

[1:10:58] Blacksburg so my boys could

[1:10:59] keep the same school and friends.

[1:11:01] So I bought a small house in Glade Springs Crossing,

[1:11:04] but I'm wishing now I just moved to Pulaski,

[1:11:06] where I could have gotten three times the house

[1:11:08] for the same price,

[1:11:09] and it wasn't cheap,

[1:11:10] $300,000 which was the market rate

[1:11:13] for a town home or comparable small house

[1:11:15] in Blacksburg back then.

[1:11:17] I'm a teacher, so I didn't

[1:11:18] qualify for low income housing.

[1:11:21] You see the problem with Glade Springs

[1:11:22] is there's just not enough room.

[1:11:24] The houses are on top of one another.

[1:11:26] My back yard is too steep for even a picnic table,

[1:11:29] and my front yard is my parking place

[1:11:31] for mine and my eldest son's car.

[1:11:33] There's no place for the kids to play.

[1:11:35] My eldest plays basketball and he'd love

[1:11:37] a basketball hoop but again, no place.

[1:11:40] My youngest swims and there's a pool right over there,

[1:11:43] but you have to pay a lot of money to join,

[1:11:45] which I couldn't afford even if there

[1:11:46] wasn't a three year waiting list.

[1:11:48] But still, this son loves water on a dare,

[1:11:51] he went waiting in that pond over there the other

[1:11:53] day and came back with algae up to his knee.

[1:11:57] I told him he was not under

[1:11:58] any circumstances to go back in that pond because I know

[1:12:01] what's washing into it with every

[1:12:02] rainstorm and I know what's

[1:12:04] washing into it because I see it on the streets.

[1:12:07] There are cars everywhere parked in front of every house,

[1:12:11] of course, but also all along the streets

[1:12:13] and on the grass, leaving oil slicks,

[1:12:16] trash, some McDonald's cups,

[1:12:18] I even saw some cigarette butts

[1:12:20] and I know that all that's washing into

[1:12:21] the pond along with pee and poop from

[1:12:24] the Canadian geese and also from dogs.

[1:12:27] You know, I heard when I

[1:12:28] bought the house that there weren't

[1:12:29] supposed to be Reynolds in Glade Springs,

[1:12:31] but there are students living here anyway.

[1:12:33] I guess the HOA doesn't care or

[1:12:36] maybe the students- maybe one of

[1:12:37] the students parents bought a house,

[1:12:39] got on the HOA,

[1:12:40] and changed the rules,

[1:12:41] um, I'm not sure.

[1:12:43] Most of the students are nice enough,

[1:12:44] but some of them are loud,

[1:12:46] and they love to have outdoor parties

[1:12:48] especially on that little bit of grass over by the pond,

[1:12:51] I wish there were some trees over there too.

[1:12:54] Speaking of the pond,

[1:12:55] my youngest just did a school project about

[1:12:57] Tom's Creek and how messed up it's

[1:12:59] become like stroubles creek.

[1:13:01] He's a real nature lover and likes

[1:13:03] to walk down to the creek and look at the fish,

[1:13:05] but he's been learning about how

[1:13:06] the fish are dying because of

[1:13:08] the heat from all the houses

[1:13:10] and all the cars and the streets.

[1:13:13] They say they wish that people who

[1:13:14] built the neighborhood and all the others up and down

[1:13:16] Tom's Creek had thought

[1:13:18] about that and thought about the environment when

[1:13:20] making choices about how to build and how much,

[1:13:23] he did a poster on it for school.

[1:13:26] I have to say I kind of agree with him.

[1:13:29] This could have been a real nice

[1:13:30] neighborhood if someone had taken

[1:13:31] just a little more care like they did

[1:13:33] with the big houses on the other side of the pond,

[1:13:36] which is by the way,

[1:13:37] where all the playground equipment and trees are,

[1:13:39] which doesn't seem at all fair,

[1:13:41] that's my view across the pond,

[1:13:43] and it makes me pretty mad that the neighborhood is

[1:13:45] divided into the haves and the have nots that way.

[1:13:48] I'm sure the people who built all

[1:13:50] the- all this made a pretty penny,

[1:13:52] especially with all the ways they could cost.

[1:13:54] I mean, they're business people, right?

[1:13:56] This place is only three years old

[1:13:58] and things are breaking

[1:13:59] but I know they had to throw up this side

[1:14:01] of the neighborhood real fast.

[1:14:03] Well I have to go laundry to fold,

[1:14:05] and papers to grade.

[1:14:06] If only someone could have talked

[1:14:08] some sense into the people who built this neighborhood.

[1:14:10] >> Thank you.

[1:14:19] >> My name is Vicky Fix,

[1:14:20] and I live at 1301 Village Way South.

[1:14:24] I'm speaking to you today imagining I'm

[1:14:26] a member of the HOA board for Glade Springs Crossing.

[1:14:32] I'm one of the few persons in

[1:14:33] our new neighborhood who is retired or

[1:14:36] otherwise has time beyond job and family to volunteer.

[1:14:40] Here's a list of what the board deals with.

[1:14:43] One, manage the vegetative embankments,

[1:14:46] entrance areas, manage turf,

[1:14:49] existing wood lands, grassy trails,

[1:14:52] playground areas, snow removal.

[1:14:55] I'm sure I've forgotten something,

[1:14:56] but you get the idea.

[1:14:59] Two, hire someone to bush hog

[1:15:01] the dry ponds up to four times a year.

[1:15:04] Three, enforce rules about rentals and other covenants.

[1:15:09] Four, manage town home landscaping

[1:15:12] and save up money for replacing roofs, etc.

[1:15:16] Five, determine how to

[1:15:18] complete the list an expert has provided

[1:15:20] about what we need to do to manage the

[1:15:22] undisturbed, managed succession areas.

[1:15:25] We've tried to get neighbors to

[1:15:27] volunteer to do some of this,

[1:15:29] but we've not been successful.

[1:15:31] There often is not enough money in

[1:15:33] the budget to complete everything,

[1:15:34] so we have to raise dues,

[1:15:36] which is not a popular idea with our homeowners.

[1:15:40] Six, deal with homeowner complaints

[1:15:43] about safety, parking, etc.

[1:15:47] I'm tired and can't sleep.

[1:15:49] The stress of it is causing my angina to flare up.

[1:15:53] Today was the last straw, apparently,

[1:15:57] there was a proffer stating that

[1:15:59] areas of land disturbance that are to become

[1:16:03] managed successional area shall

[1:16:06] be accepted and maintained by

[1:16:08] the association within one year after

[1:16:10] acceptance of the Phase 2 infrastructure by the town.

[1:16:14] We just received notice that we are now

[1:16:16] responsible for those disturbed

[1:16:18] managed succession lands that

[1:16:21] the developer did not promise

[1:16:22] to do anything about except

[1:16:24] plant two trees per quarter acre.

[1:16:27] Where do we find the money for making

[1:16:29] the worst part of managed succession areas attractive?

[1:16:34] I'm ready to resign.

[1:16:37] >> Thank you.

[1:16:46] >> My name is Jesse Genuac.

[1:16:48] I live at 1407 Glade Wood Drive.

[1:16:50] I believe that makes me the first person

[1:16:51] not from Tom's Creek neighborhood.

[1:16:55] Uh, my interest in

[1:16:56] the proposed Glade Spring Crossing Development

[1:16:58] started with concerns about traffic on Glade Road,

[1:17:02] uh, those concerns aren't gone,

[1:17:04] but when I attended

[1:17:05] the public hearing by the planning commission,

[1:17:08] I was really surprised to learn

[1:17:09] how many concessions were being asked

[1:17:12] for mostly at the expense of the people who

[1:17:15] are going to live in the planned community.

[1:17:18] Uh, other people can definitely tell you more about

[1:17:21] the specific problems you don't have- I

[1:17:22] don't have any information that you don't have.

[1:17:25] Uh, I'm sure you've heard many of the things

[1:17:28] that people are saying tonight

[1:17:29] that people said at the planning commission.

[1:17:32] Uh, what I want to address is how those problems

[1:17:34] add up to a proposal that mainly benefits

[1:17:36] the developer's bottom line at the expense of

[1:17:39] the very people that the affordable

[1:17:40] housing is meant to help.

[1:17:41] Uh, I support the goals of this development.

[1:17:46] We need more affordable housing, uh,

[1:17:50] but we don't need affordable housing that is going to,

[1:17:54] um, make life worse for the people who live there.

[1:17:58] Uh, keep in mind that

[1:18:00] the developer wants to build here, uh,

[1:18:03] they can come up with

[1:18:04] a plan that conforms to town codes and

[1:18:06] safeguards our people and our waterways and,

[1:18:11] uh, our ecosystem.

[1:18:13] Uh, why would they want to

[1:18:15] if we are going to let them do it the way they want to?

[1:18:19] So, um,

[1:18:21] I'm asking for pushback.

[1:18:24] Uh, I don't expect

[1:18:25] the developer to be habitat for humanity.

[1:18:28] It's okay that they know how to make

[1:18:30] money- that they need to make money to exist.

[1:18:32] But what's not okay is cutting

[1:18:34] their own costs by segregating

[1:18:35] their low-cost housing into

[1:18:36] a substandard neighborhood where they've cut corners

[1:18:39] and circumvented the laws meant to

[1:18:40] protect the people who live there.

[1:18:42] In particular, the safety

[1:18:44] measures about driveways from streets,

[1:18:47] uh, cul-de-sac- lack of cul-de-sacs,

[1:18:50] then dead ends with no turnarounds, uh,

[1:18:53] no proper drainage, uh,

[1:18:55] as dictated by the codes, um,

[1:18:58] and passing on the costs of the canopy, uh,

[1:19:02] development to the low-income residents

[1:19:05] who will be taking on the affordable housing.

[1:19:07] Uh, in Blacksburg we believe that there are

[1:19:10] some things that all of our people should

[1:19:11] have no matter how much money they make.

[1:19:14] Things like safe streets,

[1:19:15] reliable access to town services,

[1:19:17] and adequate- adequate stormwater drainage and you can

[1:19:19] tell we believe this

[1:19:21] because we passed laws and sort- and,

[1:19:23] uh, created codes and regulations to back that up.

[1:19:26] Today you're being asked to walk back

[1:19:28] Blacksburg's commitment to endorse the notion that

[1:19:31] it's okay if some neighborhoods

[1:19:32] don't have safe streets or

[1:19:33] adequate drainage as long

[1:19:35] as a house is there are affordable.

[1:19:37] Please don't do that.

[1:19:39] Uh, show the whole town that you will uphold

[1:19:42] our shared commitment to protecting everyone

[1:19:44] that lives here now and in the future. Thank you.

[1:19:46] >> Thank you.

[1:19:53] >> I prepared statement, sorry.

[1:19:54] Uh, I'm Jared Leland.

[1:19:57] I live at 1802 Shadow Lake Road

[1:19:59] which is the property right

[1:20:00] up against it where the little cutout

[1:20:02] goes out to Shadow Lake Road,

[1:20:03] so I might be the most impacted person here,

[1:20:05] I should probably- bad statement.

[1:20:07] Um, so I've lived there for 16 years.

[1:20:10] My, uh,

[1:20:11] youngest son turns 18 tonight,

[1:20:12] so we've been there since he was two.

[1:20:14] I bike on Glade Road every day in bike commuter.

[1:20:16] My dog drinks out of Tom's Creek which is

[1:20:18] probably not a good idea going through

[1:20:19] Brown's Farm every day.

[1:20:21] Um, so I'm just trying to get

[1:20:23] an impression of this place,

[1:20:24] you know, I- I- I spent

[1:20:25] a lot of time- I know the property well,

[1:20:26] we used to sled ride it all- all the time, you know,

[1:20:29] um, and I guess

[1:20:30] my overall impression is a bike commuter, yeah.

[1:20:32] Things get really busy, you know.

[1:20:34] That's probably one of

[1:20:35] the more dangerous stretches that I bike

[1:20:36] on coming up through there and, um,

[1:20:39] just having spent a lot of time on the property,

[1:20:41] it seems like a remarkably steep area to have

[1:20:44] a lot of pavement going directly

[1:20:46] into the headwaters of Tom's Creek.

[1:20:47] I know there's discussions of

[1:20:49] waste- of- of floodwater management

[1:20:51] and such and I- I, you know,

[1:20:53] I guess maybe the more impacted

[1:20:54] people would be the people flooded

[1:20:55] downstream but- but try to keep an open mind of this,

[1:20:58] um, but the impression I

[1:20:59] have is it seems like a steep piece of

[1:21:01] property going right into the headwaters of

[1:21:03] Tom's Creek to have a lot of pavement on.

[1:21:05] I wonder if that density could be elsewhere.

[1:21:08] That's- that's my takeaway. Thanks.

[1:21:11] >> Thank you.

[1:21:18] >> Deans Fader, 1301 Village Choice South.

[1:21:22] I have been a master gardener for

[1:21:23] 16 years and a master naturalist for five years.

[1:21:27] I grew up on a farm in

[1:21:28] South Dakota and farmed all through high school.

[1:21:31] For 25 years on a small acreage,

[1:21:34] I did succession management

[1:21:36] of several small plots and I helped

[1:21:39] a good friend turn pastures into

[1:21:41] a beautiful lush prairie using succession management.

[1:21:46] With this background, I favor

[1:21:49] managed succession in principle.

[1:21:53] We all know that the devils in

[1:21:55] the details and this proposal and proffers are

[1:21:58] full of general words that give

[1:22:00] unfettered discretion and how they are interpreted,

[1:22:04] thus I have many reservations.

[1:22:07] One is that without a lot of work, knowledge, and money,

[1:22:10] I think this will become a managed mess especially given

[1:22:14] the large area of

[1:22:17] the managed succession and the many invasive species.

[1:22:21] Second and very importantly it

[1:22:23] will succeed only if the HOA

[1:22:25] starts with soil that is not compacted and not disturbed.

[1:22:31] Therefore, I have one recommendation,

[1:22:34] amend the proffer to provide clear mandates

[1:22:37] that none of the many succession areas are disturbed

[1:22:41] at any time and in any way

[1:22:44] except perhaps to install utility rights away.

[1:22:48] As written, nothing prevents

[1:22:50] the developer from disturbing the man's succession area.

[1:22:53] In fact, the cunningly worded document

[1:22:57] incentivizes disturbance because

[1:23:00] the developer has a duty only to manage

[1:23:02] undisturbed areas before conveying them to the HOA.

[1:23:07] Thus, the more areas that they- that are disturbed,

[1:23:11] the less management the developer

[1:23:13] has and the disturbed land

[1:23:16] requires only two acres per

[1:23:18] quarter or two trees per quarter acre.

[1:23:21] Section 4F of the proffer should be amended to one,

[1:23:26] require that no part of

[1:23:28] the man's succession areas be disturbed at any time by

[1:23:31] any means whether by

[1:23:33] inadvertent heavy equipment or removal of topsoil.

[1:23:38] Two, require that

[1:23:39] many su- succession areas

[1:23:41] be roped off from the very beginning,

[1:23:43] not six months later,

[1:23:45] with signs to stay off and

[1:23:47] substantial penalties for any violations.

[1:23:51] These requirements are absolutely necessary because

[1:23:54] young construction workers love to drive

[1:23:57] their heavy equipment across land without obstacles.

[1:24:01] I know because I was one.

[1:24:03] They like- they like most people see soil as dirt,

[1:24:07] and see no harm in driving

[1:24:09] on grassland or any other land.

[1:24:11] Modern science shows the massive harm done by

[1:24:15] such ignorance and compacted soil take years,

[1:24:18] and in my experience decades to recover.

[1:24:22] Since the HOA will be responsible for

[1:24:24] these many succession areas for decades,

[1:24:27] the town must assure that every many succession area

[1:24:31] remains undisturbed during the entire development period.

[1:24:35] Amend the proffer to close

[1:24:37] this massive loop- loophole and avoid

[1:24:40] imposing a huge financial burden on

[1:24:42] future homeowners. Thank you for your time.

[1:24:45] >> Thank you. Will- will you please sign in also?

[1:24:47] We'd like to get your name, yeah. Thank you.

[1:24:55] >> Good evening. My name is Mike Stein.

[1:24:57] I live at 1225 Village Way South.

[1:25:00] Recreation in Blacksburg is very important.

[1:25:03] The town and the people of this town have made it

[1:25:05] clear that being outside it's very important.

[1:25:08] You see it in the bike paths, outdoor events,

[1:25:11] open spaces,

[1:25:12] and walkable family neighborhoods

[1:25:14] that fill our amazing town.

[1:25:17] GSE does not fit the pattern set by this town.

[1:25:24] Kids playing, dogs walking, riding bikes,

[1:25:27] all things that happen regularly in

[1:25:29] Blacksburg neighborhoods and all over the US really.

[1:25:33] For me, it's about a safe way to get there.

[1:25:37] The sheer number of driveways with

[1:25:39] parked cars, it's a lot.

[1:25:43] Kids, runners, walkers,

[1:25:46] dogs all have to navigate

[1:25:48] too many driveways and park cars.

[1:25:53] As a parent, I'd be very

[1:25:55] concerned about my kids walking to the bus,

[1:25:58] going to the playground.

[1:26:01] There's a lot of driveways, um,

[1:26:04] I counted up from one cul-de-sac in Street B,

[1:26:07] all the way to the end of the street

[1:26:08] is over 35 driveways.

[1:26:11] It's a lot of driveways for your kid to

[1:26:12] walk on their own to get to the park.

[1:26:16] Why is the playground on

[1:26:18] the North side located on the very edge?

[1:26:21] Why not central to the bulk of the houses?

[1:26:23] Why do they have to walk so far

[1:26:25] to get to- why can't we put it in the middle?

[1:26:27] Why is usable open space

[1:26:29] so far from the bulk of the homes?

[1:26:32] It seems it's pretty far away.

[1:26:35] Where do homeowners store bikes,

[1:26:37] sports equipment, and lawn equipment?

[1:26:41] Um, where do homeowners store trash and recycling bins?

[1:26:46] Will these be stored in driveways?

[1:26:49] Certainly not the best option,

[1:26:52] everybody having their's right in

[1:26:53] the driveway right up front to see.

[1:26:56] I would love to see

[1:26:58] easier and safer access to the recreational areas.

[1:27:02] From my perspective, this neighborhood could do

[1:27:05] a better job of creating

[1:27:07] recreational opportunities, ease of access.

[1:27:11] This is not the right design for a town that puts

[1:27:14] a premium on recreation. Thank you.

[1:27:17] >> Thank you- thank you.

[1:27:30] >> Hello.

[1:27:32] >> Uh, my name is Chris Caldwell.

[1:27:33] I live at 2105 Meadowbrook Drive.

[1:27:36] Uh, first of all,

[1:27:37] thank you all for your service to the community.

[1:27:40] I wasn't sure I was going to get here.

[1:27:42] Uh, I just came from the Blacksburg High

[1:27:44] School baseball and softball game,

[1:27:46] so beat Patrick Henry,

[1:27:47] yeah both of them.

[1:27:49] So uh, I'm dressed appropriately.

[1:27:52] I don't have something

[1:27:53] prepared but I would like to say I'm

[1:27:55] a lifelong resident since 1968 when I was born,

[1:27:59] with exception of a few years.

[1:28:02] Um, I grew up in the Meadowbrook area.

[1:28:06] Uh, I know well the drainage and floodage,

[1:28:09] uh, flooding issues.

[1:28:13] So coming home Friday,

[1:28:17] 7:30 PM, March 3rd,

[1:28:20] after about two hours of

[1:28:22] hard rain at 2801 Shadow Lake Road,

[1:28:27] the area was underwater,

[1:28:28] which frequently, um,

[1:28:30] signs are set out high water,

[1:28:33] obviously, um,

[1:28:35] turnaround don't drown type of scenario.

[1:28:38] Um, so in those areas,

[1:28:41] um, water comes up fast.

[1:28:46] Some people know that as Shadow Lake.

[1:28:48] Uh, I know it growing up as Kelly's pond.

[1:28:51] Kelly's owned that property,

[1:28:53] um, at the time, and uh,

[1:28:56] this subdivision with this extreme high density

[1:29:02] is going to shove

[1:29:04] a lot of water down through that valley.

[1:29:07] It's going to worsen

[1:29:10] the problems of the springtime floods

[1:29:13] Tom's Creek currently gets.

[1:29:16] Um, and uh,

[1:29:18] I just think that this is- I'm not anti-development,

[1:29:22] I'm not anti-affordable housing,

[1:29:25] I just think this is the wrong location for the idea.

[1:29:29] And it- it does not fit the existing area.

[1:29:34] It doesn't match Westover Hills,

[1:29:35] it doesn't match Gladewood.

[1:29:37] It doesn't match the village at Tom's Creek.

[1:29:40] It doesn't fit. It doesn't belong.

[1:29:44] So that's my passionate speech.

[1:29:46] Thank you for listening to me and I would

[1:29:49] like for us to adhere to the comprehensive plan.

[1:29:52] That- that side of 460 remains open and rule.

[1:29:57] Low density. Thank you.

[1:30:00] >> Thank you.

[1:30:12] I emailed

[1:30:13] this to you as well but I just wanted to,

[1:30:14] uh, you to have the open space management

[1:30:16] just kinda for reference.

[1:30:20] My name is Oslin Bushy.

[1:30:21] I live at 1222 Village Way South.

[1:30:24] Also, recently I've

[1:30:27] sent you a couple of emails about weapons.

[1:30:29] I also talked about weapons safety on April 25.

[1:30:33] And regarding stormwater in the most recent application,

[1:30:36] I feel like nothing has really changed.

[1:30:39] During the last work session,

[1:30:40] the only thing discussed relevant to safety was a fence,

[1:30:43] which wasn't liked as an idea.

[1:30:46] So please imagine this scenario.

[1:30:49] My name is Mary.

[1:30:51] I live at the bottom end of

[1:30:52] Street C in Glade Spring Crossing.

[1:30:56] I look out of my kitchen window and see

[1:30:58] the wet pond backing up to my yard, it's pretty close.

[1:31:02] I have three children under 10,

[1:31:05] they love playing outside.

[1:31:07] The nearest wreck area,

[1:31:09] as one of the other people has said,

[1:31:11] is on the other side of the pond,

[1:31:13] actually, right next to the pond.

[1:31:17] On the handout, it reads as

[1:31:18] B and C, those two wreck areas.

[1:31:20] I don't have time to take the kids out right now,

[1:31:22] but there is no way I'm letting them play in

[1:31:24] the small backyard by themselves.

[1:31:26] Last week, two neighbor kids from

[1:31:28] the other side were playing

[1:31:30] on the pond and fell through the ice.

[1:31:33] It's been hard living right next to the pond.

[1:31:35] I wish we had better safe options

[1:31:37] for children's play areas.

[1:31:39] And it's not just about the kids either.

[1:31:41] Last year our dog contracted

[1:31:43] heartworm disease from a mosquito bite.

[1:31:45] We had loads of them last fall.

[1:31:47] At least this snowy cold snap will help with that.

[1:31:50] I'm worried though, about

[1:31:51] the kids wanting to slide down the hill.

[1:31:54] One of them is going to slide

[1:31:55] right into the pond one day.

[1:31:57] I'll just turn on the TV instead.

[1:32:00] Do you think this is a far-fetched story?

[1:32:03] Right now on the town website,

[1:32:05] Glade Spring Crossing rezoning request has

[1:32:07] at least 78 document links, just since December.

[1:32:11] That's a lot of back and forth and issues for a project,

[1:32:15] approximately two years in the planning.

[1:32:17] I feel that in that time,

[1:32:19] the town and developer could have

[1:32:20] come up with something better,

[1:32:22] safer, and more equitable.

[1:32:25] Your planning commission voted against this rezoning 5-2.

[1:32:29] I realize that this is a town-partnered project,

[1:32:33] and the town council has the last word on

[1:32:35] whether it moves forward but please,

[1:32:37] I ask you to vote with common sense and

[1:32:39] integrity when making your decision

[1:32:41] tonight. Thank you very much.

[1:32:43] >> Thank you.

[1:32:55] >> Good evening. My name is Rosea Bushy.

[1:32:57] I live at 1222 Village Way South.

[1:33:00] Earlier this year, I had

[1:33:01] the opportunity to speak with the Planning Commission,

[1:33:03] and I left them with this message.

[1:33:06] With the number of variances the GSC development had,

[1:33:09] they were setting themselves

[1:33:10] and Blacksburg up for failure.

[1:33:13] Each variance is an opportunity for catastrophe.

[1:33:16] Monetarily, ecologically,

[1:33:18] safety or through loss of life.

[1:33:20] There are more variances now than when I spoke then.

[1:33:24] Now, perhaps I'm cynical,

[1:33:26] perhaps I'm pessimistic, I

[1:33:29] hope by the end of tonight I'm not realist.

[1:33:32] But it is my opinion,

[1:33:34] having watched and listened to the input

[1:33:35] from the Town Planning Commission in their vote

[1:33:37] to deny the GSC and the well-reasoned, well-informed,

[1:33:41] and scientifically objective voices of

[1:33:42] pertinent professionals who reside in the town,

[1:33:45] that there is sufficient dubiousness to delay if not deny

[1:33:48] the further- furtherance of

[1:33:50] this development as currently proposed.

[1:33:53] What's been more enlightening for me, however,

[1:33:55] is the seeming willingness of

[1:33:56] the town to continue to press

[1:33:57] forward with this development while

[1:33:59] adding even more variances.

[1:34:01] I can't help but feel that

[1:34:04] this- sorry that my own sense is that the town has

[1:34:08] made up its collective mind

[1:34:10] to refute its own planning commission

[1:34:13] and not listen to the folks here tonight who have,

[1:34:17] for months offered be- to

[1:34:19] be the voices of your better angels.

[1:34:21] To approve the GSC, as it stands,

[1:34:23] is to trod upon the work of all who came before you,

[1:34:26] who studied and let the data show

[1:34:28] what was needed to maintain a resilient,

[1:34:30] prosperous, and vital Blacksburg.

[1:34:32] They chose zoning carefully and purposefully to prevent

[1:34:35] the very miscarriage of rampant overbuild proposed here.

[1:34:39] Do those plans of those people mean nothing?

[1:34:43] Our zoning doesn't matter.

[1:34:45] And to use the words of the applicant,

[1:34:48] if you are not going to hold to

[1:34:52] the standards set by your predecessors now then when?

[1:34:58] I'm not a scientist or environmentalist,

[1:35:00] expert like some of my neighbors but I

[1:35:02] don't need to be to see that if you approve GSC,

[1:35:05] you will have been shown to have weighed and valued

[1:35:07] money and expediency over the environment,

[1:35:09] the safety of your employers,

[1:35:11] which is us and

[1:35:13] the children who will live in a subdivision

[1:35:14] burdened with variances,

[1:35:16] none of which were designed

[1:35:17] for their safety or prosperity.

[1:35:19] If this comes to pass,

[1:35:21] the fallout will not be expunged with a simple expedient.

[1:35:23] You now have before you a vote.

[1:35:26] You can choose to vote no,

[1:35:27] to preemptively save the natural beauty and ecosystem

[1:35:30] of Tom's Creek and other more permanent damage.

[1:35:33] The Planning Commission understood this.

[1:35:35] The scientific community understands this.

[1:35:37] We, the citizens, understand it.

[1:35:39] The GSC shortfalls, failures,

[1:35:42] and risks far outweigh its opportunities. Thank you.

[1:35:45] >> Thank you.

[1:35:55] >> Hi, everyone. My name is Gloria Schoen Holt,

[1:35:57] and I live at 1201 Glen Cove Lane.

[1:36:00] I'm here tonight to ask you to

[1:36:01] vote no on this application,

[1:36:03] because I believe that the GSC property itself

[1:36:06] is unsuitable for all that is being asked of it.

[1:36:10] I realize that a yes vote will allow you to check

[1:36:12] the box on two important issues facing Blacksburg,

[1:36:16] the need for affordable housing and the

[1:36:18] need for a regional stormwater facility.

[1:36:21] I understand those motivating factors

[1:36:23] and I want to address both of them.

[1:36:26] With regard to stormwater, as you know,

[1:36:28] I'm a citizen who will directly

[1:36:30] benefit from the proposed stormwater ponds.

[1:36:33] Because my home is downstream of

[1:36:35] town and from the GSC property,

[1:36:37] I've experienced the impact of

[1:36:38] stormwater flooding for years.

[1:36:41] I do hope for a real solution,

[1:36:43] but I'm wary in the- if

[1:36:46] the proposed ponds being built will build along with

[1:36:48] the- if the-if the proposed ponds were

[1:36:51] being built along with a smaller development,

[1:36:54] I'd have more confidence in the size

[1:36:56] and number of ponds that are being proposed.

[1:36:59] But it seems to me that the ponds will not be enough to

[1:37:01] contain both the existing storm water flows and

[1:37:05] the new flows that will come from

[1:37:06] 176 new houses and new streets.

[1:37:11] On this issue, my neighbors and I are left worried and

[1:37:15] vulnerable to the impacts of this new development.

[1:37:20] Reducing the density and the number of new houses at

[1:37:22] GSC would give us

[1:37:24] some reassurance that we are being heard.

[1:37:28] In terms of the proposed affordable housing,

[1:37:30] the GSC property is

[1:37:32] unsuitable for the impact of this high density,

[1:37:35] low cost housing project.

[1:37:37] Although there are technically 44 acres on the site,

[1:37:40] only a portion of that is buildable.

[1:37:42] And even at that, the site will

[1:37:43] require heavy grading and infill.

[1:37:46] The upfront infrastructure costs on a site

[1:37:49] like this will be very expensive and

[1:37:51] that is leading to the developer's demand to

[1:37:54] maximize the density in order to cover his investment.

[1:37:58] If getting 24 affordable homes and

[1:38:00] stormwater ponds is your only concern,

[1:38:03] then I can see that the density issue

[1:38:05] is a-is probably mute.

[1:38:07] But for the neighbors of

[1:38:08] this property and for its future residents,

[1:38:11] the density issue is the issue.

[1:38:14] It means more cars associated with more houses.

[1:38:18] It will mean more traffic on Glade Road,

[1:38:20] it will mean more concrete and asphalt instead of lawns,

[1:38:24] which will generate more stormwater

[1:38:26] and cause more pollution.

[1:38:28] It will mean that the residents who use so

[1:38:30] generously propose to help with

[1:38:32] their mortgages will be living in

[1:38:34] attached homes in essentially a concrete jungle without

[1:38:38] garages for their vehicles and bicycles and without

[1:38:41] natural places for their kids

[1:38:43] to play in their own backyards.

[1:38:46] The demand for maximum density at

[1:38:48] GSC is shortsighted and disturbing.

[1:38:51] It will lower the quality of life for future residents.

[1:38:54] Please respect their dignity by

[1:38:56] building comfortable homes that

[1:38:58] they will be proud to own.

[1:38:59] Please reduce the density on this site. Thank you.

[1:39:03] >> Thank you.

[1:39:13] >> Hello. My name is Joseph Baker and I live at

[1:39:16] 1515 Poplar Ridge Circle in the village at Tom's Creek.

[1:39:20] In 2008 when my wife

[1:39:22] Priscilla and I moved our family to Blacksburg,

[1:39:24] we fully understood from

[1:39:25] discussions with our realtor that

[1:39:27] something was eventually going to be

[1:39:29] developed on the parcel next to our neighborhood.

[1:39:31] And we accepted that, it's progress,

[1:39:34] towns grow and empty spaces get filled.

[1:39:37] Fast forward to 2015,

[1:39:39] and some of you will remember a proposal

[1:39:41] to build student housing on that property.

[1:39:43] It was called the retreat.

[1:39:45] There was a bit of a hubbub,

[1:39:46] but thankfully sanity prevailed.

[1:39:48] Developer withdrew their proposal

[1:39:50] and the retreat was eventually

[1:39:51] built at a more appropriate location on Prices Fork Road.

[1:39:56] Fast forward again to last fall,

[1:39:58] when I first became aware of

[1:40:00] the Glad Springs Crossing proposal,

[1:40:02] my first reaction was,

[1:40:03] yeah, I always knew it was coming.

[1:40:05] A bunch of family homes will be built

[1:40:07] back there, could be worse.

[1:40:09] However, over the past few weeks,

[1:40:12] I've gradually come to and- and it literally is weeks.

[1:40:15] I've gradually come to realize that this proposal is

[1:40:18] an extreme deviation from

[1:40:19] the town's long term vision of

[1:40:21] how the site would most likely be developed.

[1:40:24] And so here I'm before you today to

[1:40:27] voice my profound concern

[1:40:28] for the fatal flaws in this proposal,

[1:40:31] but also the manner in which

[1:40:32] the approvo-approval process has

[1:40:33] been playing out and some people

[1:40:35] have alluded to this already.

[1:40:38] Back in 2015 I wrote several emails

[1:40:40] to town council members and some of you are still

[1:40:42] here explaining my concerns about

[1:40:45] the retreat proposal and

[1:40:46] asking for answers to very specific questions.

[1:40:50] In all cases I received

[1:40:51] thoughtful and courteous responses that reassured me that

[1:40:55] my elected representatives on town council were

[1:40:58] open minded and measured

[1:41:00] in their consideration of the proposal.

[1:41:03] I was therefore extremely disappointed

[1:41:04] to learn recently from my neighbors

[1:41:07] that similar efforts in over

[1:41:09] a period of months to get answers to

[1:41:12] extremely important questions about

[1:41:14] the numerous flaws in

[1:41:15] this proposal are simply being ignored.

[1:41:18] That doesn't seem like healthy democracy to me.

[1:41:21] It really makes me wonder what's changed,

[1:41:25] and so I have a few questions on my own now.

[1:41:28] Why is this proposal even being considered by

[1:41:30] town council when it was previously

[1:41:32] voted down by the planning commission?

[1:41:34] Shouldn't it be sent back? What's the rush?

[1:41:38] How appealing would this proposal be if it

[1:41:41] didn't have an affordable housing component?

[1:41:44] And you separate that objectively.

[1:41:47] How much of the affordability in it is for the developer?

[1:41:51] i.e profit versus affordability for future buyers.

[1:41:56] Should long held codified standards pertaining to

[1:41:58] important issues such as public safety,

[1:42:01] quality of life, and environmental stewardship be simply

[1:42:05] ignored to facilitate a relatively modest increase

[1:42:08] in the affordable housing.

[1:42:11] And finally, what is the threshold number of

[1:42:13] requested variances that should

[1:42:15] trigger automatic rejection of a proposal?

[1:42:18] Because clearly it's inherently

[1:42:20] flawed and simply bad for the town.

[1:42:23] Before you vote, please

[1:42:25] consider the long lasting consequences of

[1:42:27] approving this dangerously flawed proposal. Thank you.

[1:42:30] >> Thank you.

[1:42:37] >> Who we got next.

[1:42:46] >> All my husband. I'm Priscilla Baker at

[1:42:48] 1515 Poplar Ridge Circle.

[1:42:51] I just had a few questions,

[1:42:53] ah, not a long statement.

[1:42:55] I just had a few questions about

[1:42:56] street safety as someone who's out on

[1:42:59] the streets a lot- a lot

[1:43:00] with young kids when I have them and now my dog.

[1:43:03] Um, these are of concern to me.

[1:43:07] On the South side where will emergency vehicles,

[1:43:09] service vans, or delivery trucks park?

[1:43:13] Will semi moving trucks block

[1:43:15] numerous driveways when loading in and out of homes?

[1:43:20] How will town garbage

[1:43:21] trucks maneuver car lined streets with

[1:43:24] no clear location to place 260 garbage cans?

[1:43:29] Will the town be able to

[1:43:30] plow all of these snow covered roads?

[1:43:35] How will town police enforce

[1:43:37] the proffered 15 mile per hour speed limit?

[1:43:42] Is it safe for kids to ride

[1:43:43] bikes down car lines, streets,

[1:43:45] or play on "sidewalks" that are

[1:43:48] simply an extension of modified driveways?

[1:43:52] How will bikes traverse the development with

[1:43:55] limited sidewalks and no paved trails?

[1:43:59] And on Gla-Glade Road,

[1:44:00] how will cyclists navigate

[1:44:02] the street A intersection given

[1:44:05] that the dedicated bike lane will be removed?

[1:44:08] Those are my questions about safety. Thanks.

[1:44:11] >> Thank you.

[1:44:19] >> Fine. I'm at 1208 Village Way South,

[1:44:21] I just had questions related

[1:44:24] to parking on the South side.

[1:44:27] Uh, when it comes to

[1:44:29] houses that maybe have more cars than two,

[1:44:32] you know when- when it's only allotted two parking spots,

[1:44:36] where will the overflow parking be?

[1:44:38] I think there's questions related

[1:44:40] to when family comes into town,

[1:44:41] when friends come into town,

[1:44:43] if people want to invite people to their home,

[1:44:46] where are they going to be parked?

[1:44:47] Is it in front of other houses?

[1:44:49] How far down the road will they potentially park?

[1:44:53] So there's a lot of questions related to

[1:44:56] what does that overflow parking

[1:44:58] really look like. Thank you.

[1:45:00] >> Thank you.

[1:45:09] >> Good evening. My name is John Dickinson and I live at

[1:45:12] 1503 Popular Ridge Circle in the village at Tom's Creek.

[1:45:17] And I have several questions that relate to the wet pond.

[1:45:23] Why does applicant insist the wet pond is recreational?

[1:45:28] Why isn't pond safety a priority

[1:45:30] within a family friendly neighborhood?

[1:45:34] Is wet pond DEQ compliant per November 2022 design guide?

[1:45:43] How can applicant claim

[1:45:45] a six foot deep pond will lower water temperatures?,

[1:45:50] but town engineers says there is no proof?

[1:45:55] Why isn't GSC following science clearly demonstrating

[1:45:59] a substantial tree canopy

[1:46:02] mitigates pond and runoff temperatures?

[1:46:06] Why are DEQ stressors not taken more seriously and yet

[1:46:11] the bare minimum is considered good enough for

[1:46:14] a new town Stormwater management facility?

[1:46:19] If rezoning passes, will the town of

[1:46:22] Blacksburg maintain their tree city status?

[1:46:26] Thank you so much for your time.

[1:46:28] >> Thank you.

[1:46:34] >> Good evening. Uh, my name is Lucy Touchtone.

[1:46:36] I live at 1213 Village Way South,

[1:46:40] right adjacent to the new development.

[1:46:43] And I want to start out,

[1:46:45] um, with something positive.

[1:46:46] I wanted to thank you for listening

[1:46:48] to our concerns about the safety,

[1:46:50] regarding the connection to our neighborhood,

[1:46:52] and we really do appreciate that you listen to

[1:46:56] our concerns and- and remove that part of the proposal.

[1:46:59] Um, with that being said,

[1:47:01] I think we all still have a lot of concerns and

[1:47:04] I want to continue the list of questions.

[1:47:08] Um, what protection is in place guaranteeing

[1:47:10] the 24 affordable home lots are not the least desirable?

[1:47:15] How is the saving from the removed connector at

[1:47:18] Village Way South being reinvested back into the project?

[1:47:22] How does the town justify approving cost saving

[1:47:25] variances financially benefiting the developer?

[1:47:30] How does expediting the town's review process to

[1:47:33] 15 days impact other town projects

[1:47:36] and will town staff be able to handle

[1:47:38] the lofty timelines and

[1:47:39] continue to service other town projects?

[1:47:43] As a town council member, ask yourself,

[1:47:45] would you approve this rezoning

[1:47:48] without the affordable housing part? Thank you.

[1:47:51] >> Thank you.

[1:47:57] >> Aicy, uh, 1221 Village Way South.

[1:48:01] Um, the Glade Springs application states

[1:48:03] equity inclu- inclusion are

[1:48:05] important values in the community.

[1:48:07] This development will provide

[1:48:08] opportunities for all income levels

[1:48:10] within Blacksburg to obtain

[1:48:11] home ownership within the same development.

[1:48:14] Furthermore, the project plans to intermingle

[1:48:17] income qualifying homes with

[1:48:19] market rate homes with seamless architecture,

[1:48:21] eliminating visual barriers to equity.

[1:48:24] Social interactions and community engagement

[1:48:26] of diverse incomes and backgrounds will be

[1:48:28] encouraged in development open spaces

[1:48:30] centered between the south and

[1:48:32] north areas of the property,

[1:48:33] the development will increase

[1:48:35] the affordability of living in town.

[1:48:36] Once again, eliminating

[1:48:38] community wide barriers to equity.

[1:48:40] My questions are the following.

[1:48:42] If the north and south sections are so different,

[1:48:45] how does that qualify as intermingling?

[1:48:48] How are social interactions and

[1:48:50] community engagement of diverse incomes encouraged

[1:48:53] when the bulk of the open spaces are filled

[1:48:55] with multiple stormwater structures,

[1:48:57] a pump station, and access road?

[1:49:01] There are two small recreational areas shown.

[1:49:03] They appear to be in the floodplain.

[1:49:05] They are also both on

[1:49:06] the larger house side of the development.

[1:49:09] How is this equitable?

[1:49:11] Besides the 10 affordable homes

[1:49:13] meeting the true definition

[1:49:15] and the 14 additional units

[1:49:16] taken in by the community housing partners,

[1:49:19] the remaining 152 units will all be sold at market value.

[1:49:23] Based on similar sized homes in Blacksburg,

[1:49:26] the smaller units will sell for over $300,000.

[1:49:29] For comparison, 608 Rose Drive

[1:49:32] and 1820 square foot

[1:49:33] home with three bedrooms and two baths,

[1:49:35] built in 1960 and for sale currently for 355,000.

[1:49:41] How is- how is, sorry,

[1:49:45] how is a $300,000 town home with no yard,

[1:49:48] no guest parking, and few amenities,

[1:49:50] going to fill a void in the housing market?

[1:49:52] Yes, it will be the only option,

[1:49:54] but by definition a substandard one at best.

[1:49:58] Many of the less expensive housing

[1:50:00] in Blacksburg is snatched up by

[1:50:01] outer town buyers to be used as second homes or

[1:50:04] homes for their children

[1:50:05] while they are students in Blacksburg.

[1:50:07] There is nothing in the proffers

[1:50:09] that can stop this from happening.

[1:50:10] This will become a student housing development.

[1:50:13] Nothing in the proffers prevents

[1:50:15] the rental of a bedroom to a roommate.

[1:50:17] Nothing prevents the HOA from changing the rules.

[1:50:20] The words in the application do not match reality.

[1:50:23] Please vote no. Thank you.

[1:50:29] >> Anybody else?

[1:50:35] >> Good evening. My name is Mike Clapp Roth,

[1:50:38] and I live at 1210 Village Way South.

[1:50:41] Uh, my comments will be a little bit different,

[1:50:43] uh, based on basically,

[1:50:45] uh my- our experience living in

[1:50:46] a neighborhood that may be similar to what,

[1:50:48] uh, this development may look like when it's completed.

[1:50:52] Uh, before we moved into the village of Tom's Creek,

[1:50:54] uh, we lived, you know, basically,

[1:50:57] almost a brand new, uh,

[1:50:59] a townhouse development in Christiansburg,

[1:51:01] um, that shares some of

[1:51:03] the same features as- as the proposed development.

[1:51:06] Including small lots, town homes with,

[1:51:09] uh, interior units,

[1:51:11] uh, limited, uh,

[1:51:14] on street parking, and also parking on a steep slope.

[1:51:19] I'd like to highlight how-

[1:51:22] how some of those issues- how we dealt with

[1:51:23] some of those issues when we lived there,

[1:51:25] uh, and some of the impact they had on the community.

[1:51:29] No surprise. One key issue is parking.

[1:51:32] Particularly on street parking,

[1:51:35] many of the units had two allowed parking spots,

[1:51:39] uh, similar to what's being

[1:51:40] proposed for the development.

[1:51:42] However, more often than not,

[1:51:44] our residents preferred to park

[1:51:45] one car in the Rowan vehicle in the street.

[1:51:48] Uh, so they could avoid the, uh, uh,

[1:51:52] having to shuffle vehicles in and

[1:51:54] out of a long linear driveway,

[1:51:57] uh, when one of them needed to leave.

[1:51:58] Uh, or they would prefer to park their larger vehicles,

[1:52:03] trucks, SUVs, on the street instead of in the driveway.

[1:52:08] And even though there was more on

[1:52:09] street parking in that development than

[1:52:11] there is being proposed for- for Clade, um,

[1:52:14] parking was still an issue,

[1:52:16] especially on nights and weekends or when,

[1:52:19] uh, the residents had gas.

[1:52:22] As a result, it was a challenge sometimes for

[1:52:24] us just even back out of our driveway,

[1:52:27] because we had large vehicles

[1:52:28] parked on the street on either side of the driveway,

[1:52:30] and it was, you know, a very difficult.

[1:52:34] We had limited vision,

[1:52:36] um, of backing out.

[1:52:38] Add to that all the trucks,

[1:52:40] delivery trucks, and so on and on,

[1:52:41] on the street, and

[1:52:42] occasionally could get quite congested.

[1:52:45] As a result, guests sometimes had

[1:52:47] difficulty finding a parking area nearby.

[1:52:50] And, uh, some residents became, shall I say,

[1:52:53] rather protective of the, uh,

[1:52:56] street parking that was near their unit,

[1:52:58] even though they didn't own that- the land.

[1:53:02] Also, some of the parking

[1:53:03] was on fairly steep slopes, uh,

[1:53:06] as will be the case, uh,

[1:53:08] in Glade Springs, particularly, um,

[1:53:10] the accessory, if you will,

[1:53:13] on street parking,

[1:53:15] uh, because of the slope of the parking,

[1:53:20] particularly parallel parking on

[1:53:22] that section of road was very

[1:53:23] difficult, particularly in bad weather.

[1:53:25] And also, it made it difficult for

[1:53:27] young parents to unload their kids and

[1:53:29] strollers or for seniors to unload

[1:53:31] groceries and- and take them up at their house.

[1:53:36] Actually, another issue maybe a little more surprising,

[1:53:39] was trash and recycling bins.

[1:53:42] Uh, the HOA required the bins to be out of

[1:53:44] sight except on pick up days.

[1:53:47] And so then- often involved in bringing them out

[1:53:49] from behind the units and putting them out on the street.

[1:53:52] But when street parking was limited,

[1:53:55] that often meant that- that

[1:53:57] the bins had to go up at the end of the driveway,

[1:53:59] which meant anyone entering or leaving that driveway had

[1:54:02] to move those bins in order to get out.

[1:54:07] [ Overlapping speakers ] So I see my time is up.

[1:54:09] I appreciate your consideration.

[1:54:11] >> All right. Thank you- thank you.

[1:54:14] What is that neighborhood? I'm curious.

[1:54:16] >> I'm sorry. >> What is that neighborhood in Christiansburg?

[1:54:18] >> It's Clifton.

[1:54:21] >> Thank you.

[1:54:28] >> Hello. I'm Alan Raffle.

[1:54:30] I live at 1751 Ginger Lane, Blacksburg.

[1:54:33] For 23 years, I have been

[1:54:35] a member of an HOA much of that time,

[1:54:37] much of my effort has been spent in trying

[1:54:39] to restore our disturbed lands

[1:54:42] to some kind of natural succession

[1:54:44] with the environmental services

[1:54:45] that we'd like to see from that.

[1:54:47] So from that experience,

[1:54:48] I can say that asking

[1:54:50] HOA volunteers to manage

[1:54:52] that kind of process over time would be,

[1:54:54] to put it mildly, a big lift.

[1:54:56] Thank you.

[1:54:58] >> Thank you.

[1:55:14] >> Jim Whitener, 1513 Poplar Ridge Circle.

[1:55:18] In deference to the Mayor,

[1:55:20] I've exercised quite a bit of my statement tonight.

[1:55:23] If my email was abusive,

[1:55:25] this would have been down right, incendiary.

[1:55:29] We all know you're going to pass this.

[1:55:34] You're quadrupling the density,

[1:55:36] subsidizing the proposal with $2.8 million.

[1:55:40] Disregarding federal and state guidelines

[1:55:42] on affordable housing.

[1:55:44] Expediting the prices to the benefit of no one but

[1:55:47] the applicant, ignoring environmental concerns.

[1:55:51] The list is too long

[1:55:55] and the way that you've handled

[1:55:57] development in the last few years,

[1:56:00] it's, kind of, like, you've handled

[1:56:01] the Center Street debarcle, poorly.

[1:56:05] But I digress.

[1:56:07] After 28 years of conducting

[1:56:09] criminal and counter intelligence operations,

[1:56:12] one of the first things I learned

[1:56:13] was after a big project,

[1:56:17] do an after action.

[1:56:19] Lessons learned.

[1:56:22] So in as much as you're going to pass this anyway,

[1:56:25] let's just go to that.

[1:56:28] And following in the footsteps of the legacy,

[1:56:30] the Midtown project, the Farm of Blacksburg,

[1:56:34] and the huge density increases for

[1:56:36] all the numerous student housing projects

[1:56:38] in the last few years,

[1:56:39] there are lessons to be learned.

[1:56:43] First of all, you

[1:56:45] really need to get the Planning Commission in line.

[1:56:49] They asked way too many questions.

[1:56:51] They listened too well.

[1:56:54] They asked questions of the applicant.

[1:56:56] They granted variances, but

[1:56:59] then they had the unmitigated gall to recommend denial.

[1:57:05] But then it went on to

[1:57:07] the power uh- to the uh Town council.

[1:57:13] They need to be reindoctrinated

[1:57:14] , the Planning Commission.

[1:57:17] And some members of staff really

[1:57:20] need some remedial math skills.

[1:57:26] One of my questions was,

[1:57:28] why aren't you- why aren't you including

[1:57:30] utilities in the calculations?

[1:57:36] I was told it was too difficult.

[1:57:39] I Googled average monthly electrical bill

[1:57:43] in Blacksburg and the first thing

[1:57:44] that came up was $169 a month of math.

[1:57:51] You are adding 15,000-29,000

[1:57:55] for affordable homes by not including it.

[1:57:58] You want to make these affordable homes,

[1:58:01] you just don't want to make them too affordable.

[1:58:06] And now you're turning around and essentially giving them

[1:58:10] a hidden 400,000-$700,000,

[1:58:13] additional subsidy by not including the utilities.

[1:58:17] All the federal and state guidelines,

[1:58:19] and I've sent every one of you the links to

[1:58:23] where they are include utilities but you don't.

[1:58:28] And it started with the RFP,

[1:58:33] so this was the town's idea.

[1:58:35] >> Thank you.

[1:58:36] >> Thank you.

[1:58:41] >> Anybody else?

[1:58:46] >> Good evening.

[1:58:48] I'm Amy Burton, 1005 Glade Road.

[1:58:53] I'm going to try not to repeat

[1:58:55] what most folks have said this evening,

[1:58:56] um, to have the V, okay.

[1:59:00] And the reason that this site is good for

[1:59:04] the industrial facility that the town

[1:59:07] needs to process Stormwater is because of the slope,

[1:59:10] and literally the stormwater facility

[1:59:13] doesn't belong with family housing.

[1:59:16] And so putting the two slopes together,

[1:59:18] that drops down into the pond to- basically

[1:59:22] it's oil and water or electricity and gas with sparks.

[1:59:26] It looks good, but literally it's

[1:59:29] down to a pit that is there to process stormwater.

[1:59:32] They don't go together in anyone's

[1:59:36] look other than making it work for

[1:59:38] the sake of it fits and checks the boxes.

[1:59:41] It's very much a case of the haves and have

[1:59:43] nots with South side, North side.

[1:59:47] The zoning amendment to make it PRD,

[1:59:50] which is comparable to

[1:59:51] the RR4 density is using road design standards from R1.

[1:59:58] I don't know how that's legal, but apparently it is.

[2:00:00] So the standards of road development is set

[2:00:04] for less density. It's just not.

[2:00:08] It's not comparable with something that can be done.

[2:00:12] So that I don't understand

[2:00:14] the length of streets to family parking.

[2:00:17] That's where they're supposed to have on street parking.

[2:00:20] The construction disparity where

[2:00:23] it's mentioned over and

[2:00:25] over won't go through Village Way South.

[2:00:27] All the kids live on Glade Road, up in that area.

[2:00:30] Six years of construction trucks,

[2:00:33] they're going to move over eight feet to where?

[2:00:36] Barreling down the hill.

[2:00:40] It's just- if you look at the actuality

[2:00:42] and there's no- it's- yeah.

[2:00:44] So it's not fair to the people who are on

[2:00:49] fixed income to put them in a scenario which is

[2:00:52] basically a Stormwater processing facility to go down.

[2:00:55] And finally, with the little stories of I live here,

[2:00:59] I'm actually a divorce teacher,

[2:01:01] 2.5 years ago, not three.

[2:01:03] Part of my agreement was to get my house on Glade Road.

[2:01:07] And I said, all right, I'm going to go back then to

[2:01:09] Blacksburg, it's Tree Street.

[2:01:12] I did graduate here in '93,

[2:01:13] so just to literally move

[2:01:16] in and then the

[2:01:18] folks that are on fixed income, they're being helped.

[2:01:20] I'm going to have to get a mortgage,

[2:01:23] whatever loan to try to get my house not to be impacted.

[2:01:28] It's just fairness and

[2:01:30] equity is the best product for everyone.

[2:01:33] Urban sprawl would be using

[2:01:34] existing housing to help folks.

[2:01:37] It doesn't have to be the V in the middle where

[2:01:41] the kids can't play because the water is being processed.

[2:01:45] But thank you.

[2:01:48] >> Thank you.

[2:01:55] >> Hello. It's nice to see you guys.

[2:01:57] I'm sure y'all are

[2:01:59] anxious for this night to

[2:02:00] come to an end as much as we are.

[2:02:02] So thank you for

[2:02:04] your patience and listening and engaging.

[2:02:06] It's very much appreciated.

[2:02:08] If you would- my name is Tracy Sterling,

[2:02:11] 1211 Village Way South.

[2:02:12] And if you guys would humor me for just a minute,

[2:02:14] we're going to take a stroll down memory line.

[2:02:16] Um, specifically, May 12,

[2:02:19] 2020 town council meeting

[2:02:21] was considering the rezoning for the farm.

[2:02:24] Several of you guys had

[2:02:25] reservations and I would like to just remind you,

[2:02:28] starting with Miss Anderson, um,

[2:02:30] I quote, "The problem for me is location.

[2:02:34] If the farm was developed and the land

[2:02:36] next to it stayed zoned as is,

[2:02:38] I might feel differently,

[2:02:40] we should not review the farm in isolation,

[2:02:42] but instead of look at the entire undeveloped area,

[2:02:46] including the adjacent property."

[2:02:48] Mr. Bush, and I quote,

[2:02:51] "My fear is once we start the snowball rolling,

[2:02:54] by allowing this kind of density on this side

[2:02:56] of 460 it will be easier and

[2:02:59] easier for us and future council to

[2:03:01] permit more and more of that kind of development.

[2:03:05] There are some pastoral qualities

[2:03:07] about Tom's Creek Basin that should remain as is."

[2:03:11] Mr. Ford, "I've never

[2:03:13] believed that RR4 is appropriate there,

[2:03:16] and the comp plan needs to be

[2:03:17] updated and I was hoping that density would come down.

[2:03:21] I agree with Michael, Susan,

[2:03:23] and John about Tom's Creek Basin.

[2:03:25] I don't feel that voting for this in any way lends

[2:03:29] itself towards future projects of

[2:03:31] higher density on that site.

[2:03:34] I'm committed, as counsels of the past have been

[2:03:36] committed to protecting

[2:03:38] the housing stock in that part of town."

[2:03:41] And I only bring this up because

[2:03:42] I believe the farm is relevant,

[2:03:44] and I believe that's why we're all here now,

[2:03:46] is because of the density increase.

[2:03:49] If we could go forward to April 6, 2021,

[2:03:52] the Planning Commission meeting was

[2:03:53] looking to amend the comp plan.

[2:03:56] Town staff recommended denial and

[2:03:59] the applicant rebuttal statement

[2:04:01] said that they didn't want to feel

[2:04:03] limited in only developing

[2:04:05] this pa- this parcel by right because they would

[2:04:08] be limited to $700,000

[2:04:11] houses and they wanted

[2:04:12] to be creative and have mixed income.

[2:04:15] And that was approved.

[2:04:17] April 13, 2021, Town Council. Same thing.

[2:04:21] This parcel became infill

[2:04:23] with the development of the farm,

[2:04:25] and the applicant asked for a density increase to four.

[2:04:28] And I quote, "We're asking for a density of four.

[2:04:31] Not saying we will do four,

[2:04:33] not saying we will do one,

[2:04:35] but somewhere in that range."

[2:04:37] Again, it was approved.

[2:04:39] Then here we are considering

[2:04:41] the rezoning for Glade Springs Crossing.

[2:04:44] February 2023, Planning Commission recommended denial.

[2:04:49] Then you lovely people have the opportunity

[2:04:51] to make the decision based on the rezoning.

[2:04:55] Where we are is that

[2:04:56] this proposal does include mixed income housing,

[2:05:01] which we all agree is needed and desired

[2:05:04] in this- in our neighborhood and in our community.

[2:05:07] And that's positive. The irony is,

[2:05:10] It also includes the 44 $700,000,

[2:05:14] bigger houses that they could have developed by right.

[2:05:18] That's a win.

[2:05:20] What it doesn't include is the density range of 1-4.

[2:05:25] I'm bringing this up because

[2:05:27] Glade Springs Crossing is driven by density,

[2:05:29] intense density and I'm hoping that you guys will

[2:05:33] consider at one time density

[2:05:35] gave you guys reason to pause.

[2:05:37] So please vote No to deny and thank you all.

[2:05:40] >> Thank you.

[2:05:45] >> Last but not least.

[2:05:49] >> I don't know about that.

[2:05:50] >> [inaudible]

[2:05:53] >> The next way. Mayor, uh,

[2:05:55] council members, uh,

[2:05:56] my name's John Stemen.

[2:05:58] I live at 2112 Reagan Road since 1998.

[2:06:02] I'm one of the few that don't surround live here,

[2:06:04] that have spoken, that don't

[2:06:05] surround- surround the area directly.

[2:06:08] I don't have that same feeling.

[2:06:11] I would like to say since this is

[2:06:12] an ordinance rezoning, um,

[2:06:14] from rural residential to planned residential zoning,

[2:06:19] it- it makes sense to me.

[2:06:21] I- I had sent you all a letter and I really

[2:06:23] appreciate y'all responding to me,

[2:06:26] but, um, how else are you going to get

[2:06:28] affordable housing than- than work on density?

[2:06:31] To be quite honest with you and with the value of land,

[2:06:35] and I think this land trust is a win-win situation

[2:06:39] for the town and- and for the people

[2:06:41] that will be moving into some of these houses.

[2:06:44] And I know it- it rubs against the green,

[2:06:46] I probably need to look behind me a little closer,

[2:06:49] but, uh, I- I do- I do, uh,

[2:06:51] appreciate the work that you all are

[2:06:53] doing and the thought you're putting into

[2:06:54] this and I wouldn't

[2:06:56] want to be in your position right now,

[2:06:58] but, uh, I really support this

[2:07:00] myself for those reasons and thank you again.

[2:07:04] >> I ho- I hope you, in particular,

[2:07:05] will get one of those books because,

[2:07:08] uh, Arlene is your neighbor.

[2:07:18] >> Hello- hello. Here we are again.

[2:07:22] Get the phone up here.

[2:07:28] All set. Um,

[2:07:30] Honorable Mayor and town council, I am Gais,

[2:07:32] I live at 1221 Village Way South and so here we are,

[2:07:36] at long last, after

[2:07:38] a final evening of impassioned speeches,

[2:07:40] it comes down to this.

[2:07:42] We understand that you're tired of hearing the drone of

[2:07:45] somewhat repetitious three-minute commentaries

[2:07:48] and reading hundreds,

[2:07:49] if not thousands of pages of citizens comments.

[2:07:52] We appreciate the town staff, the planning commission,

[2:07:56] and the town council's time and effort in

[2:07:58] responding and consuming this material.

[2:08:00] And if it makes anyone feel remotely better,

[2:08:03] we're equally exhausted from

[2:08:04] planning and writing these messages.

[2:08:07] But before we collectively pat ourselves on the back,

[2:08:09] please consider why we've made

[2:08:11] this much effort around a simple rezoning, proposal.

[2:08:14] Everyone here has jobs, families,

[2:08:16] etc and while it may be surprising to some,

[2:08:20] very few in the audience are

[2:08:21] fundamentally interested in zoning processes.

[2:08:25] It's because we're citizens of Blacksburg and we do

[2:08:28] care about what happens in our town, our community,

[2:08:31] and our neighborhoods and we're

[2:08:32] trying to make a clear statement of what

[2:08:34] can be done to enable

[2:08:35] the positive development of this land.

[2:08:38] As we said from the start,

[2:08:39] we expect the land to be developed,

[2:08:41] and Mr. Hopper clearly has

[2:08:44] the ability to develop under existing by-right zoning.

[2:08:46] We welcome affordable housing

[2:08:48] in the town of Blacksburg and on this parcel,

[2:08:50] we just don't believe this density fits on this site,

[2:08:53] or there are far too many compromises required,

[2:08:56] given the top- topography and existing watersheds.

[2:09:00] The number of variances required,

[2:09:02] the need to think differently about affordable zoning,

[2:09:05] and the requirements of $2 million of

[2:09:07] public funds for 10 affordable units.

[2:09:10] This should clarify the obvious in

[2:09:13] an eight unsuitability of this proposal.

[2:09:17] If you permit this PRD,

[2:09:18] there's no turning back.

[2:09:20] There- there is no redo

[2:09:22] based on some improved future plan.

[2:09:24] The town will be stuck with the various issues,

[2:09:26] so eloquently described by

[2:09:28] my compatriots for several decades.

[2:09:32] We aren't adversaries,

[2:09:34] we're citizens and neighbors and

[2:09:35] we want to see a development that's safe,

[2:09:37] environmentally sensitive, and provides

[2:09:39] needed low-cost housing above 10 units,

[2:09:42] just like the developers.

[2:09:44] We can reasonably disagree about what

[2:09:46] is the best course of action for the parcel and

[2:09:48] it seems like the town has a singular plan for

[2:09:51] 10 affordable housing units on

[2:09:53] a clock with a $2million windfall,

[2:09:55] and all other logic and reason about what could be

[2:09:58] done is simply ignored and or overwritten.

[2:10:02] Please- please don't waste

[2:10:04] this opportunity on an ill-advised plan.

[2:10:07] But now it's time to vote and make a decision.

[2:10:09] We urge you to deny the application or at least return

[2:10:12] it back to the planning commission

[2:10:13] for further revision and review.

[2:10:16] The transient lore of a limited number of

[2:10:18] affordable units shouldn't modify the obvious concerns

[2:10:21] about the proposal and make

[2:10:23] a permanent mistake that will be

[2:10:24] a blight on the community for decades.

[2:10:27] I'll leave you with a quote from Alan Leopold,

[2:10:30] "We abuse land because we regard it

[2:10:33] as a commodity belonging to someone.

[2:10:36] When we see land as a community to which we all belong,

[2:10:40] we may begin to use it with love and respect."

[2:10:43] Good luck with your deliberations

[2:10:45] and thanks for your time and considerations.

[2:10:48] >> Thank you.

[2:10:59] >> Good evening. I'm Charles Shade and I

[2:11:02] live at 401 Clairmont Drive in Blacksburg.

[2:11:06] I am very sympathetic

[2:11:08] with the neighbors of Glade Spring Crossing,

[2:11:11] who are concerned about this project.

[2:11:13] I'm facing similar changes in

[2:11:15] my neighborhood with a large apartment complex

[2:11:19] going up across the street.

[2:11:20] I don't like it much and I hope that

[2:11:23] mitigation of adverse consequences is successful.

[2:11:28] Worried and vulnerable characterizes me

[2:11:30] too but I also recognize that

[2:11:34] building out within town borders is inevitable if we

[2:11:38] want to maintain the town's growth without sprawl.

[2:11:43] And that we really do need housing,

[2:11:44] especially affordable housing, which this project offers.

[2:11:49] If this project goes forward,

[2:11:51] you who oppose it,

[2:11:53] and I will be in the same boat hoping- hoping that

[2:11:59] promised benefits town-wide exceed

[2:12:01] the harm that we may perceive in front of our eyes.

[2:12:07] I've reviewed the project's documentation and I am

[2:12:10] persuaded there's ben- those benefits

[2:12:13] do outweigh its downsides.

[2:12:15] In written testimony,

[2:12:16] I've expressed concerns about two issues,

[2:12:18] which I only have time to mention here.

[2:12:21] First is the natural landscaping.

[2:12:24] The town must have

[2:12:25] ironclad assurance, preferably an ordinance,

[2:12:28] but the yet-to-be-created

[2:12:30] homeowners association will meet

[2:12:31] its obligations with a ready avenue

[2:12:33] to compel compliance if needed.

[2:12:37] Second, is the exception from

[2:12:39] the 900-foot limit on cul-de-sacs.

[2:12:42] That limit is in the code for a reason and I've not seen

[2:12:45] a compelling argument for providing an exception.

[2:12:48] For safety and connectedness Street Day

[2:12:51] should have an outlet to the adjacent neighborhood.

[2:12:54] I know that's going to get

[2:12:55] me arrows and I'm sorry to have- have to offend you all,

[2:12:59] but I really think that's the case.

[2:13:02] Um, but I understand

[2:13:05] the difficulty you're having as a council believe me,

[2:13:09] I understand where you all are coming from.

[2:13:13] I would feel the same way.

[2:13:16] Thank you for hearing my testimony.

[2:13:20] >> Thank you.

[2:13:26] >> I think I'll get to be the last one, perhaps.

[2:13:31] Um, much like John before me,

[2:13:35] um, my friend, I do not live in the neighborhood.

[2:13:37] I'm at 115 Kinloch Drive.

[2:13:39] Um, one thing I do know is when we were talking

[2:13:42] about as we heard issues of motivation, uh,

[2:13:45] having been aware of the idea

[2:13:47] and the genesis of the project,

[2:13:50] I can assure you that the motivation is not bottom line,

[2:13:54] the motivation has been,

[2:13:56] continues to be something that makes the town

[2:13:59] better- better for our- community

[2:14:01] better for our residents.

[2:14:02] I appreciate everything that everyone has said because

[2:14:05] every neighborhood I've lived in

[2:14:06] Blacksburg over three decades,

[2:14:09] um, has ended up with the same issues.

[2:14:11] We weren't supposed to have street parking,

[2:14:13] people park on the street.

[2:14:15] We weren't supposed to have people renting houses,

[2:14:17] they rent houses, there are parties.

[2:14:19] There are lots of things we have to deal with.

[2:14:21] There is no perfect,

[2:14:23] but somebody has to take a first step

[2:14:26] and there have been other steps but

[2:14:27] this is a good step and I

[2:14:29] think that- that working

[2:14:30] together and some amazing research

[2:14:33] the- these folks have done

[2:14:35] helps bring a lot of things to light,

[2:14:38] but the developers are

[2:14:39] willing as yffou are- as you have been,

[2:14:41] to consider all that and come together

[2:14:43] so we do something that makes the town better.

[2:14:46] The people have been working for me for three decades.

[2:14:49] I'm a business person here in town.

[2:14:50] I want to live here.

[2:14:52] I want to be able to live here,

[2:14:53] we want the town to be inclusive, and,

[2:14:57] uh, anything we can do to take a step forward,

[2:15:01] uh, had- gets us in that direction.

[2:15:03] And- and well, I said- as I said before,

[2:15:05] there is no perfect, we'd like to wait on that.

[2:15:08] I don't think we can wait long enough for that so I-

[2:15:10] I believe in the developers,

[2:15:13] I believe in the idea and the genesis of this,

[2:15:17] and, uh,

[2:15:18] for those reasons, I support the idea and thank

[2:15:21] you for all of your work

[2:15:22] and for all of your help. Thank you.

[2:15:24] >> Thank you.

[2:15:32] >> Hello. I'm Kimberly Homer.

[2:15:33] I live at 222 Price Street and first, let me say, uh,

[2:15:37] I tried to get my daughter Guene

[2:15:39] to run for town council because I think

[2:15:40] she would be a great council person and she said,

[2:15:44] how long would my sentence be?

[2:15:47] So I just want to say it must be dreadful and,

[2:15:50] um, I do appreciate your service.

[2:15:53] Um, this particular project seems like

[2:15:58] the only good thing about it is that it might

[2:16:00] provide upwards of 40 affordable housing.

[2:16:04] It's already zoned rural residential.

[2:16:07] You could put 40 manufactured homes in there,

[2:16:10] not cut any of the trees down,

[2:16:11] and there would be your affordable housing.

[2:16:14] So I'm sorry, I'm not

[2:16:16] really buying the argument that we have to

[2:16:17] do this because that's the only way

[2:16:19] to create affordable housing.

[2:16:21] I live near the old high school,

[2:16:24] we begged them to put some kind of affordable housing,

[2:16:27] it's a much more appropriate location,

[2:16:29] we are on a bus line, they're recreation fields.

[2:16:32] It's a great neighborhood.

[2:16:34] I would love to have more people living there,

[2:16:36] I don't object to that.

[2:16:37] These houses are going to be

[2:16:39] over half a million dollars a

[2:16:40] piece and they're going to be townhouses

[2:16:42] and it's because it needs to be affordable

[2:16:44] for the developer and

[2:16:47] that's what affordable seems to mean and

[2:16:50] that makes me sad because

[2:16:52] I think this is a wonderful town,

[2:16:53] and I can see why people want to live here.

[2:16:56] Again, thank you for your service.

[2:16:58] >> Thank you. Is there anyone

[2:17:03] else who would like to speak during

[2:17:06] the public portion of this ordinance?

[2:17:12] Okay. We will move on to the applicant rebuttal.

[2:17:23] >> I think Karen needs a break,

[2:17:25] so you get me now.

[2:17:28] Um, I want to thank you again for

[2:17:29] giving us this opportunity,

[2:17:32] um, to create a quality, not substandard neighborhood.

[2:17:38] Um, the houses on both sides are going to be the same.

[2:17:43] The exteriors are going to be the same,

[2:17:44] all the materials are going to be the same,

[2:17:46] the difference is going to be size.

[2:17:49] Um, we thought that

[2:17:51] the neighboring community would

[2:17:53] like that to have like by like.

[2:17:56] And we thought we were doing a good thing by trying to

[2:17:58] accommodate the affordable part and the workforce part

[2:18:02] and market rate houses and- and keep

[2:18:05] a seamless community in the physical appearance,

[2:18:09] but the size certainly will be difference will- will

[2:18:12] be- allow us for the affordable part.

[2:18:15] Um, I really,

[2:18:16] really want to thank staff.

[2:18:17] All you guys have been super

[2:18:19] amazing for your guidance and expertise.

[2:18:22] It's been invaluable and it's

[2:18:23] a better project because of everything that they've done.

[2:18:25] So, thank them.

[2:18:27] So you've got great people working at staff.

[2:18:30] Um, just keep- I

[2:18:32] can't comment on all the things

[2:18:34] that everybody has commented on here.

[2:18:35] That would be impossible.

[2:18:37] But I just want to ask you to

[2:18:38] keep the big picture in mind.

[2:18:40] Um, we can't answer all the questions before reasoning.

[2:18:45] We've worked for two years on this, um,

[2:18:48] I know that- I hope you know that

[2:18:50] we have this very deep commitment to

[2:18:53] provide workforce housing and

[2:18:56] allow our workforce to live in our town.

[2:19:00] Um, density is needed because we can't, um,

[2:19:06] we can put 42 houses and

[2:19:08] all the infrastructure and all of that

[2:19:10] on- on this size land and keep the houses affordable.

[2:19:13] It's not possible.

[2:19:15] So the density allows the affordability.

[2:19:18] The developer is donating

[2:19:21] all of the lots for the 42 affordable houses,

[2:19:24] um, the 109 other market, um,

[2:19:27] mixed-income houses would be sold below market value.

[2:19:31] There is lots and lots going back into the development.

[2:19:35] It isn't about profit,

[2:19:38] some people want to understand that, but it's not.

[2:19:40] It is very much about

[2:19:42] trying to do something for Blacksburg,

[2:19:44] that the town wants,

[2:19:45] that you guys want, that we really want.

[2:19:47] I think it'll be a benefit,

[2:19:49] the Grey Spring community will be

[2:19:50] a benefit to Blacksburg for many decades.

[2:19:53] Um, if we get it passed it'll be a legacy

[2:19:56] that all of us can be really proud

[2:19:57] of tonight. So thank you.

[2:20:00] >> Thank you. That is

[2:20:05] the entirety of the- Okay. Thank you.

[2:20:09] Okay. Um, so now we've come to action.

[2:20:16] And if we get a motion,

[2:20:18] then we can entertain discussion.

[2:20:21] When does- does Michael ever come back?

[2:20:23] >> No, Mike's at home.

[2:20:27] >> Taken off.

[2:20:28] >> Like that.

[2:20:29] >> Okay.

[2:20:30] >> I'll be home having pizza by now.

[2:20:31] >> Yeah. Okay. I guess I need a- a motion.

[2:20:36] What is Counsel's pleasure to do with Ordinance 2007?

[2:20:40] >> I move approval of Ordinance 2007.

[2:20:43] >> Second.

[2:20:44] >> We have a motion and a second, and,

[2:20:47] um, now we can have a discussion.

[2:20:52] So who would like

[2:20:53] to- who would like to debut their comments.

[2:20:58] >> Do we have to line up at the back of the room?

[2:21:01] >> I'll let you just stay seated.

[2:21:03] >> Thank you. I'll go first.

[2:21:06] I guess since I'm not seeing anybody else jumping in.

[2:21:11] Uh, if you'll indulge me for just a minute.

[2:21:14] I've lived in this town now for 39 years,

[2:21:17] and two years prior to 1984 when I moved here,

[2:21:20] I moved my mother here in 1982.

[2:21:24] So I've had a relationship with the town for

[2:21:25] over 40 years, um,

[2:21:28] and a good friend of the family moved here in

[2:21:30] the mid-'70s to become

[2:21:31] the Dean of the Liberal Arts and Sciences,

[2:21:34] who my mom ended up marrying in the mid of '80s.

[2:21:37] Um, development is difficult.

[2:21:41] It's difficult for everybody.

[2:21:43] We like things to remain the same.

[2:21:46] This is complex, and it's complex for

[2:21:48] people to- to think about,

[2:21:52] including myself, um,

[2:21:54] and to talk about as a community.

[2:21:59] There are a couple of things I want to respond to.

[2:22:01] In all the email con- conversation that has been sent,

[2:22:04] I didn't reply to every single one,

[2:22:06] but I read every single one and I applied to quite a few.

[2:22:10] Um, some people think that

[2:22:11] the town has a specific agenda,

[2:22:15] that we're in cahoots with Virginia Tech,

[2:22:18] or that we do certain things,

[2:22:20] you know, not open and transparent.

[2:22:24] Um, and I- I think I know why some people think that,

[2:22:28] but I can assure you that that is not what happens.

[2:22:31] Let's just take Virginia Tech for one second.

[2:22:34] Um, they're huge employer.

[2:22:38] The president, Sands, announced he was going to

[2:22:40] grow 5,000 students a few years ago.

[2:22:43] He did not consult with us,

[2:22:44] he didn't consult with our planners,

[2:22:46] he didn't consult with the town manager,

[2:22:48] he didn't consult with the mayor.

[2:22:50] We just learned, just like you did,

[2:22:52] that the Tech was going to grow 5,000 students to-

[2:22:55] to basically a 30,000 undergraduate campus.

[2:22:58] Also include 7,000 graduates.

[2:23:00] And they're now growing at a 1-2% every year.

[2:23:02] They're going to be a 40,000-person campus shortly.

[2:23:07] Um, we're in a reactive mode to that.

[2:23:10] We have to be because we're not part of how

[2:23:13] Virginia Tech plans and the board of visitors

[2:23:15] makes decisions in the top administration.

[2:23:18] Um, we responded to that at

[2:23:20] the time by going to the apartment complexes in town,

[2:23:24] the big ones, and ask them to consider

[2:23:27] redevelopment on their site to higher densities.

[2:23:31] A lot of- a lot of the buildings, if you recall,

[2:23:33] and I'm sure you do, were one-and-a-half,

[2:23:36] two-story, two-and-a-half story buildings.

[2:23:38] And um, some of them took us up on that.

[2:23:42] Sturbridge did, for example,

[2:23:43] at what used to be Terrace Viewed.

[2:23:45] And I'm sure there are

[2:23:46] others that I can't think of right now,

[2:23:47] but the whole reason for that was

[2:23:49] we knew students were coming,

[2:23:50] the infrastructure was already there,

[2:23:52] the bus lines were there,

[2:23:54] the people were there, the shopping centers were there,

[2:23:57] the road development and all of that was already

[2:23:59] there as opposed to going out and redevelopment,

[2:24:02] you know, new green area.

[2:24:05] So I thought that was pretty forward

[2:24:06] thinking of the town to try to do that,

[2:24:09] especially the Town Manager's office and-

[2:24:11] and- and the staff that- that does that.

[2:24:14] So we've responded to

[2:24:17] Tech's growth and all sorts

[2:24:19] of ways that we've had to respond to that.

[2:24:22] Um, people are here, okay.

[2:24:25] They're already here in this town in one form or another,

[2:24:28] they're either commuting in

[2:24:29] or they're already living here.

[2:24:31] I work as a licensed architect in the Commonwealth,

[2:24:34] so I'm very aware of design, construction, development,

[2:24:38] ah, planning,

[2:24:40] and these are- these are- these are

[2:24:42] vocational and aspirational interest of mine.

[2:24:46] So I've been following these issues for some time.

[2:24:48] For the past 20 years,

[2:24:50] at least Virginia Tech

[2:24:52] in the town of Blacksburg has been growing.

[2:24:54] The region has been growing,

[2:24:55] the county has been growing.

[2:24:57] And my guess is that will happen,

[2:24:59] for at least at this rate that we're going

[2:25:01] right now for another 20 years.

[2:25:04] So we have to respond to that.

[2:25:07] We- it would be derelict of us to

[2:25:09] just- to pretend like we couldn't really do that.

[2:25:12] So some of the ways that we have

[2:25:14] responded to the fact that not just affordable housing,

[2:25:17] but housing in general is the number 1 issue in our town.

[2:25:21] It wasn't always this way,

[2:25:22] 10 years ago, I don't think

[2:25:24] most people would have said that.

[2:25:26] A couple- couple of things happened.

[2:25:27] Right? I live just about a half mile from

[2:25:29] here in what's called the Old 16 Squares,

[2:25:32] we have very modest homes and very modest yards.

[2:25:36] It's not floor by any means and most of you know it,

[2:25:40] there's no housing for sale.

[2:25:42] A- a- a lady came up the last time,

[2:25:45] we talked about this in a public- public meeting.

[2:25:47] And she spoke and I can't remember her name,

[2:25:49] but she put- she put

[2:25:51] the right words together for what the phenomena is.

[2:25:54] All the starter homes that people would

[2:25:56] buy to be their first home, as a young couple,

[2:25:59] like Elizabeth and I did in 1988 when I was 25 years old,

[2:26:03] and getting ready to start architecture school at Cargo.

[2:26:05] Um-

[2:26:07] >> There's no opportunities there.

[2:26:09] You can't buy a house in

[2:26:11] this town for a small amount of money,

[2:26:13] which we were able to do at that time.

[2:26:16] That time is long gone and I- I feel badly about that.

[2:26:21] I feel fortunate in some ways.

[2:26:22] But I also have to recognize that

[2:26:24] these issues don't stop just

[2:26:27] because maybe you think you've

[2:26:30] reached the way you think it should be.

[2:26:33] The balance between the university and

[2:26:34] the town has changed over the years.

[2:26:37] It's changed dramatically in some ways.

[2:26:39] I think in the last 10 to 20 years,

[2:26:41] there's more construction going on right now in

[2:26:43] this town and on the campus of

[2:26:45] Virginia Tech than I've ever seen in

[2:26:47] my 40 plus years living in town.

[2:26:50] So what does that mean?

[2:26:52] That means there's more money coming in.

[2:26:53] There's more people that want to come

[2:26:55] in for staff or for faculty.

[2:26:58] They want to have their kids in Blacksburg Schools.

[2:27:02] They want to live here.

[2:27:04] Some of those folks have modest incomes.

[2:27:09] So affordable housing has

[2:27:11] to be something that we talk and think about.

[2:27:14] Um, I love neighborhoods.

[2:27:15] One of my hometowns is Louisville, Kentucky,

[2:27:17] and it's basically a city of

[2:27:19] really nice neighborhoods and

[2:27:21] they're of all kinds, right?

[2:27:23] You've got really nice big houses and big yards,

[2:27:26] and extremely fine houses.

[2:27:28] And you've got some houses closer to the downtown that

[2:27:31] are on small lots - smaller houses,

[2:27:33] one and half-two storey houses.

[2:27:35] What we might think of as workforce housing of that time.

[2:27:38] People learn to live with

[2:27:40] these different types of housing types.

[2:27:42] They raise families. They have kids.

[2:27:44] Kids go to school, they start

[2:27:45] businesses or whatever they do.

[2:27:47] But you have to have the housing to

[2:27:49] accommodate whatever the vision

[2:27:50] is for the folks that are living there.

[2:27:53] I serve on the Housing Advisory Board,

[2:27:55] and so I know that that feels like to some of you perhaps

[2:27:59] as a conflict of interest or the fact that

[2:28:02] , who is the town.

[2:28:04] The town is made of people,

[2:28:05] it's made of public employees,

[2:28:07] is made up of public servants

[2:28:08] like I served with on this council

[2:28:10] and those are the folks that are trying

[2:28:12] to talk about and think about what these issues are.

[2:28:15] That Housing Advisory Board for

[2:28:17] the past three or four years we've been

[2:28:19] charged with and the staff,

[2:28:21] particularly the staff that- that mans

[2:28:24] them is the personnel in that office.

[2:28:28] They've been charged with helping us develop

[2:28:29] what's known as a Housing Trust Fund and

[2:28:31] a Land Trust and we've been able

[2:28:33] to do that just in the last couple of years.

[2:28:36] And this is really significant for

[2:28:37] the town because I sit on that board.

[2:28:41] I have to think about the issues we

[2:28:43] had a prior project six months ago,

[2:28:46] whenever that was, another one talked about by

[2:28:50] Community Housing Partners and folks are going to help

[2:28:52] us administer the Housing Trust and Land Trusts.

[2:28:54] I voted against that project.

[2:28:56] For me, that was a land use issue.

[2:28:58] If you- if you follow my record,

[2:29:00] I've been as tough probably as

[2:29:03] anyone on housing and development issues.

[2:29:06] I try to think about this very carefully.

[2:29:09] I don't believe this is a substandard.

[2:29:11] I believe that you have to have

[2:29:13] partnerships in order to provide affordable housing.

[2:29:15] It doesn't just happen.

[2:29:16] Developers aren't going to do that,

[2:29:18] particularly on their own, you know.

[2:29:20] Who's going to do that? You have to subsidize it.

[2:29:22] We're fortunate enough to get some of those ARPA funds,

[2:29:25] and we're taking some of those ARPA funds and we're

[2:29:27] investing them in the Housing Trust and the Land Trust.

[2:29:30] Is it a drop in the bucket?

[2:29:32] Maybe that's one way to look at it, but it's something.

[2:29:34] And we have other drops in

[2:29:36] the buckets that we're pursuing.

[2:29:38] Homeownership is really important.

[2:29:40] It's important to me still,

[2:29:41] I may be one of the last few people that think

[2:29:43] that that's a really important thing in a way to

[2:29:44] build capital and to- to be in a community.

[2:29:49] I'm thrilled that this development

[2:29:51] is about home ownership.

[2:29:53] I don't see any differential between larger developments,

[2:29:57] say up on the village of Tom's Creek side,

[2:30:00] or the smaller size houses and lots on the other side.

[2:30:05] We took the connector out because

[2:30:07] that's what people said they wanted.

[2:30:08] Is that the right thing to do?

[2:30:10] I'm not so sure anymore.

[2:30:11] I'm not sure about that.

[2:30:13] Because if you do something

[2:30:15] that is maybe going to help people out,

[2:30:17] I thought maybe they'd bring more people on board to say,

[2:30:20] "Okay, we're in favor of this,

[2:30:22] we can work with you on this.

[2:30:23] We can be in favor of that."

[2:30:25] I got maybe three or four different people telling me,

[2:30:28] but most people have been against the project.

[2:30:32] What is the town doing in terms of

[2:30:34] the fact that we have to have more density?

[2:30:36] That's the only way you solve the problems.

[2:30:38] Jim Whitener and other folks

[2:30:39] are complaining about the fact that

[2:30:40] there's density in this project.

[2:30:43] But that's the only way you're going to

[2:30:45] be able to solve and begin to

[2:30:46] actually make a difference in homeownership,

[2:30:50] in affordable housing, and in building

[2:30:53] a Land Trust and a Housing Trust.

[2:30:57] It isn't going to happen any other way.

[2:30:58] R 4 basically is

[2:31:00] anachronistic type of zoning

[2:31:01] in a town that's growing by leaps

[2:31:03] and bounds and is going to continue to grow by leaps and

[2:31:05] bounds for at least another 20 years.

[2:31:08] So one thing that we've done as a town,

[2:31:09] is we've expanded our parks.

[2:31:11] We have parks up on Brush Mountain,

[2:31:13] we have a heritage park.

[2:31:14] We have a Huckleberry Trail.

[2:31:16] We have all these different things that we're trying

[2:31:18] to do to get people basically,

[2:31:20] we know they're going to be denser environment,

[2:31:23] in denser community, whether it's

[2:31:24] downtown or in other neighborhoods.

[2:31:27] So the park systems are things that we've

[2:31:28] invested money in and we planned for that.

[2:31:31] These are good things that the town is doing.

[2:31:33] And um, with regards to perfection, it's not perfect.

[2:31:39] These are complex issues. I understand that.

[2:31:41] I wanted to assure you, Robyn

[2:31:42] and everybody else that comes here,

[2:31:43] that I have listened to, every single person.

[2:31:46] I've read every single email

[2:31:48] and I identify with some of these issues.

[2:31:51] I've pledged as a council member

[2:31:52] to support real people living in

[2:31:54] real neighborhoods in this town

[2:31:55] because they're the folks that make up the town.

[2:31:57] A lot of folks I think will take

[2:32:00] advantage of this new project

[2:32:02] and development if it passes.

[2:32:04] I think that both people that are already here and future

[2:32:06] residents and neighbors that will move to

[2:32:08] the town or could utilize the housing.

[2:32:11] And so you know, it perfect?

[2:32:13] It's probably not perfect.

[2:32:14] But I agree with Dr. Harold,

[2:32:16] we can't wait on perfection.

[2:32:18] Uh, we can't let,

[2:32:19] as the old saying goes,

[2:32:21] perfect, be the enemy of the good.

[2:32:22] I think this is a good thing.

[2:32:24] I will be supporting it.

[2:32:28] >> I don't think anybody wants

[2:32:29] to follow you John right now.

[2:32:32] >> Does that mean I can go home and watch Celtics?

[2:32:36] >> If you must. Um, who wants to go next?

[2:32:41] >> I'll just add, it's not only

[2:32:43] the housing costs for buying homes.

[2:32:47] The rental market is through the roof.

[2:32:49] I was researching this morning that

[2:32:50] a three bedroom apartment in Blacksburg,

[2:32:52] the average cost is $1,800.

[2:32:55] To have- that'd be 30% of your income.

[2:32:57] That means you have to have a net take

[2:32:59] home pay of $5,400 a month.

[2:33:01] That equates to a $92,000 salary.

[2:33:05] I don't- that blows my mind.

[2:33:08] How many people that - blocks

[2:33:11] out of our community that can't even

[2:33:12] rent an apartment in our town.

[2:33:14] So the idea that we have an opportunity to support

[2:33:18] affordable housing and workforce

[2:33:19] housing is- is huge for me.

[2:33:22] I want to thank all of you all for the emails and

[2:33:26] the meetings and coming to all of

[2:33:28] these work sessions and public hearings and all of this,

[2:33:32] is- it's a lot of time and you've spent

[2:33:34] a lot of effort learning the process.

[2:33:36] This is a much more extended process and we typically do.

[2:33:39] I know you feel like it's rushed,

[2:33:41] but this is honestly one of

[2:33:43] the two longest processes that I've been involved in.

[2:33:47] The other one being Midtown.

[2:33:50] This is my second term since I was on in 2018.

[2:33:56] One of the first things that we talked about was, um,

[2:33:59] that the PRD, the Planned Residential Zone,

[2:34:03] is a catch all.

[2:34:05] That we really need to have a, um,

[2:34:08] a much better, more defined

[2:34:12] zoning ordinances so that we can

[2:34:13] accommodate for these things.

[2:34:16] And so I'm excited to hear

[2:34:19] how we develop the small lot development zoning.

[2:34:23] So many of these variances for this project would

[2:34:26] not be an issue if we had a small lot development zone.

[2:34:34] This is basically R 4 development,

[2:34:40] 3.9 houses per acre,

[2:34:42] um, which is low density.

[2:34:44] And if you look at, the- there was a map that had

[2:34:47] yellow and that was low density in that area.

[2:34:50] Which to me R 4 is low density.

[2:34:53] I think that's how it's defined.

[2:34:57] Beyond the affordable housing,

[2:34:59] I see multiple positive.

[2:35:00] I see major investments

[2:35:03] in our sewer system and a new pump station,

[2:35:06] the Stormwater Management, that will

[2:35:08] remediate issues that go back decades.

[2:35:12] The equitable and mixed income affordable housing.

[2:35:15] Because of all those things and because of

[2:35:16] everything that John went into so eloquently,

[2:35:18] I'm supporting this project.

[2:35:21] >> I'll just jump in.

[2:35:24] Doing some research on affordable housing.

[2:35:26] It's not just a Blacksburg problem,

[2:35:28] it's a nation problem, it's a world problem.

[2:35:31] When you do some research on it,

[2:35:32] you find that they say clearly,

[2:35:34] if it were easy to build better,

[2:35:37] more equitable, low income housing,

[2:35:40] it would have been done already.

[2:35:41] Um, there's a lot of strategies they recommend,

[2:35:45] and here are some of the ones that are in place here.

[2:35:47] Building more housing, and building denser and

[2:35:49] close proximity to existing infrastructure.

[2:35:52] Incentivizing developers to build

[2:35:53] more moderately priced homes.

[2:35:55] Providing a mechanism for

[2:35:58] financing and removing regulatory barriers.

[2:36:01] John mentioned that R 4 Housing is an anachronism.

[2:36:04] Minneapolis, Arlington County have

[2:36:08] abolished all R 4 Housing.

[2:36:10] We're not the only people who are struggling with ways to

[2:36:13] house our people in a way that is reasonably affordable.

[2:36:18] This is a complex development.

[2:36:20] It's really different, and I can understand

[2:36:23] why the neighbors are concerned about it.

[2:36:26] Um, the only comparable

[2:36:28] neighborhood I can think about it

[2:36:30] is the Tom's Creek Village.

[2:36:31] When that was developed over 20 years ago,

[2:36:34] it was unlike any housing form,

[2:36:36] the cluster housing form didn't

[2:36:37] exist and it was controversial.

[2:36:41] The town even had to develop

[2:36:43] a novel sewer system

[2:36:45] to accommodate its development. And you know what?

[2:36:47] I think it was a really successful

[2:36:49] neighborhood and I'm really

[2:36:50] glad that previous town councils voted in favor of it,

[2:36:54] and I'm hoping that we have the same kind success here.

[2:36:57] So I'm also planning on voting yes tonight.

[2:37:03] >> We're down to three. I'll- I'll go ahead.

[2:37:07] Um, as people up here have said,

[2:37:09] and as the audience has said tonight,

[2:37:11] we are all knowing that we're in

[2:37:13] desperate need of affordable housing.

[2:37:16] We're in desperate need of senior housing,

[2:37:18] workforce housing, non-student housing.

[2:37:20] We all know that and- and again,

[2:37:22] John did a- a great job of talking about that.

[2:37:24] And so that's what we're working on here tonight.

[2:37:28] I have to say, I appreciate,

[2:37:30] I know somebody kind of poked fun at

[2:37:32] all the emails and all the time reading or whatever,

[2:37:34] but I really appreciate everybody's input.

[2:37:37] It shows our community

[2:37:39] cares and it shows that whether or not,

[2:37:42] uh, people agree with how this vote turns out

[2:37:44] tonight that we care about our community.

[2:37:46] And I hope everybody keeps

[2:37:48] actively involved in the community.

[2:37:49] This is a hard decision.

[2:37:51] There are a lot of moving parts to it.

[2:37:53] We've worked as a town with, um, non-profits.

[2:37:57] We've worked with community housing partners

[2:37:59] to field a- to build affordable housing,

[2:38:01] we've worked with Habitat for

[2:38:03] Humanity to build affordable housing.

[2:38:05] And I think people have a tendency to

[2:38:07] trust non-profits a little more, right?

[2:38:09] They're not out to make money.

[2:38:11] Um, this is the first time we've worked with

[2:38:13] a for-profit group and so it's messier,

[2:38:17] you know, it's new to us.

[2:38:18] Our staff has spent a long time working, um,

[2:38:22] their staff has spent a long time working on this,

[2:38:24] trying to find common ground,

[2:38:25] what can work, what can't,

[2:38:27] what's affordable, what's not.

[2:38:29] Where do- where can you cut corners?

[2:38:30] Does this need a variance?

[2:38:32] Are things still safe?

[2:38:33] I mean there are all those kinds of things.

[2:38:34] And again, it's messy because this

[2:38:36] is the first time I think we've done it.

[2:38:38] In the future, it might feel a

[2:38:40] little easier but right now,

[2:38:42] I think for all of us,

[2:38:43] it's been complex and it's been confusing.

[2:38:46] Um, what we're gonna do about this,

[2:38:49] well, smaller lots is helpful.

[2:38:51] People have been talking about smaller lots,

[2:38:54] means smaller homes,

[2:38:56] means more affordable homes.

[2:38:58] And affordability in our town

[2:39:00] is something that- that we are desperate for.

[2:39:03] We want people who want to

[2:39:04] live here to be able to live here.

[2:39:07] I think this concept of

[2:39:08] mixed housing is incredibly wonderful.

[2:39:12] We have people who are gonna, uh,

[2:39:14] be able to have bigger homes,

[2:39:16] we're gonna have workforce homes.

[2:39:18] If we all vote for this tonight,

[2:39:19] we're going to have affordable homes.

[2:39:21] Some people have said only 10 affordable homes and I

[2:39:24] hope people realize that-

[2:39:25] that that's just not true at all.

[2:39:27] We've got 10 at a certain LMI level, right?

[2:39:31] Up to 80%, 10 more,

[2:39:33] up to 100%,

[2:39:34] four more, 120 LMI.

[2:39:37] And that's just what we're calling affordable.

[2:39:41] The other homes in that side,

[2:39:43] the South side,

[2:39:45] um, of the tracks you might say, right?

[2:39:46] The South side of the wet pond, um,

[2:39:49] are also gonna be more

[2:39:50] affordable than most homes in Blacksburg,

[2:39:54] and that says a lot for people to be

[2:39:56] able to- to live here, you know.

[2:39:58] Somebody mentioned $300,000,

[2:40:00] that's incredible to me for starting out.

[2:40:02] My home cost $93,500

[2:40:06] when we bought it in 1990 on Preston Avenue.

[2:40:09] You know, that- that's a thing of the past,

[2:40:11] we want people like me, young- young couples,

[2:40:14] to be able to live here and right now,

[2:40:16] they can't they- like you were saying,

[2:40:18] they can't even afford to rent here, many of them.

[2:40:21] So this is an important project and-

[2:40:23] and it comes with some risk, right?

[2:40:26] And it comes with

[2:40:27] a little bit of hope and a whole lot of planning.

[2:40:30] But I think the planning's good.

[2:40:32] And, um,

[2:40:34] I think I agree with something

[2:40:35] somebody said over that way.

[2:40:37] Is it the best proposal that

[2:40:39] could possibly happen on that property?

[2:40:42] I certainly think not.

[2:40:44] But is it a proposal that people

[2:40:46] could have a positive living experience there,

[2:40:50] look out on their patio,

[2:40:51] or- or sit on their picnic table?

[2:40:54] Maybe it'll have a little bit of

[2:40:55] lean because the slope's steep,

[2:40:57] but you can prop that table up

[2:40:59] but sit on your- at your picnic table

[2:41:01] and sip your Shirley Temple and enjoy the sunset,

[2:41:05] and be happy that you're a homeowner and you're

[2:41:08] close to Kroger, the post office.

[2:41:11] Um, I think that it is walkable.

[2:41:13] I walk a lot around town and I'm 65 years old.

[2:41:17] Um, I think it is

[2:41:18] a walkable community and

[2:41:20] I think it's walkable to services,

[2:41:22] and retail, and restaurants.

[2:41:23] I think people who choose to buy there,

[2:41:26] will know that and will know the slopes are steep,

[2:41:29] and know where the playgrounds are and if

[2:41:32] it's affordable for them and if they like that situation,

[2:41:35] I think they could be really,

[2:41:36] really happy there and so I'm gonna vote for it.

[2:41:40] >>Thank you.

[2:41:42] >> It's me? >> Well, you- you can go or I can go, either one.

[2:41:47] >> As most of you know, I serve

[2:41:48] on the Planning Commission.

[2:41:49] So this has been a long extended process at both levels.

[2:41:54] Um, and um, as most of the citizens out here know, um,

[2:41:57] we've walked the walk together since we

[2:41:59] went through it with the Planning Commission and now.

[2:42:01] And um, I do want to thank everyone for

[2:42:03] their positive and respectful engagement in the process.

[2:42:07] And dare I say, your grit and your stick-to-itiveness,

[2:42:10] that you've- you've been involved this

[2:42:12] entire time, it's- it's admirable.

[2:42:16] The proposal has many pros and

[2:42:17] cons as my colleagues have stated,

[2:42:20] and um, and that makes

[2:42:22] these decisions difficult, you know.

[2:42:23] Uh, as I stated at the Planning Commission, um,

[2:42:28] some of the- one of the primary positives to me is

[2:42:33] the fact that- that

[2:42:34] the applicant went through the comprehensive plan,

[2:42:38] future land use amendment process several years ago,

[2:42:42] um, to- to talk

[2:42:44] about the future density of this- this lot.

[2:42:47] Um, and that's- that's important to me

[2:42:49] because that- that creates an initial community,

[2:42:52] uh, conversation about the future of the parcel.

[2:42:55] Um, we rarely get that, um,

[2:42:57] time is of the essence for

[2:42:58] most development proposals and

[2:43:00] they don't have the time to do that.

[2:43:02] And so for me, it's really important

[2:43:04] because that allows the community

[2:43:06] to have- have an initial engagement and involvement.

[2:43:10] And then of course, now we're going

[2:43:11] through this rezoning part,

[2:43:14] um, and that- that you know that continues

[2:43:16] that process, uh, together.

[2:43:20] My colleagues, the affordable housing is nice for me.

[2:43:23] Also, I believe these, um,

[2:43:25] just work for smaller homes and smaller lots,

[2:43:28] everything we've talked about is- is

[2:43:29] a great step towards the future.

[2:43:33] Um, some of you know,

[2:43:35] I recently concluded a 31-plus-year career

[2:43:38] in environmental protection and enforcement.

[2:43:41] Um, I don't normally call that out in public,

[2:43:44] but, um,

[2:43:45] I do pay extra attention to

[2:43:46] the environmental impacts of

[2:43:48] development and- and the conversations around that.

[2:43:51] Um, this is- this is

[2:43:53] the first proposal in my memory that-

[2:43:55] that will actually treat

[2:43:57] the stormwater generated by- by the,

[2:43:59] uh, construction 100% onsite.

[2:44:03] Um, and what that means is it'll deal with

[2:44:05] the volume and velocity of

[2:44:07] what's created as- because of the development,

[2:44:09] but it'll also deal with the quality or

[2:44:11] the pollutants that are generated from the development.

[2:44:14] Um, we don't see that, um,

[2:44:18] this is a rule and a law

[2:44:19] that- that's really a state law,

[2:44:21] that- that the locality,

[2:44:23] the town of Blacksburg, gets to, uh, implement.

[2:44:26] Um, and the state law allows people to, you know,

[2:44:29] obviously do it at 100% but

[2:44:31] it also allows them to buy credits, um,

[2:44:33] where they will, um,

[2:44:35] more or less not be able to do quite- quite the best

[2:44:37] possible in one place

[2:44:39] but they'll conserve something somewhere else.

[2:44:41] And my colleagues in- in multiple other re-zonings have

[2:44:44] talked about how we would really prefer to

[2:44:46] see 100% treatment here.

[2:44:49] Um and- so I think that's- that's huge.

[2:44:51] But actually, it's not 100% treatment,

[2:44:54] it's more than 100% because we

[2:44:55] have a legacy stormwater issue,

[2:44:58] um, that's occurring, um, downstream.

[2:45:01] The volume, uh,

[2:45:03] of the water when we have these storms and

[2:45:05] with- with what appears to be climate change,

[2:45:08] uh, we're gonna have more of that.

[2:45:10] And so it's important to me

[2:45:11] that- that- that not just- not

[2:45:13] just that it deals with what

[2:45:15] would be generated from this new development,

[2:45:17] but it's gonna really help us deal with

[2:45:19] these legacy issues from development that occurred 30,

[2:45:23] 40, 50 years ago when we really didn't

[2:45:26] have any regulations to

[2:45:28] deal with stormwater of substance.

[2:45:31] The initial number of variances and

[2:45:33] modifications concern me,

[2:45:34] um, but I do think the revised proposal um,

[2:45:39] you know, is- is

[2:45:41] a better proposal and I think it's a better proposal,

[2:45:43] not just because of the input that- that we have pushed.

[2:45:47] I think it's better proposal because of

[2:45:49] everything we've received from the, uh, public.

[2:45:51] Um, I always think it's my job

[2:45:53] to try to voice your concerns,

[2:45:55] um, and I think all of us do.

[2:45:57] And I think we have pushed hard,

[2:46:00] um, to try to get answers and improvements where we can.

[2:46:04] Um, at the end of the day,

[2:46:05] I don't think these variances and modifications will

[2:46:08] impact the character of

[2:46:10] this neighborhood or the livability of this neighborhood.

[2:46:13] Um, and finally,

[2:46:14] I- the primary reason I did not support this at-

[2:46:17] at- at Planning Commission was the connectivity road.

[2:46:21] Um, on a flat piece of paper, it made sense,

[2:46:24] um, real-world application, not so much.

[2:46:28] Um, the impact it would have to the neighborhood,

[2:46:32] uh, I believe is substantial.

[2:46:34] And I'm glad that we

[2:46:36] do not have that full vehicular connection,

[2:46:39] but we still have a connection to honor

[2:46:41] the comprehensive plan as far as walkability,

[2:46:43] biking, and emergency access.

[2:46:46] With that being removed,

[2:46:47] I'm comfortable supporting this rezoning.

[2:46:52] >> Okay. Well, I don't have

[2:46:53] the eloquence of any one of my colleagues.

[2:46:56] So I have some comments and I will go through

[2:46:59] them and then I'll move to action.

[2:47:01] Um, it is the human condition to resist change.

[2:47:06] All of us have a tendency towards it,

[2:47:08] what researchers call status quo bias.

[2:47:12] And so when presented with change,

[2:47:14] we experience it as loss,

[2:47:16] whether the circumstances weren't that or not.

[2:47:19] The Glade Spring Crossing proposal, for example,

[2:47:22] looks like it will improve flooding and add

[2:47:25] stormwater facilities and increase sewer capacity.

[2:47:29] It would also add three kinds of

[2:47:31] much needed housing within walking distance of campus.

[2:47:34] Town Council members are not

[2:47:36] immune to the feelings of sadness,

[2:47:38] excitement, agitation,

[2:47:40] and anger that our neighbors

[2:47:42] and friends are experiencing.

[2:47:44] At the same time, it is our obligation to evaluate

[2:47:47] each development proposal that comes before

[2:47:49] us with respect and curiosity.

[2:47:53] Many people have noted that traffic is getting worse.

[2:47:56] They want to know why we keep

[2:47:57] letting people move into town,

[2:47:59] and they're not wrong about traffic,

[2:48:01] but keeping others out is not an option legally,

[2:48:05] nor would it improve traffic.

[2:48:08] The county approved 600 homes in

[2:48:10] two large subdivisions on Prices Fork Road,

[2:48:13] and those residents are not walking to work.

[2:48:16] Seventy percent of the people who work in Blacksburg live

[2:48:19] outside of town and they commute in to,

[2:48:22] uh, work at Virginia Tech,

[2:48:24] the region's largest employer.

[2:48:26] That's 17,000 trips a day.

[2:48:29] So making room for them within

[2:48:31] town borders is not only the enlightened thing to do,

[2:48:34] but it's the self-interest in remedy.

[2:48:37] When taxpaying citizens live within town limits,

[2:48:40] we can contemplate more investment in public transit,

[2:48:43] bike and pedestrian facilities, roads, and recreation.

[2:48:48] >> Here's another change taking place.

[2:48:50] University and community college enrollment

[2:48:52] is waning across the country.

[2:48:55] Nearly every trend is working

[2:48:57] against higher education in this moment.

[2:49:00] The day may come when Virginia Tech

[2:49:02] doesn't exercise the influence that it does now.

[2:49:05] Climate change, however, will almost certainly

[2:49:08] drive many more people to southwest Virginia,

[2:49:11] where we have plentiful clean water

[2:49:14] at the top of a watershed,

[2:49:15] mild seasons, and- and we are safe from sea level rise.

[2:49:20] There are solar farms in our future too.

[2:49:23] Virginia is a top ranking state

[2:49:25] for solar energy generation

[2:49:26] and there's been a solar farm proposal in

[2:49:28] the eastern part of our own county.

[2:49:30] Many of our businesses are also enjoying notable success,

[2:49:34] including Torque, Modia,

[2:49:36] The 1901 Group, Inorganic Ventures,

[2:49:39] Qualtrax, Intuitive Surgical Operations Inc, and Wing.

[2:49:44] We will not prosper if we do not

[2:49:47] aspire to being more than

[2:49:49] overflow parking and faculty housing.

[2:49:52] We must actively prepare for

[2:49:53] families of all descriptions,

[2:49:56] young professionals, mid career workers,

[2:49:59] and we will benefit as well

[2:50:00] by making room for senior housing.

[2:50:03] Here's my broader point.

[2:50:04] We can't hold growth by just saying no.

[2:50:08] Most of the Tom's Creek basin is privately owned

[2:50:11] and ownership confers certain by right land uses.

[2:50:15] What we can do is to make

[2:50:17] strategic choices about where we can

[2:50:19] accommodate growth and how to preserve

[2:50:21] the things we value most about Blacksburg.

[2:50:25] Accommodating growth in this location will

[2:50:27] partially address our town's need for housing,

[2:50:29] which was well documented in the housing chapter of

[2:50:32] the town's recently updated comprehensive plan

[2:50:35] and town staff's January 13,

[2:50:37] 2023 report that reviewed

[2:50:39] Glade Spring Crossing affordable housing plan.

[2:50:42] The comprehensive plan states that as an area of

[2:50:45] opportunity and an employment center for the region,

[2:50:47] Blacksburg has a responsibility to

[2:50:49] provide its share of affordable housing.

[2:50:52] The comprehensive plan also recognizes that

[2:50:54] the town cannot meet this housing need alone.

[2:50:57] Coordination with other entities in

[2:51:00] the manner Glade Spring Crossing proposes here,

[2:51:05] and with the help of the new River Land Trust is

[2:51:07] necessary to realize these aspirations.

[2:51:10] Developments like this help persons who

[2:51:12] work in the town to live in the town,

[2:51:15] and housing that is not oriented to

[2:51:16] students is a much needed use in the town.

[2:51:20] Glade Spring Crossing has proffered

[2:51:22] meaningful rental restrictions to

[2:51:24] keep the development owner occupied.

[2:51:26] There are bicycle and pedestrian connectivity features

[2:51:29] as well as structures and

[2:51:30] infrastructure that honor the rural character

[2:51:33] of the Thomas Creek Basin in this location.

[2:51:37] If approved, the proposed

[2:51:38] Glade Spring Crossing development through

[2:51:41] the regional stormwater facility

[2:51:42] will be a vehicle to address

[2:51:44] long running flooding problems in the Thomas Creek Basin,

[2:51:47] as you call them legacy, storm water problems.

[2:51:51] It will maintain a significant amount of open space.

[2:51:54] It is consistent with the recent

[2:51:55] comprehensive plan amendment for this property,

[2:51:58] and the site is adjacent to existing utilities.

[2:52:01] In contrast, by right development

[2:52:04] could realistically cover the entire basin with

[2:52:06] single family homes without

[2:52:08] interruption that spoil the water,

[2:52:12] the soil, and the views.

[2:52:14] One way or another, Blacksburg

[2:52:16] will not stay the way it is now.

[2:52:18] Glade Spring Crossing as proposed,

[2:52:20] is an example of what the alternative could look like.

[2:52:23] A friend of mine, someone who grew

[2:52:25] up in town, once equipped,

[2:52:27] Blacksburg is not like it used to be, it never was.

[2:52:31] So in summary, council has heard

[2:52:34] much about the number of variances in this proposal.

[2:52:37] It is the council's responsibility to

[2:52:39] assess the project through a much broader lens.

[2:52:42] The point of a planned

[2:52:43] residential proposal like this one,

[2:52:46] is that we are being invited to contemplate a new set of

[2:52:49] standards to build a neighborhood

[2:52:52] of a particular character.

[2:52:54] This proposal is not like any others we have reviewed.

[2:52:57] It is a vision for something we haven't seen since

[2:52:59] the 1970s when Heath Wood was proposed.

[2:53:04] At that time, a quarter of the town's land mass was

[2:53:07] developed into mixed income housing

[2:53:10] with recreational facilities,

[2:53:12] and amenities like retail and office space.

[2:53:15] It was bleeding edge progressive for the time,

[2:53:18] and it's still an asset to this community 50 years later.

[2:53:22] Similarly, the Spring Valley Proposal

[2:53:24] was approved in 1995.

[2:53:26] Not without controversy as

[2:53:28] a planned residential development just like this one.

[2:53:32] And that was at the same time that

[2:53:33] town staff were contemplating

[2:53:35] changes to our zoning ordinance.

[2:53:37] A new RR-1 zoning type was not

[2:53:41] adopted until a year after that subdivision was approved.

[2:53:45] And Spring Valley was ultimately built out as

[2:53:49] the village that Tom's Creek on a former golf course.

[2:53:54] And if residents now find it a desirable neighborhood,

[2:53:57] it was because town council

[2:53:59] was willing to consider new ideas,

[2:54:01] multi use zoning, higher density,

[2:54:04] and a mix of housing types with accessible public spaces.

[2:54:08] For all of these reasons,

[2:54:09] I find that this proposed re zoning is supported by

[2:54:12] the comprehensive plan and that

[2:54:13] the rezoning will benefit the entire community,

[2:54:16] which is why I will also vote for Ordinance 2007.

[2:54:23] So we have a motion in a second.

[2:54:24] Will the clerk please call the roll?

[2:54:27] >> Smith?

[2:54:28] >> Aye.

[2:54:29] >> Mattingly?

[2:54:30] >> Aye.

[2:54:31] >> Anderson?

[2:54:32] >> Aye.

[2:54:32] >> Bush?

[2:54:33] >> Aye.

[2:54:34] >> Colliver.

[2:54:34] >> Aye.

[2:54:35] >> Ford.

[2:54:35] >> Aye.

[2:54:40] >> There's more but wait, there's more.

[2:54:43] Um, now in related actions,

[2:54:48] the Glade Spring Crossing development agreement.

[2:54:53] >> Attorney Larry Spencer has

[2:54:54] a staff report on that item.

[2:55:03] >> Please take books as you wish.

[2:55:05] Uh, there's a box of them on a table

[2:55:07] outside and you are very welcome to have them.

[2:55:22] >> Already in the way.

[2:55:54] >> Well I'll have some brief uh,

[2:55:56] remarks or- or really just a summary of this.

[2:55:59] Um, so the proposed development

[2:56:01] agreement between the town and

[2:56:03] Glade Spring Crossing LLC will provide $2 million in

[2:56:06] American Recovery Act funds to fund- to partially fund

[2:56:10] 24 affordable homes in

[2:56:11] the Glade Spring Development-Crossing Development.

[2:56:15] The fundamentals of this agreement have been discussed in

[2:56:17] previous work sessions and

[2:56:19] counsel walked through this- the details of

[2:56:22] the text of the agreement on May 2nd.

[2:56:26] Key point, the first 10 homes must be built by

[2:56:28] December 31st, 2026.

[2:56:32] In the agreement, the town has agreed to expedite

[2:56:35] its development review process

[2:56:37] to help meet that deadline.

[2:56:40] Um, it also has provisions that determine what

[2:56:43] the maximum selling price of

[2:56:44] the affordable homes will be through a formula.

[2:56:48] The development involves the New River Home Trust,

[2:56:50] which will own the lots in which

[2:56:52] the affordable house- homes will be built.

[2:56:55] The Home Trust will also have a role in

[2:56:56] marketing the affordable units,

[2:56:58] so it's an important partner.

[2:57:00] And finally the development agreement

[2:57:02] has protections in case

[2:57:04] the deadline cannot be met

[2:57:05] or other contractual issues that arise.

[2:57:10] And that's all I have. So your motion would be

[2:57:18] is- if you would be is there a motion to

[2:57:21] approve the development agreement and

[2:57:23] authorize the town manager

[2:57:24] to sign the development agreement?

[2:57:27] >> Is there?

[2:57:28] >> I move that we, um,

[2:57:31] approve the development agreement and

[2:57:33] authorize the town manager to sign the agreement.

[2:57:37] >> Second.

[2:57:38] >> Okay. We have a motion and a second.

[2:57:39] Will the clerk please call the roll?

[2:57:41] >> Smith.

[2:57:42] >> Aye.

[2:57:43] >> Anderson.

[2:57:43] >> Aye.

[2:57:44] >> Bush. >> Aye.

[2:57:46] >> Colliver.

[2:57:47] >> Aye.

[2:57:47] >> Sutphin.

[2:57:48] >> Aye.

[2:57:53] >> Moving on to citizen comments.

[2:57:54] Are there any remaining?

[2:57:59] Seeing none, we have an appointment to make,

[2:58:01] two appointments to make.

[2:58:02] We will reappoint

[2:58:04] Deputy Town Manager Christopher Lawrence

[2:58:06] to the onward new River Valley Executive Committee.

[2:58:09] And also reappoint town manager Mark Neil to

[2:58:12] the New River Valley Regional Water Authority.

[2:58:16] What is counsel's pleasure

[2:58:17] to do with these two appointments?

[2:58:19] >> I move that reappoint deputy Town manager

[2:58:22] Christopher Lawrence to

[2:58:23] the onward New River Valley Executive Committee.

[2:58:25] And also that we reappoint

[2:58:27] Town Manager Mark Neil to

[2:58:29] the New River Valley Regional Water Authority.

[2:58:32] >> Second.

[2:58:33] >> And we have a motion in a second.

[2:58:35] Will the clerk please call the roll.

[2:58:37] >> Anderson?

[2:58:37] >> Aye.

[2:58:38] >> Bush?

[2:58:39] >> Aye.

[2:58:40] >> Collliver?

[2:58:40] >> Aye.

[2:58:41] >> Ford.

[2:58:42] >> Aye.

[2:58:42] >> Anderson.

[2:58:43] >> Aye. >> Mattingly.

[2:58:44] >> Aye.

[2:58:45] >> Unfinished business? We have none.

[2:58:50] New business? None. Um, council announcements.

[2:58:56] And then we have two or three things here.

[2:58:59] >> No, not you.

[2:59:00] >> I have counsel announcements,

[2:59:02] and I have a slide in theory. Yes, here we go.

[2:59:04] Um, I have a resolution,

[2:59:07] and I kind of hate to read it since

[2:59:08] we are three hour long meeting, um,

[2:59:11] whereas the Blacksburg community members have

[2:59:12] expressed strong support for expansion of bicycle

[2:59:14] and pedestrian infrastructure and amenities, etc.

[2:59:20] >> Is that what it says?

[2:59:22] >> No, it doesn't, but you'll thank me in a few minutes.

[2:59:24] For the past 67 years,

[2:59:26] the month of May has been declared and recognized,

[2:59:28] this national bike month.

[2:59:29] And this year, Blacksburg is doing

[2:59:31] a expanded bike week

[2:59:35] for the 19th to the 26th called Bikes Burg.

[2:59:37] And there's all kind of fun things going on

[2:59:40] including a bike parade down Main Street at 10.

[2:59:44] Bike bus you can see,

[2:59:45] you can get more information at the town webpage.

[2:59:49] So take the bike to work challenge.

[2:59:52] Do some bike yoga,

[2:59:53] and by all means, come on downtown and enjoy the fun.

[2:59:57] >> And I'll just add to that,

[2:59:58] we are this evening

[3:00:00] also not reading two other proclamations,

[3:00:04] and one of them is to name, um,

[3:00:07] May 21-27 the emergency medical services week.

[3:00:11] And also to recognize

[3:00:13] the Blacksburg Rotary Club, that actually,

[3:00:15] it's the Christiansburg Blacksburg Rotary Club,

[3:00:17] which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

[3:00:20] So that's great.

[3:00:21] >> That's pretty impressive. And if

[3:00:26] we have nothing else, we are adjourned.

Town Council Meeting

Agenda

Transcript