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>> Will counsel please come to

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order and will the clerk please call the roll.

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>> Anderson.

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>> Present.

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>> Bush.

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>> Here.

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>> Colliver.

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>> Here.

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>> Ford.

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>> Here. >> Smith.

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>> Here.

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>> Mattingly.

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>> Here.

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>> Sutphin.

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>> Here.

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>> Will the Vice Mayor,

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please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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>> Pledge of Allegiance.

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[ Overlapping speakers ]

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>> We're going to begin as all evenings

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with the consent agenda and we're

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going to break it into two pieces tonight.

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Uh, so let's begin with the first items,

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and that includes approval of

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the town council minutes for April 18 and 25.

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Ordinance 2018 to amend town code section

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14-107 pertaining to civil penalties

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for inoperable vehicle violations.

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We are introducing it this evening.

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The public hearing will be June 13th.

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Ordinance 2024 to amend town code Section 12-606,

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pertaining to residential parking permits.

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We are introducing it this evening,

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and we will have a public hearing for that,

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also on June 13.

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And finally, a resolution granting a special exception

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related to parking at 1284 North Main Street.

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We'll have a public hearing on June 13.

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So stay tuned.

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June 13, it's gonna be a big night.

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Let's see what is, uh- what is council's pleasure

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on the part A of the consent agenda.

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>> I move approval of the consent.

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Agenda Items A,

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B, C and D.

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>> Second.

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>> Second.

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>> We have a motion and two seconds.

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Will the clerk please call the roll.

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>> Bush.

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>> Aye.

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>> Colliver.

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>> Aye.

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>> Ford.

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>> Aye.

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>> Hager Smith.

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>> Aye.

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>> Mattingly.

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>> Aye.

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>> Sutphin.

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>> Aye.

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>> Anderson.

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>> Aye.

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>> Ready for the second part?

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>> Do you need to do reading for?

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>> Yeah. I have a statement to

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read about, uh, the second part.

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The Virginia State and Local Government

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Conflict of Interests Act requires that I make

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disclosure to be recorded in town records

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in any case in which I'm forbidden to participate.

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Therefore, I make the following disclosure.

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The transaction involved is

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the approval of the Housing and Urban Development,

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or HUD 2023 Annual Action Plan,

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with the vote scheduled for today.

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My personal interest is my employment and

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community housing partners which receives HUD funding.

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The funding is part of the annual plan.

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CHB headquarters is located at

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448 Depot Street in Christiansburg, Virginia.

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I affirmatively state that I will not vote or in

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any manner action on behalf of

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the Town Council regarding this approval.

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It is my understanding that

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this item will be removed from

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the consent agenda on May 9 and voted on separately.

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I will then abstain from voting on this item.

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>> Thank you.Uh, so our final item on

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the consent agenda is

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Housing and Urban Development 2023 Annual Action Plan.

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I move approval of Item E.

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>> Second.

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>> We have a motion and the second.

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Will the clerk please call the roll.

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>> Colliver.

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>> Aye.

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>> Ford.

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>> Aye.

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>> Hager Smith.

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>> Aye.

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>> Mattingly.

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>> Aye.

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>> Sutphin.

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>> Aye.

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>> Anderson.

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>> Aye.

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>> Bush.

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>> Aye.

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>> Okay. Moving on to public hearings.

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Uh, the first is ordinance 2022 to amend

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the zoning ordinance to update

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the accessory apartment permit program

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by amending 1270,1271,

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3021, 3023,

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3031, 3042,

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3041, 3042,

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3, 3111,

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3113 and 4212 permit detached accessory apartments.

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>> And [inaudible] has the staff report.

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>> So I know council has talked

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about this at several work sessions.

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I do have a presentation, but I'll

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go through it fairly quickly.

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Um, the history of accessory apartments.

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We do have the older accessory apartments

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that date back to the '60s and '70s,

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and those are legal nonconforming apartments.

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We did in 2017 create

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an accessory apartment program and

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add that use back into the zoning ordinance.

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Our goal being to add

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more variety in housing options for our residents.

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Um, we at that point only allowed

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interior attached units, like a basement apartment.

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That was a fairly conscious decision of let's

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try it out in a more limited way and then expand it,

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and that's what we're really doing this evening.

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The districts that it's allowed in R4,

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our most common single family district, RR1 and RR2.

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We're not changing those zoning districts.

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So we really haven't seen a lot of upticks since 2017.

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There are probably a lot of reasons for that.

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People may not be aware of the program.

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There's cost in either

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finishing or adding an accessory unit.

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There could be people who are only

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interested in a detached unit,

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they could already have one.

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They may be more interested in the homestead program,

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our short term rental, and

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those are two different programs.

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Um, we have had

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some problems, and we've talked about them,

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of trying to use the accessory apartment program

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to obtain a whole unit,

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but really only homestay use.

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We've worked with the town attorney to

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kinda beef up that section of the ordinance.

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So your amendment this evening

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is to allow detached units.

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Probably the most common is like a garage apartment.

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We'll set standards for those units,

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we're updating the standards for

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the attached units and we're

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updating the program requirements.

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Our zoning amendment process.

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This is an amendment to the text of the zoning ordinance.

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It went to our zoning ordinance

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review committee, to Planning Commission.

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The ordinance before you this evening

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reflects their input.

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The Planning commission held

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their public hearing in April

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and recommended approval by a vote of 7-0.

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We always have a public input meeting

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on our zoning ordinance amendments.

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We did have one attendee and

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indicated he was interested in a detached unit.

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We are retaining the key program components

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from 2017 which

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require owner occupancy approval

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through the program prior to starting the use,

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and annual renewal,

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the recordation of a deed restriction,

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and again that you can not use it for the homestay use.

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The 1270 is kinda the process section.

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We are making some changes to that,

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clarifying that it is for

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detached single family only one

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accessory apartment per lot or parcel.

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We are allowing them on non conforming lots.

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We're clarifying the relationship to

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the planned residential district and in that

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your planned residential rezoning

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had to have addressed the ability to

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have accessory apartments rental

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by the unit, not by the bedroom.

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And again, that reinforcement

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of the difference between the two programs,

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accessory apartment and homestead.

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>> The types of standards we needed to

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look at to update were size,

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proportionality of the lot,

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location on the lot, height setbacks,

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residential character.

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Uh, we sorted them into three categories.

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Standards that apply to both types

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of unit attached and detached.

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Those that apply only to attached

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and those that apply only to detached.

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We are kind of trying to

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reinforce that overall character.

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It is a full second dwelling unit.

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We wanted to be in keeping with

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the character of a single family neighborhood.

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We wanted to feel accessory and there are

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a lot of ways to kind of integrate an accessory unit.

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Those can be with roof line, window patterning,

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exterior colors, materials, things of that nature.

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The current maximum size for

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an accessory apartment is 800 sq ft.

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There are communities that have smaller 500, 650.

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There are communities that have larger up to 1,200,

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we do wanna still have that accessory feel.

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The new proposed maximum is 1,000 sq ft.

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So that would be an axo- absolute maximum of 1,000 sq ft.

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Uh, we're also looked at that

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80% of the floor area of the primary structure.

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If you kind of do the math, uh,

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the 80% would kick in,

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if your home is less than 1,250 sq ft.

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Most of the homes in town are larger than that,

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so they would default to that maximum 1,000

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sq ft. We also have standards

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in the districts for floor area ratio

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that would apply to an attached unit,

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because it is adding to

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the mass and scale of your existing home,

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it would not count towards the detached unit.

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Um, and if we did count it,

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it would make it unlikely that people would be

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able to do the detached unit.

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Your detached unit needs to be behind

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the primary building line of your primary structure.

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It can only take up a maximum of

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30% of the land behind that,

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which is a back and side yard,

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and lot coverage still applies.

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We don't think that's going to be an issue.

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Uh, we kind of put together some of

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the standards in this chart which was

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included in your staff report.

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And also, at your last work session,

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we kind of walked through a couple of

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examples just to say we had

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applied all of these standards

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together to see how they would work,

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ah, and they worked well on both kind of

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larger and smaller lots than the minimum lot size.

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In terms of height, some of the other standards were

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going with a maximum height of 28 ft,

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there's a limitation of 20 ft at

264
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the eaves of the- where the detached unit occurs.

265
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We've also clarified we're using

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the same method of measurement,

267
00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:09,933
of measuring it at the grade

268
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that we do for all other units.

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Setbacks- set and rear setbacks are 7.5 ft.

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Some communities have gone smaller.

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We had some concerns about being that close,

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but also potential conflicts

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with public utility easements.

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Uh, we also put in some wording

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about where decks and patios could be,

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that they need to not be on the kind of shortest,

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00:10:29,267 --> 00:10:31,567
tightest, closest sides, uh,

278
00:10:31,567 --> 00:10:33,633
for- to the kin- minimize

279
00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:34,967
the experience of a neighbor

280
00:10:34,967 --> 00:10:37,900
of having those outdoor spaces.

281
00:10:37,900 --> 00:10:40,200
Parking when we considered this in 2017,

282
00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,167
we did not add a parking standard.

283
00:10:42,167 --> 00:10:44,670
You are not prohibited from adding parking,

284
00:10:44,670 --> 00:10:46,100
if you would like, but you are not required to.

285
00:10:46,100 --> 00:10:48,267
We're not changing that standard,

286
00:10:48,267 --> 00:10:50,733
we're also not changing the occupancy standard.

287
00:10:50,733 --> 00:10:52,633
We're going to keep our existing standard

288
00:10:52,633 --> 00:10:54,433
where the occupancy is cumulative.

289
00:10:54,433 --> 00:10:55,767
It's not one for the house

290
00:10:55,767 --> 00:10:57,167
and one for the accessory unit.

291
00:10:57,167 --> 00:10:59,500
Um, we want to keep

292
00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:02,133
the idea of including universal design standards.

293
00:11:02,133 --> 00:11:04,167
I think those are good for everyone.

294
00:11:04,167 --> 00:11:05,167
You may not need them now,

295
00:11:05,167 --> 00:11:06,633
you may need them in the future.

296
00:11:06,633 --> 00:11:08,600
So we are making that not a requirement,

297
00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,100
but trying to encourage people as they think about

298
00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:13,330
a detached or attached unit

299
00:11:13,330 --> 00:11:16,000
to try to incorporate some of those standards.

300
00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:17,367
In terms of implementation,

301
00:11:17,367 --> 00:11:19,167
we'll probably do a lot more this time litl-

302
00:11:19,167 --> 00:11:20,533
to kind of get the word out.

303
00:11:20,533 --> 00:11:22,400
Uh, we've been working with,

304
00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:23,867
um, housing and community connections.

305
00:11:23,867 --> 00:11:25,533
They've been incredibly helpful,

306
00:11:25,533 --> 00:11:26,800
and they have a guide from

307
00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:28,767
Charlottesville that I think is really useful

308
00:11:28,767 --> 00:11:32,733
to help someone who may be intimidated by the process.

309
00:11:32,733 --> 00:11:34,667
It really is a nice explanation.

310
00:11:34,667 --> 00:11:36,500
We anticipate having a similar guide

311
00:11:36,500 --> 00:11:38,500
that we can have for Blacksburg.

312
00:11:38,500 --> 00:11:41,267
Um, we also had some input from, um,

313
00:11:41,267 --> 00:11:42,900
websites for City of Raleigh that did

314
00:11:42,900 --> 00:11:44,533
a design competition to show

315
00:11:44,533 --> 00:11:46,467
different types of units and their sizes.

316
00:11:46,467 --> 00:11:48,800
So I think we have a lot more resources we

317
00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:52,433
can tap into in terms of our implementation.

318
00:11:52,433 --> 00:11:53,700
And that concludes my remarks,

319
00:11:53,700 --> 00:11:55,500
but I'd be happy to answer any questions you might

320
00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:57,900
have. You have questions?

321
00:12:01,267 --> 00:12:04,267
>> Thank you. Uh, let's see.

322
00:12:08,667 --> 00:12:13,467
Do we have public comment on this topic?

323
00:12:15,670 --> 00:12:19,267
No public comment on standalone accessory apartments?

324
00:12:19,667 --> 00:12:22,670
Okay. Seeing none, uh,

325
00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,000
what is counsel's pleasure with ordinance 2022?

326
00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,900
>> I move approval of ordinance 2022.

327
00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:29,800
>> Second.

328
00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,200
>> We have a motion on a second,

329
00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,100
will the clerk please call the roll.

330
00:12:33,100 --> 00:12:33,800
>> Ford.

331
00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:35,100
>> Aye.

332
00:12:35,100 --> 00:12:35,633
>> Smith.

333
00:12:35,633 --> 00:12:36,367
>> Aye.

334
00:12:36,367 --> 00:12:37,100
>> Hunningly.

335
00:12:37,100 --> 00:12:37,800
>> Eye.

336
00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:38,433
>> Santon.

337
00:12:38,433 --> 00:12:39,000
>> Aye.

338
00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:39,567
>> Anderson.

339
00:12:39,567 --> 00:12:40,167
>> Aye.

340
00:12:40,167 --> 00:12:40,567
>> Bush.

341
00:12:40,567 --> 00:12:41,133
>> Aye.

342
00:12:41,133 --> 00:12:41,700
>> Oliver.

343
00:12:41,700 --> 00:12:43,467
>> Aye.

344
00:12:43,467 --> 00:12:45,867
>> Moving on to Ordinance 2007,

345
00:12:46,433 --> 00:12:50,633
an Ordinance rezoning 44.85 acres of land at

346
00:12:51,500 --> 00:12:53,600
1006 Glade Road from rural

347
00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,600
residential to planned residential zoning.

348
00:12:57,670 --> 00:12:58,700
And, um,

349
00:12:58,700 --> 00:13:01,300
since nobody wanted to speak at the last ordinance,

350
00:13:01,300 --> 00:13:05,867
I'm assuming most people here are for- are here for 2007.

351
00:13:05,867 --> 00:13:08,233
Ah, I want to welcome you to chambers.

352
00:13:08,233 --> 00:13:11,733
Some of you have been here before and others have not.

353
00:13:11,733 --> 00:13:14,633
Um, and it is not unusual for, um,

354
00:13:14,633 --> 00:13:16,800
an action like this to, ah,

355
00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:21,000
be an introduction to citizens about how things work.

356
00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,733
Um, I want to ask before we get started,

357
00:13:23,733 --> 00:13:26,700
that we listen to one another respectfully,

358
00:13:26,700 --> 00:13:28,767
that we assume good intention,

359
00:13:28,767 --> 00:13:32,333
and that we use the power of our words with care.

360
00:13:32,333 --> 00:13:33,733
And that is to say,

361
00:13:33,733 --> 00:13:37,733
I won't- I won't have any personal attacks here tonight.

362
00:13:37,733 --> 00:13:39,200
Um, by large,

363
00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:40,333
I think most of us in

364
00:13:40,333 --> 00:13:43,533
council chambers tonight share common ground.

365
00:13:43,533 --> 00:13:44,833
I've heard from many people who

366
00:13:44,833 --> 00:13:47,233
clearly value the environment,

367
00:13:47,333 --> 00:13:50,600
the history, and the quality of life in Blacksburg.

368
00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,733
All of us can learn from those who have

369
00:13:52,733 --> 00:13:55,567
gone before us here in the place that we love.

370
00:13:55,567 --> 00:13:58,433
And so I wanted to make you all aware that

371
00:13:58,433 --> 00:14:00,330
there are books outside

372
00:14:00,330 --> 00:14:02,400
that anyone of you can take for free.

373
00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:07,330
And this was written in memory of her father by, uh,

374
00:14:07,330 --> 00:14:08,733
Arlene Hale Lambert,

375
00:14:08,733 --> 00:14:10,400
who lives at the uh,

376
00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,733
headwaters of Tom's Creek.

377
00:14:12,733 --> 00:14:14,330
And she tells a little bit

378
00:14:14,330 --> 00:14:15,867
about Blacksburg history and she

379
00:14:15,867 --> 00:14:17,700
tells you why our community gardens

380
00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:19,367
are named after her father.

381
00:14:19,367 --> 00:14:21,533
And I think any of you,

382
00:14:21,533 --> 00:14:23,433
uh, would be interested in the book.

383
00:14:23,433 --> 00:14:25,900
They are in a big box outside of foyer.

384
00:14:25,900 --> 00:14:29,533
So I hope you'll help yourself to one as you leave.

385
00:14:29,533 --> 00:14:31,233
>> And I'll be stepping out during

386
00:14:31,233 --> 00:14:34,000
this public hearing at our March 7th work session,

387
00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:35,567
I read my disclosure statement.

388
00:14:35,567 --> 00:14:36,600
In short, I won't read the

389
00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:37,667
whole thing is very similar to what

390
00:14:37,667 --> 00:14:39,767
I read for the consent agenda.

391
00:14:39,767 --> 00:14:41,967
But in short, my employer, Community Housing Partners,

392
00:14:41,967 --> 00:14:43,933
is administering the newer Home Trust

393
00:14:43,933 --> 00:14:46,667
and this proposal involves several units.

394
00:14:46,667 --> 00:14:48,767
I don't know how many units in the new home trust.

395
00:14:48,767 --> 00:14:50,267
So thank you.

396
00:14:50,267 --> 00:14:52,667
>> Thank you. Staff report.

397
00:14:54,767 --> 00:14:56,367
>> Kasey Hodges has the staff report.

398
00:14:56,367 --> 00:14:58,767
>> Thank you. Good evening.

399
00:14:59,667 --> 00:15:01,233
This is a rezoning request

400
00:15:01,233 --> 00:15:03,670
in the 1,000 block of Glade Road.

401
00:15:03,670 --> 00:15:05,500
The property is approximately 45 acres

402
00:15:05,500 --> 00:15:07,330
and is located off Glade Road

403
00:15:07,330 --> 00:15:08,133
next to the farm development,

404
00:15:08,133 --> 00:15:10,533
which was recently completed.

405
00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,667
There were a number of Planning Commission work sessions

406
00:15:13,667 --> 00:15:15,670
prior to the public hearing where

407
00:15:15,670 --> 00:15:16,800
staff covered different concepts from

408
00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,233
the application at each work session.

409
00:15:20,233 --> 00:15:21,200
The application that was

410
00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:22,567
reviewed by the Planning Commission

411
00:15:22,567 --> 00:15:24,900
featured a vehicle connection to Village Way South.

412
00:15:24,900 --> 00:15:26,600
Though the provision of this connection required

413
00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,167
several variances to subdivision standards.

414
00:15:29,167 --> 00:15:30,967
The applicant had presented an option

415
00:15:30,967 --> 00:15:32,800
to eliminate the connection, though ultimately,

416
00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:34,533
this did not make the change until

417
00:15:34,533 --> 00:15:37,533
the April 28th revised application.

418
00:15:37,533 --> 00:15:39,400
At the public hearing for Planning Commission,

419
00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,667
the recomme- the request was recommended for

420
00:15:41,667 --> 00:15:46,700
approval though the motion failed by a vote of 2-5.

421
00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:48,233
The applicant presented an option to

422
00:15:48,233 --> 00:15:50,800
eliminate the connectivity at the March 7,

423
00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,670
2023 Town Council work session.

424
00:15:53,670 --> 00:15:55,330
Based on the discussion following that work session,

425
00:15:55,330 --> 00:15:56,167
the applicant indicated that

426
00:15:56,167 --> 00:15:58,670
they would remove the connection.

427
00:15:58,670 --> 00:15:59,600
The applicant did remove the connection and

428
00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,400
incorporated several other application

429
00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,467
changes that had been discussed at

430
00:16:03,467 --> 00:16:05,330
other work sessions in the April

431
00:16:05,330 --> 00:16:07,330
28, 2023 application revision.

432
00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,733
The application under consideration today is dated

433
00:16:10,733 --> 00:16:12,733
May 5th, 2023.

434
00:16:15,267 --> 00:16:16,667
>> This aerial photo shows

435
00:16:16,667 --> 00:16:19,867
the development out- development area outlined in blue.

436
00:16:19,867 --> 00:16:21,330
The properties that abut on

437
00:16:21,330 --> 00:16:23,670
the south and west along Glade Road and

438
00:16:23,670 --> 00:16:25,367
Shadow Lake Road are zoned RR1 and

439
00:16:25,367 --> 00:16:28,330
developed generally as single family residences.

440
00:16:28,330 --> 00:16:29,667
The village at Tom's Creek PR and

441
00:16:29,667 --> 00:16:31,670
the Farm PR are also

442
00:16:31,670 --> 00:16:34,800
neighbors to the north and the south.

443
00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,100
The application entails the construction

444
00:16:37,100 --> 00:16:39,100
of 176 single family,

445
00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,433
two family, and townhome residential units.

446
00:16:42,433 --> 00:16:44,133
There will be a mix of community land,

447
00:16:44,133 --> 00:16:45,800
trust, affordable homes,

448
00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,200
mixed income market rate homes,

449
00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,300
and higher end market rate single family homes.

450
00:16:51,300 --> 00:16:52,733
The applicant will also construct

451
00:16:52,733 --> 00:16:55,670
public streets, sidewalks, and trails,

452
00:16:55,670 --> 00:16:56,433
as well as public utilities,

453
00:16:56,433 --> 00:16:59,900
including a new sanitary sewer pump station.

454
00:16:59,900 --> 00:17:01,900
There is a related request to remove the parcel

455
00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:04,330
from the Tom's Creek Basin Seward area

456
00:17:04,330 --> 00:17:05,167
to serve the development with

457
00:17:05,167 --> 00:17:06,633
traditional gravity sewer instead of

458
00:17:06,633 --> 00:17:08,933
steps stag or septic tanks.

459
00:17:08,933 --> 00:17:10,800
The applicant is requesting town commitment on

460
00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,670
several items including affordable housing

461
00:17:13,670 --> 00:17:14,667
with the town's Arpa funding,

462
00:17:14,667 --> 00:17:16,900
financial contribution to Stormwater management to

463
00:17:16,900 --> 00:17:20,633
construct a regional quality and quantity wet pond,

464
00:17:20,633 --> 00:17:23,333
cost share for necessary sanitary sewer upgrades

465
00:17:23,333 --> 00:17:28,267
based on the proposed route for the sanitary utility.

466
00:17:28,267 --> 00:17:30,267
These related requests have been reviewed as

467
00:17:30,267 --> 00:17:33,867
part of the overall rezoning request.

468
00:17:34,367 --> 00:17:37,167
On the screen is the development plan to orient you,

469
00:17:37,167 --> 00:17:38,433
the graphic in the middle is

470
00:17:38,433 --> 00:17:40,200
turned 90 degrees clockwise from

471
00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:41,400
the aerial image with

472
00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:43,933
the corresponding roads shown in color.

473
00:17:43,933 --> 00:17:46,133
The development is divided into two sections,

474
00:17:46,133 --> 00:17:47,933
the south area to the left

475
00:17:47,933 --> 00:17:49,700
containing smaller market rate homes,

476
00:17:49,700 --> 00:17:51,900
as well as the proffered affordable homes.

477
00:17:51,900 --> 00:17:53,400
And the north area to the right,

478
00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,533
which will contain all single family market rate homes.

479
00:17:56,533 --> 00:17:57,800
There's one access point to

480
00:17:57,800 --> 00:17:59,567
the development from Glade Road.

481
00:17:59,567 --> 00:18:02,200
A pedestrian trail is provided to Village Way South,

482
00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:03,767
as well as to the existing trail

483
00:18:03,767 --> 00:18:06,467
at the village at Tom's Creek.

484
00:18:06,467 --> 00:18:07,933
The criteria for evaluation of

485
00:18:07,933 --> 00:18:09,933
rezoning requests is found in your staff report,

486
00:18:09,933 --> 00:18:11,567
but generally requires conformity

487
00:18:11,567 --> 00:18:13,330
to the comprehensive plan,

488
00:18:13,330 --> 00:18:14,567
evaluating the relationship of

489
00:18:14,567 --> 00:18:15,833
the proposed change to

490
00:18:15,833 --> 00:18:17,700
the general planning vision of the town,

491
00:18:17,700 --> 00:18:19,000
and whether or not the development

492
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,500
furthers the purposes of the zoning ordinance.

493
00:18:21,500 --> 00:18:23,267
The need and the justification for the change,

494
00:18:23,267 --> 00:18:24,400
which is the applicant's burden to

495
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:25,733
prove and the effect of

496
00:18:25,733 --> 00:18:27,733
the proposal on any public infrastructure

497
00:18:27,733 --> 00:18:29,900
and the surrounding area.

498
00:18:29,900 --> 00:18:32,000
The future land use map is seen on the screen and you

499
00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,400
can see it is within the low density residential,

500
00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:35,867
future land use designation,

501
00:18:35,867 --> 00:18:37,267
which allows up to and

502
00:18:37,267 --> 00:18:39,600
including four dwelling units per acre.

503
00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:40,767
This property did undergo

504
00:18:40,767 --> 00:18:43,633
a comprehensive plan map amendment in 2021,

505
00:18:43,633 --> 00:18:46,100
which changed from very low density residential

506
00:18:46,100 --> 00:18:48,333
to low density residential.

507
00:18:48,333 --> 00:18:50,533
It is now located in an urban development area,

508
00:18:50,533 --> 00:18:51,600
and it is split between the

509
00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:53,367
suburban residential and rural,

510
00:18:53,367 --> 00:18:54,600
undeveloped neighborhood

511
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,700
employment service area categories.

512
00:18:56,700 --> 00:18:58,933
These characteristics regarding these designations were

513
00:18:58,933 --> 00:19:03,300
provided in the staff report and the staff appendix.

514
00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:04,633
Nearly half of respondents

515
00:19:04,633 --> 00:19:05,967
in the Comprehensive Plan Survey

516
00:19:05,967 --> 00:19:09,000
desired more affordable housing options in town.

517
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,500
The town has focused on providing

518
00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:12,567
assistance to low income households,

519
00:19:12,567 --> 00:19:13,933
and the establishment of the Community

520
00:19:13,933 --> 00:19:15,267
Land Trust allows the town

521
00:19:15,267 --> 00:19:19,333
to address shortages across other income brackets.

522
00:19:19,333 --> 00:19:21,700
In response to the growing need for affordable housing,

523
00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:22,900
the applicant is proffering

524
00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:25,233
affordable units in the mix of homes.

525
00:19:25,233 --> 00:19:27,433
A total of 24 homes will be proffered with

526
00:19:27,433 --> 00:19:29,667
permanent affordability and income restrictions

527
00:19:29,667 --> 00:19:32,967
that I will later discussed in the presentation.

528
00:19:32,967 --> 00:19:34,267
The applicant is proposing to divide

529
00:19:34,267 --> 00:19:36,200
the development based on the housing type.

530
00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:37,533
The south area will contain

531
00:19:37,533 --> 00:19:39,800
the proffered dev- proffered affordable units,

532
00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,500
as well as smaller homes on

533
00:19:41,500 --> 00:19:44,300
smaller lots to be sold at market rate.

534
00:19:44,300 --> 00:19:46,200
The north area of the development will contain

535
00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,567
market rate detached single family homes,

536
00:19:48,567 --> 00:19:50,300
similar in size and scale to those

537
00:19:50,300 --> 00:19:53,733
adjacent in the village of Tom's Creek.

538
00:19:53,733 --> 00:19:57,333
Beginning in 2023, town will conduct 2020- 22,

539
00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,233
32 reviews on all rezoning requests

540
00:20:00,233 --> 00:20:01,767
to ensure that public infrastructure,

541
00:20:01,767 --> 00:20:04,133
especially arterial and collector roads,

542
00:20:04,133 --> 00:20:06,100
are accommodated in the proposed development

543
00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:08,333
in conformance with the comprehensive plan.

544
00:20:08,333 --> 00:20:10,200
The roadway connection at Glade Road is in

545
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:14,367
keeping with the intent of land use connectivity.

546
00:20:14,367 --> 00:20:15,633
In the evaluation of

547
00:20:15,633 --> 00:20:18,330
the application against the zoning ordinance,

548
00:20:18,330 --> 00:20:19,667
staff reviews the request for

549
00:20:19,667 --> 00:20:22,367
its conformity to the purpose of the zoning district.

550
00:20:22,367 --> 00:20:24,633
The purpose of the PR district is to encourage

551
00:20:24,633 --> 00:20:28,330
communities that offer a variety of housing options.

552
00:20:28,330 --> 00:20:29,433
The intent of the district is to give

553
00:20:29,433 --> 00:20:30,567
greater flexibility than

554
00:20:30,567 --> 00:20:31,900
the conventional zoning districts

555
00:20:31,900 --> 00:20:34,233
allow in order for the applicant to develop

556
00:20:34,233 --> 00:20:36,967
a project that is of improved design quality,

557
00:20:36,967 --> 00:20:39,300
that may provide new approaches to homeownership,

558
00:20:39,300 --> 00:20:41,000
or that provides an efficient use of

559
00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,633
land to decrease development costs.

560
00:20:43,633 --> 00:20:45,233
It is the applicant's burden to prove that

561
00:20:45,233 --> 00:20:47,800
the application meets the intent of the district.

562
00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:49,467
In exchange for flexibility in

563
00:20:49,467 --> 00:20:51,200
the PR district, the plan,

564
00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,767
application and proffers are binding,

565
00:20:53,767 --> 00:20:56,200
any significant deviation would require the applicant

566
00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,733
to amend the district through the public hearing process.

567
00:20:59,733 --> 00:21:01,500
The current zoning is here on the screen,

568
00:21:01,500 --> 00:21:05,867
it is in the green RR1 zoning district.

569
00:21:05,867 --> 00:21:08,100
As we begin to evaluate the land use request,

570
00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:09,533
the overall development standards

571
00:21:09,533 --> 00:21:11,500
are taken into consideration.

572
00:21:11,500 --> 00:21:13,967
Overall standards apply, such as open space,

573
00:21:13,967 --> 00:21:16,133
canopy coverage, and gross density.

574
00:21:16,133 --> 00:21:18,267
Individual lot standards regulate

575
00:21:18,267 --> 00:21:20,500
the development on individual residential parcels,

576
00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:22,670
whether north or south.

577
00:21:22,670 --> 00:21:23,200
The overall standards for

578
00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,800
the development are seen on the screen.

579
00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:28,833
The green areas indicate the open space that

580
00:21:28,833 --> 00:21:33,633
is being provided in the- in the development.

581
00:21:34,330 --> 00:21:35,967
Diving further into the proposed standards,

582
00:21:35,967 --> 00:21:38,200
the applicant has provided two sets of standards for

583
00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:39,233
the development based on the

584
00:21:39,233 --> 00:21:42,233
two parts of the development.

585
00:21:44,733 --> 00:21:46,167
This chart is very busy.

586
00:21:46,167 --> 00:21:49,167
It's found on page 12 of the January 13 staff report,

587
00:21:49,167 --> 00:21:51,567
and illustrates the proposed district standards

588
00:21:51,567 --> 00:21:52,967
in the first two columns,

589
00:21:52,967 --> 00:21:54,500
in green and red.

590
00:21:54,500 --> 00:21:56,330
Compared with the overall village

591
00:21:56,330 --> 00:21:57,633
at Tom's Creek development,

592
00:21:57,633 --> 00:22:00,100
the neighboring homes on Village Way South,

593
00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:02,300
the overall RR1 standards,

594
00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:03,633
and the neighboring homes in

595
00:22:03,633 --> 00:22:06,533
the RR1 district on Shadow Lake Road and Glade Road,

596
00:22:06,533 --> 00:22:09,467
as well as the standards at the farm PRD.

597
00:22:09,467 --> 00:22:10,833
I'm not going to discuss each of

598
00:22:10,833 --> 00:22:13,267
these individual standards for the development areas.

599
00:22:13,267 --> 00:22:14,800
The standard charts for each of

600
00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:16,500
the development different areas is-

601
00:22:16,500 --> 00:22:18,133
in the north and south are found on page

602
00:22:18,133 --> 00:22:20,267
14 and 15 of the staff report.

603
00:22:20,267 --> 00:22:21,600
As you can see on the screen,

604
00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,867
the south proposed standards are significantly

605
00:22:23,867 --> 00:22:25,467
more intense than the surrounding area

606
00:22:25,467 --> 00:22:26,800
except for the farm.

607
00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,133
Including the proposed standards

608
00:22:28,133 --> 00:22:29,900
in the north part of the development.

609
00:22:29,900 --> 00:22:31,333
The north area standards are more

610
00:22:31,333 --> 00:22:33,200
comparable to the surrounding neighborhood.

611
00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:34,633
I'll touch on several of the standards that

612
00:22:34,633 --> 00:22:38,300
contribute to the overall feel of the development.

613
00:22:38,300 --> 00:22:39,600
Setbacks provide space on

614
00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:41,733
parcels where structures cannot be built.

615
00:22:41,733 --> 00:22:44,100
Setbacks will vary based on the unit type.

616
00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:47,333
Attached units will have zero setback for interior walls,

617
00:22:47,333 --> 00:22:50,567
while detached units will have setback all around.

618
00:22:50,567 --> 00:22:51,833
The applicant has further added

619
00:22:51,833 --> 00:22:54,133
a restriction for minimum building separation.

620
00:22:54,133 --> 00:22:55,367
This will help to accommodate

621
00:22:55,367 --> 00:22:57,533
driveway location restrictions that they have

622
00:22:57,533 --> 00:23:01,000
proposed in order to reduce front yard pavement.

623
00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:02,967
Florida area ratio is a regulation that

624
00:23:02,967 --> 00:23:06,567
provides proportionality for homes to the lot.

625
00:23:06,567 --> 00:23:07,833
They have added a proffer of

626
00:23:07,833 --> 00:23:09,833
maximum square footage to help ensure that

627
00:23:09,833 --> 00:23:11,767
homes as constructed in the development

628
00:23:11,767 --> 00:23:14,600
are relatively similar in size and scale.

629
00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:16,500
The proposed square footage is less than

630
00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:18,733
what the Florida area ratio would allow,

631
00:23:18,733 --> 00:23:21,333
which means that homeowners in the future may be able to

632
00:23:21,333 --> 00:23:22,700
add square footage to their homes by

633
00:23:22,700 --> 00:23:25,700
finishing basements or adding on.

634
00:23:26,467 --> 00:23:30,000
The applicant has provided a pattern book that provides

635
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,330
information on architectural styles and

636
00:23:32,330 --> 00:23:34,833
materials for the different housing types provided.

637
00:23:34,833 --> 00:23:36,900
The applicant does request a modification to

638
00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:39,330
the use and design standards for town homes to

639
00:23:39,330 --> 00:23:42,767
not require front facade variability and instead provide

640
00:23:42,767 --> 00:23:44,567
differentiation between adjacent units

641
00:23:44,567 --> 00:23:46,967
using other architectural features.

642
00:23:47,933 --> 00:23:50,200
This slide shows a number of the different types of

643
00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,467
physical architectural variation possible for

644
00:23:52,467 --> 00:23:55,670
single and attached units in addition to color,

645
00:23:55,670 --> 00:23:58,333
which is not apparent in these elevations.

646
00:23:58,333 --> 00:24:00,100
On the screen are the- are examples of

647
00:24:00,100 --> 00:24:04,900
the north area market rate homes as well.

648
00:24:05,833 --> 00:24:07,100
>> The applicant has proposed

649
00:24:07,100 --> 00:24:09,300
a restriction on themselves that has- that will

650
00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:10,500
reduce the number of

651
00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:11,800
double width driveways that

652
00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:13,670
can be adjacent to one another,

653
00:24:13,670 --> 00:24:14,400
addressing a concern that

654
00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,800
large blocks of front yard may be paved for parking.

655
00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:19,670
Due to the small lot nature

656
00:24:19,670 --> 00:24:20,367
of the south area of development,

657
00:24:20,367 --> 00:24:21,633
the applicant does request

658
00:24:21,633 --> 00:24:25,133
several other modifications with regard to parking.

659
00:24:25,133 --> 00:24:27,200
This slide shows the modifications needed for

660
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:28,600
the parking layout proposed

661
00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,967
based on the proposed layout from the applicant.

662
00:24:30,967 --> 00:24:32,267
In the items seen on the screen,

663
00:24:32,267 --> 00:24:33,433
the applicant is requesting to

664
00:24:33,433 --> 00:24:35,300
eliminate the standards except the last

665
00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:36,933
where they have proposed a modification that

666
00:24:36,933 --> 00:24:40,800
I'll go over in the next slides.

667
00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:42,330
This graphic provided by

668
00:24:42,330 --> 00:24:44,433
the applicant illustrates the application of

669
00:24:44,433 --> 00:24:47,333
the restriction for no two double width driveways

670
00:24:47,333 --> 00:24:49,367
adjacent to one another.

671
00:24:49,367 --> 00:24:50,733
What you see in purple,

672
00:24:50,733 --> 00:24:52,433
highlights the permitted locations

673
00:24:52,433 --> 00:24:54,100
of the double width driveways.

674
00:24:54,100 --> 00:24:56,900
You can see in the blocks of four town homes,

675
00:24:56,900 --> 00:25:00,433
each end unit has a side driveway as shown in blue.

676
00:25:00,433 --> 00:25:02,500
The light purple also indicates the area that

677
00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:03,800
the applicant specifies will be

678
00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,333
a minimum of 20 feet wide.

679
00:25:06,333 --> 00:25:07,700
This slide also illustrates

680
00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:10,300
the concepts regarding vehicles backing into the street,

681
00:25:10,300 --> 00:25:14,267
and parking in front of the building line.

682
00:25:14,267 --> 00:25:16,100
The subdivision ordinance specifies

683
00:25:16,100 --> 00:25:17,800
a minimum distance from the edge of

684
00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:20,330
a driveway to an intersection.

685
00:25:20,330 --> 00:25:22,330
The graphic provided by the applicant ind-

686
00:25:22,330 --> 00:25:24,933
indicates that due to the narrow lot frontage and depth,

687
00:25:24,933 --> 00:25:26,467
some lots will simply not

688
00:25:26,467 --> 00:25:28,833
meet the minimum distance requirements.

689
00:25:28,833 --> 00:25:31,200
They are requesting a variance to min-

690
00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:35,400
reduce the minimum from 50 feet to 20 feet.

691
00:25:35,467 --> 00:25:36,867
The planned residential zoning district

692
00:25:36,867 --> 00:25:38,133
allows applicants to propose

693
00:25:38,133 --> 00:25:39,833
an alternate parking ratio based on

694
00:25:39,833 --> 00:25:41,800
a number of factors including unit type,

695
00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:43,767
target market, proximity to services,

696
00:25:43,767 --> 00:25:46,000
and access to trails and transits.

697
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:47,633
The applicant is proposing a minimum of

698
00:25:47,633 --> 00:25:49,400
two off street parking spaces per unit,

699
00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,133
which is consistent with single family uses.

700
00:25:53,133 --> 00:25:55,500
The applicant is proposing a non-traditional method of

701
00:25:55,500 --> 00:25:57,670
achieving overall canopy coverage

702
00:25:57,670 --> 00:25:59,167
over the lifespan of the development.

703
00:25:59,167 --> 00:26:01,300
Typically, development canopy coverage is usually

704
00:26:01,300 --> 00:26:02,633
satisfied at the beginning of

705
00:26:02,633 --> 00:26:04,600
a development with planting new trees.

706
00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:05,733
Over time, the trees reach

707
00:26:05,733 --> 00:26:07,433
maturity based on the species and will

708
00:26:07,433 --> 00:26:09,100
ultimately cover some percentage

709
00:26:09,100 --> 00:26:10,733
of the overall development.

710
00:26:10,733 --> 00:26:11,800
The applicant is proposing

711
00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:13,167
a different approach that includes

712
00:26:13,167 --> 00:26:14,700
planting some new trees,

713
00:26:14,700 --> 00:26:17,600
but allowing nati- natural species progression,

714
00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:20,667
to provide canopy over time as the open space progresses

715
00:26:20,667 --> 00:26:23,900
from post agricultural fields to shru- shrub thickets,

716
00:26:23,900 --> 00:26:26,300
to mixed hardwood forests.

717
00:26:26,567 --> 00:26:28,867
The method of planting some trees now,

718
00:26:28,867 --> 00:26:30,100
and allowing others to grow

719
00:26:30,100 --> 00:26:31,533
over the lifespan of the development is

720
00:26:31,533 --> 00:26:33,330
a reasonable approach to allow for

721
00:26:33,330 --> 00:26:34,867
natural biodiversity to develop,

722
00:26:34,867 --> 00:26:37,833
and to limit the upfront costs of planting.

723
00:26:37,833 --> 00:26:39,300
However, this method of planting

724
00:26:39,300 --> 00:26:40,533
and achieving canopy coverage and

725
00:26:40,533 --> 00:26:41,900
landscape vision over time is

726
00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:44,233
untested in the town as a standard.

727
00:26:44,233 --> 00:26:45,967
There are places that have in town that have

728
00:26:45,967 --> 00:26:48,300
naturally grown up over time to provide canopy.

729
00:26:48,300 --> 00:26:49,700
However, it's unknown what the true

730
00:26:49,700 --> 00:26:51,600
outcome for development of the size,

731
00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,400
in managing both manicured and more naturalized spaces

732
00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:56,567
together through the HOA.

733
00:26:56,567 --> 00:26:57,900
The town does not have a metric

734
00:26:57,900 --> 00:26:59,567
to follow this sort of approach

735
00:26:59,567 --> 00:27:00,833
to ensure the development is on

736
00:27:00,833 --> 00:27:03,330
target to achieve the required canopy.

737
00:27:03,330 --> 00:27:05,633
The applicant has proffered several timing mechanisms and

738
00:27:05,633 --> 00:27:07,367
implementation strategies that are

739
00:27:07,367 --> 00:27:09,467
in response to these concerns.

740
00:27:09,467 --> 00:27:11,433
One is that the Homeowners Association will be

741
00:27:11,433 --> 00:27:13,900
responsible for implementing the recommendations,

742
00:27:13,900 --> 00:27:15,500
from their hired expert.

743
00:27:15,500 --> 00:27:16,567
And that there will be target

744
00:27:16,567 --> 00:27:18,467
metrics at specified times,

745
00:27:18,467 --> 00:27:19,833
after their development con-

746
00:27:19,833 --> 00:27:23,433
commences to require minimum canopy coverage.

747
00:27:24,167 --> 00:27:26,000
This graphic from the application shows

748
00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:28,433
all of the different types of landscape areas.

749
00:27:28,433 --> 00:27:29,767
The purple and green areas

750
00:27:29,767 --> 00:27:32,200
indicate areas of successful management.

751
00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,300
Orange is managed turf, red is recreation.

752
00:27:35,300 --> 00:27:39,233
Specific vegetation for embankments is also called out.

753
00:27:39,233 --> 00:27:40,967
This graphic from the application shows

754
00:27:40,967 --> 00:27:43,833
the theoretical progression of canopy coverage over time.

755
00:27:43,833 --> 00:27:45,300
While we often think of only trees

756
00:27:45,300 --> 00:27:46,800
as providing canopy coverage, shrubs,

757
00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:49,500
and ground cover do provide some canopy coverage as well,

758
00:27:49,500 --> 00:27:51,330
and may be more effective in managing

759
00:27:51,330 --> 00:27:55,100
erosion due to their ground covering nature.

760
00:27:55,100 --> 00:27:58,000
The applicant is proposing a street tree ratio of one for

761
00:27:58,000 --> 00:27:59,800
every 80 feet in the north area and

762
00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,330
one for every 100 feet in the south.

763
00:28:02,330 --> 00:28:03,533
In addition, each yard in

764
00:28:03,533 --> 00:28:05,433
the south area will have one tree,

765
00:28:05,433 --> 00:28:08,133
and at least two shrubs or another tree.

766
00:28:08,133 --> 00:28:09,500
Yards in the north area will

767
00:28:09,500 --> 00:28:11,300
each have one tree in the front yard,

768
00:28:11,300 --> 00:28:13,167
and each yard will also be required to have

769
00:28:13,167 --> 00:28:17,233
at least four trees and or shrubs.

770
00:28:17,233 --> 00:28:19,500
The subdivision ordinance requires sidewalks to be

771
00:28:19,500 --> 00:28:21,133
constructed on at least one side

772
00:28:21,133 --> 00:28:22,700
of all new streets within a subdivision,

773
00:28:22,700 --> 00:28:26,400
and on existing streets adjacent to the subdivision.

774
00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,633
The applicant is requesting several different variances

775
00:28:28,633 --> 00:28:31,367
to different requirements for sidewalks and trails.

776
00:28:31,367 --> 00:28:33,670
They are requesting to construct trail

777
00:28:33,670 --> 00:28:35,133
in lieu of sidewalk for some segments.

778
00:28:35,133 --> 00:28:37,330
They are requesting to reduce the buffer strip

779
00:28:37,330 --> 00:28:39,133
between the curve and the sidewalk from 4 ft,

780
00:28:39,133 --> 00:28:41,533
3 ft. And they are requesting to eliminate

781
00:28:41,533 --> 00:28:42,833
sidewalk on street E in

782
00:28:42,833 --> 00:28:44,967
the north area of the development.

783
00:28:44,967 --> 00:28:46,167
Lastly, they are requesting to

784
00:28:46,167 --> 00:28:47,633
provide grass trails instead of

785
00:28:47,633 --> 00:28:49,267
paved or gravel trails to

786
00:28:49,267 --> 00:28:51,100
the interior of the development,

787
00:28:51,100 --> 00:28:54,567
to the internal open space areas.

788
00:28:54,567 --> 00:28:56,600
This graphic illustrates the different variances

789
00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:58,900
needed with respect to the street.

790
00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:00,330
The ora- the blue

791
00:29:00,330 --> 00:29:01,967
indicates buffer reduction between the,

792
00:29:01,967 --> 00:29:04,300
uh, sidewalk and the curb.

793
00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:06,833
The orange is trail in lieu of sidewalk,

794
00:29:06,833 --> 00:29:09,200
the red is the elimination of sidewalk,

795
00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:13,433
and the green are the locations of the grass trails.

796
00:29:13,433 --> 00:29:14,800
Public utility easements are

797
00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:16,300
required around the perimeter of

798
00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:17,933
all new developments and around

799
00:29:17,933 --> 00:29:20,700
the pro- property lines within the development.

800
00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:23,967
The applicant is requesting a modification to reduce

801
00:29:23,967 --> 00:29:27,633
public utility wid- width easement- easement widths,

802
00:29:27,633 --> 00:29:31,267
where they are adjacent to existing easements.

803
00:29:31,267 --> 00:29:33,867
This graphic illustrates the locations in yellow,

804
00:29:33,867 --> 00:29:36,000
where a seven-and-half public utility easement

805
00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:37,733
will be provided in the development where the

806
00:29:37,733 --> 00:29:41,333
adj- adjacent to existing PUEs offsite.

807
00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,133
Standard curve and gutter CG6 is

808
00:29:46,133 --> 00:29:48,500
required on all new streets and typical subdivisions,

809
00:29:48,500 --> 00:29:50,900
but the planned residential district allows applicants to

810
00:29:50,900 --> 00:29:54,133
request variances to these subdivision standards as well.

811
00:29:54,133 --> 00:29:55,967
The applicant is proposing an alternate curve

812
00:29:55,967 --> 00:29:57,567
and stormwater conveyance method,

813
00:29:57,567 --> 00:30:00,400
which they say will reduce overall development costs.

814
00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:02,667
The graphic illustrates the typical street sections for

815
00:30:02,667 --> 00:30:06,367
the south area on top and the north area on the bottom.

816
00:30:06,367 --> 00:30:07,533
The top section shows that

817
00:30:07,533 --> 00:30:08,900
the development will have sidewalk,

818
00:30:08,900 --> 00:30:10,900
grass strip on one side of the street,

819
00:30:10,900 --> 00:30:12,333
roll top curb on both sides,

820
00:30:12,333 --> 00:30:13,933
and two travel lanes.

821
00:30:13,933 --> 00:30:16,800
The North area has roadside ditch with no curbing,

822
00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,567
sidewalk would be provided in an easement.

823
00:30:20,567 --> 00:30:22,700
In evaluation of the rezoning request includes

824
00:30:22,700 --> 00:30:25,600
an analysis of the projected transportation impacts,

825
00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:29,100
with a turn lane warrant and a level of service analysis.

826
00:30:29,100 --> 00:30:30,400
A turn lane is warranted for

827
00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:31,567
the development and the additional

828
00:30:31,567 --> 00:30:32,667
right of way required for

829
00:30:32,667 --> 00:30:34,267
its construction has already been

830
00:30:34,267 --> 00:30:38,733
dedicated to the town during the farm development.

831
00:30:38,733 --> 00:30:41,567
The applicant's proposed sanitary sewer route identified

832
00:30:41,567 --> 00:30:43,167
several areas that would be negatively

833
00:30:43,167 --> 00:30:45,400
impacted by the proposed development.

834
00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,200
The applicant is- is working with the town for

835
00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:50,167
a cost share solution that provides

836
00:30:50,167 --> 00:30:52,733
the necessary infrastructure to support the development,

837
00:30:52,733 --> 00:30:56,933
as well as addressing existing infrastructure needs.

838
00:30:58,300 --> 00:30:59,800
Stormwater management is required for

839
00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,600
all new development to address quality and quantity.

840
00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:04,500
The areas downstream of this development have

841
00:31:04,500 --> 00:31:07,267
faced ongoing stormwater issues in recent years.

842
00:31:07,267 --> 00:31:09,733
The applicant is proposing a regional stormwater facility

843
00:31:09,733 --> 00:31:10,800
that will address quality

844
00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,433
and quantity for the development,

845
00:31:12,433 --> 00:31:13,567
as well as improving

846
00:31:13,567 --> 00:31:15,433
the quality of the downstream channels.

847
00:31:15,433 --> 00:31:16,733
They are requesting town

848
00:31:16,733 --> 00:31:19,900
financial assistance in order to provide this benefit.

849
00:31:19,900 --> 00:31:21,300
This graphic shows the location of

850
00:31:21,300 --> 00:31:23,600
the proposed wet pond in the center and pink,

851
00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:24,700
as well as the other dry

852
00:31:24,700 --> 00:31:26,400
stormwater management areas below it,

853
00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:28,670
near the bypass and near

854
00:31:28,670 --> 00:31:30,700
Shadow Lake Road to the top of the screen.

855
00:31:30,700 --> 00:31:32,367
The graphic also shows the location of

856
00:31:32,367 --> 00:31:34,400
the revised Creek Valley overlay as

857
00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:35,533
provided by the applicant

858
00:31:35,533 --> 00:31:37,267
based on the criteria in the ordinance,

859
00:31:37,267 --> 00:31:41,100
rather than relying on the older data.

860
00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:42,267
>> As we wrap up, the applicant

861
00:31:42,267 --> 00:31:43,600
has submitted a proffer statement.

862
00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,867
The most recent revision was submitted May 5th.

863
00:31:45,867 --> 00:31:48,500
I will go over these proffers generally.

864
00:31:48,500 --> 00:31:50,000
The first is that the applicant-that

865
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:51,167
the development will be in

866
00:31:51,167 --> 00:31:53,400
substantial conformance with the application.

867
00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:55,700
The second will be that the Homeowners Association

868
00:31:55,700 --> 00:31:56,800
will be created to

869
00:31:56,800 --> 00:31:59,200
establish-will be established to

870
00:31:59,767 --> 00:32:02,433
enforce the proffers and the application requirements.

871
00:32:02,433 --> 00:32:04,433
The third proffer pertains to the open space,

872
00:32:04,433 --> 00:32:06,467
including the minimum that will be provided,

873
00:32:06,467 --> 00:32:08,330
the trails that will be provided,

874
00:32:08,330 --> 00:32:09,433
the ownership and maintenance of

875
00:32:09,433 --> 00:32:13,167
the open space areas except the public trails,

876
00:32:13,167 --> 00:32:14,367
as well as the language and

877
00:32:14,367 --> 00:32:16,167
information regarding their hiring

878
00:32:16,167 --> 00:32:17,767
an expert to follow

879
00:32:17,767 --> 00:32:20,767
through the managed successional areas.

880
00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:22,733
The fourth proffer regards all of

881
00:32:22,733 --> 00:32:24,700
the landscaping commitments that the applicant is making,

882
00:32:24,700 --> 00:32:26,600
including the minimum canopy coverage,

883
00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:29,330
street tree ratio, and minimum requirements.

884
00:32:29,330 --> 00:32:32,330
The managed successional landscaping generally.

885
00:32:32,267 --> 00:32:35,333
The pond edge shade trees and their requirements.

886
00:32:35,333 --> 00:32:37,133
The yard land-the additional

887
00:32:37,133 --> 00:32:39,300
yard landscaping for each lot,

888
00:32:39,300 --> 00:32:40,833
as well as the timing mechanisms for

889
00:32:40,833 --> 00:32:42,267
those canopy targets and

890
00:32:42,267 --> 00:32:45,267
compliance with zoning ordinance species.

891
00:32:45,567 --> 00:32:47,200
The fifth proffer, uh, regards

892
00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:49,433
the recreation amenities and includes their commitment

893
00:32:49,433 --> 00:32:51,433
to active and passive recreation amenities in

894
00:32:51,433 --> 00:32:54,500
Phase II and Phase I of the project.

895
00:32:54,500 --> 00:32:56,700
The sixth proffer regards their trails to be

896
00:32:56,700 --> 00:32:59,500
constructed per the exhibit in the application.

897
00:32:59,500 --> 00:33:01,467
The seventh proffer prohibits

898
00:33:01,467 --> 00:33:04,400
construction vehicles on Village Way South provides for

899
00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:06,833
a barrier and written notification except when

900
00:33:06,833 --> 00:33:10,433
connection of the trail is necessary.

901
00:33:10,733 --> 00:33:12,267
The fifth proffer contains

902
00:33:12,267 --> 00:33:15,733
the information regarding the Affordable Housing Units.

903
00:33:15,733 --> 00:33:18,400
Ten of these units will be proffered for households up to

904
00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,400
80%- earning up to 80% AMI,

905
00:33:21,733 --> 00:33:25,333
10 units for households, from 80-100% AMI.

906
00:33:25,500 --> 00:33:29,400
Four units for households, 100-120% of AMI.

907
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:31,800
These will all be put into the Land Trust.

908
00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,267
All of these units will be single-family detached.

909
00:33:34,267 --> 00:33:36,600
They will all meet, half energy efficiency or

910
00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,333
sustainability standards for the 24 affordable units,

911
00:33:39,333 --> 00:33:40,733
they will either be earth craft

912
00:33:40,733 --> 00:33:44,633
certified or have a HERS rating of 55 or better.

913
00:33:44,633 --> 00:33:47,767
There will be sold to eligible buyers and the transfers

914
00:33:47,767 --> 00:33:52,533
to-the property will be transferred to the Land Trust.

915
00:33:52,533 --> 00:33:54,467
That the sales price will be determined by

916
00:33:54,467 --> 00:33:57,467
HUD formulas at the time of readiness.

917
00:33:57,467 --> 00:33:59,767
And that the 10 units up to 80% AMI will

918
00:33:59,767 --> 00:34:02,133
be to be completed by the town

919
00:34:02,133 --> 00:34:04,467
ARPA deadline and furthering

920
00:34:04,467 --> 00:34:05,567
the rate of completion of

921
00:34:05,567 --> 00:34:07,833
the remainder of the affordable units.

922
00:34:07,833 --> 00:34:10,233
The ninth proffer talks

923
00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:12,267
about the mix of housing types for

924
00:34:12,267 --> 00:34:14,670
the south area between

925
00:34:14,670 --> 00:34:17,833
the single-family units- two-family units, and townhomes.

926
00:34:17,833 --> 00:34:19,567
Talks about the maximum square footage at

927
00:34:19,567 --> 00:34:22,670
the initial certificate of occupancy and proffers

928
00:34:22,670 --> 00:34:24,200
a HERS rating of 65 or better for

929
00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:28,533
the remainder of the market rate homes in the south area.

930
00:34:28,533 --> 00:34:30,633
The 10th Proffer commits

931
00:34:30,633 --> 00:34:32,733
to single-family homes only in the north area,

932
00:34:32,733 --> 00:34:34,267
as well as solar readiness as

933
00:34:34,267 --> 00:34:37,267
well and minimum HVAC requirements.

934
00:34:37,300 --> 00:34:40,670
The 11th proffer determines the phasing talks

935
00:34:40,670 --> 00:34:44,100
about Phase 1 with those ARPA deadline homes.

936
00:34:44,100 --> 00:34:47,000
The 12th proffer regards rental restrictions and

937
00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:51,467
the allowance for accessory dwelling units or homestay.

938
00:34:51,467 --> 00:34:53,533
The 13th proffer includes the recalculation of

939
00:34:53,533 --> 00:34:56,600
100-year floodplain and the commitment to

940
00:34:56,600 --> 00:35:00,670
develop within- in conformance with the regulations of

941
00:35:00,670 --> 00:35:01,867
the floodplain with regard to

942
00:35:01,867 --> 00:35:04,233
the location of the pump station and the trail.

943
00:35:04,233 --> 00:35:06,100
The last proffer is that the applicant will provide

944
00:35:06,100 --> 00:35:07,367
speed limit signs for

945
00:35:07,367 --> 00:35:10,800
15 miles per hour in the development.

946
00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:12,330
There are many variances and

947
00:35:12,330 --> 00:35:14,433
modifications for this request.

948
00:35:14,533 --> 00:35:15,833
These have been provided to you in

949
00:35:15,833 --> 00:35:17,267
prior staff reports, but in general,

950
00:35:17,267 --> 00:35:19,300
they're listed on the next three slides in

951
00:35:19,300 --> 00:35:22,000
the order in which they appear in the ordinances.

952
00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:25,600
The first four pertain to parking.

953
00:35:26,330 --> 00:35:27,600
Next is the modification for

954
00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:30,600
an alternate street tree ratio,

955
00:35:32,533 --> 00:35:35,133
a variance request to not provide a right of way or

956
00:35:35,133 --> 00:35:36,733
road connection to the property to

957
00:35:36,733 --> 00:35:39,500
the Northwest of the development.

958
00:35:39,500 --> 00:35:41,667
A variance to allow street A to exceed

959
00:35:41,667 --> 00:35:44,467
the maximum length for a cul-de-sac, which is 900 feet.

960
00:35:44,467 --> 00:35:48,567
Street A is approximately 2,600 feet or half a mile.

961
00:35:48,567 --> 00:35:50,133
A variance to allow roll-top curb,

962
00:35:50,133 --> 00:35:53,500
and roadside ditch instead of standard CG6.

963
00:35:53,500 --> 00:35:55,000
A variance request to reduce

964
00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:58,800
the minimum block length from 500 feet to 200 feet.

965
00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:00,667
On this screen, the first two variances

966
00:36:00,667 --> 00:36:01,967
deal with driveway separation

967
00:36:01,967 --> 00:36:03,367
from the property line and

968
00:36:03,367 --> 00:36:05,733
driveway separation from intersections.

969
00:36:05,733 --> 00:36:07,567
The next four variances pertain to

970
00:36:07,567 --> 00:36:09,100
the various sidewalk and trail

971
00:36:09,100 --> 00:36:11,633
variance requests as previously discussed.

972
00:36:11,633 --> 00:36:13,000
And lastly, the request to

973
00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:14,900
reduce the public utility easement widths

974
00:36:14,900 --> 00:36:16,200
for certain lots where there are

975
00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:18,867
existing PUEs on adjacent parcels.

976
00:36:18,867 --> 00:36:20,233
That concludes my presentation I'll be

977
00:36:20,233 --> 00:36:23,733
happy to answer any questions that you have.

978
00:36:23,733 --> 00:36:27,333
>> I have one question for now.

979
00:36:27,533 --> 00:36:29,700
In your slide on HOA and all of

980
00:36:29,700 --> 00:36:33,670
the different things that have to happen with the HOA,

981
00:36:33,670 --> 00:36:35,500
can you talk at all about

982
00:36:35,500 --> 00:36:37,330
the enforcement mechanism that

983
00:36:37,330 --> 00:36:40,500
the town has especially in the beginning?

984
00:36:40,500 --> 00:36:42,900
>> Yes. As with any-

985
00:36:44,233 --> 00:36:46,200
as with any planned residential development

986
00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:48,900
or really any development within town,

987
00:36:48,900 --> 00:36:50,700
the regulations that govern

988
00:36:50,700 --> 00:36:52,900
it are part of the zoning ordinance.

989
00:36:52,900 --> 00:36:54,133
And so if there

990
00:36:54,133 --> 00:36:58,933
are- if there are violations to the standards,

991
00:37:00,500 --> 00:37:02,167
they become pursued as

992
00:37:02,167 --> 00:37:03,667
violations of the zoning ordinance.

993
00:37:03,667 --> 00:37:06,330
And so we would pursue them as zoning violations through

994
00:37:06,330 --> 00:37:08,433
our typical research and

995
00:37:09,267 --> 00:37:11,300
investigation process with the town attorney

996
00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:13,467
and the zoning administrator.

997
00:37:13,467 --> 00:37:15,633
Does that answer your question?

998
00:37:15,633 --> 00:37:17,330
>> Good start.

999
00:37:17,330 --> 00:37:18,800
>> How else can I help?

1000
00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:20,267
>> Well, I'm just curious about some of

1001
00:37:20,267 --> 00:37:23,433
the items that the HOA is responsible for,

1002
00:37:23,433 --> 00:37:26,000
and I don't need you to go back to that slide.

1003
00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:27,333
But there were several items

1004
00:37:27,333 --> 00:37:28,667
and I'm just trying to- I've never been

1005
00:37:28,667 --> 00:37:32,167
a part of an HOA I haven't had that pleasure.

1006
00:37:32,167 --> 00:37:34,167
Um, so,

1007
00:37:34,267 --> 00:37:38,667
I'm just curious about how a new neighborhood first,

1008
00:37:38,667 --> 00:37:39,900
you've got to form one,

1009
00:37:39,900 --> 00:37:41,100
and you've got to get the people,

1010
00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:42,800
and then you've got to get your bylaws,

1011
00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:44,200
I'm sure and I'm sure there's a whole,

1012
00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:45,733
but I'm just wondering how that

1013
00:37:45,733 --> 00:37:48,733
enforcement works within that group.

1014
00:37:48,733 --> 00:37:50,967
We've had some emails from people in

1015
00:37:50,967 --> 00:37:55,567
the village- village of Thomas Creek that are in HOAs.

1016
00:37:55,567 --> 00:37:57,733
Some of them have been positive experiences

1017
00:37:57,733 --> 00:37:59,767
and some of them may be less so.

1018
00:37:59,767 --> 00:38:01,767
So I'm just curious about the two things,

1019
00:38:01,767 --> 00:38:03,667
about how the proffers that

1020
00:38:03,667 --> 00:38:07,267
are- that the developer is proposing,

1021
00:38:07,667 --> 00:38:10,200
there seems to me to be a disconnect between that and

1022
00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:13,467
how- perhaps how they actually work get formed,

1023
00:38:13,467 --> 00:38:16,467
get implemented, and then when

1024
00:38:16,467 --> 00:38:20,670
those issues don't happen, who's responsible?

1025
00:38:20,300 --> 00:38:22,267
>> Sure, I

1026
00:38:22,267 --> 00:38:24,600
think the applicant can probably speak a little bit more

1027
00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:27,333
to where they intend to go

1028
00:38:27,333 --> 00:38:31,867
with kind of the vibe of the HOA,

1029
00:38:31,867 --> 00:38:34,633
but in general, we can talk a little bit about kind of

1030
00:38:34,633 --> 00:38:36,233
that transitional phase between

1031
00:38:36,233 --> 00:38:39,633
the development control period and that HOA period.

1032
00:38:39,633 --> 00:38:41,400
So this development is going to be

1033
00:38:41,400 --> 00:38:43,600
constructed over a number of years,

1034
00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:46,670
and during some of that phase,

1035
00:38:46,670 --> 00:38:47,900
the developer is still going to be in

1036
00:38:47,900 --> 00:38:50,300
control of the land and what goes

1037
00:38:50,300 --> 00:38:52,267
on on that property and so

1038
00:38:52,267 --> 00:38:54,600
the way that their application has been set up,

1039
00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:55,700
especially with regard to

1040
00:38:55,700 --> 00:38:58,670
the landscaping and things like that,

1041
00:38:58,670 --> 00:38:59,233
those items are going to be

1042
00:38:59,233 --> 00:39:00,533
started at the very beginning.

1043
00:39:00,533 --> 00:39:03,733
And so the developer actually is going to have to

1044
00:39:03,733 --> 00:39:05,133
hire the person that

1045
00:39:05,133 --> 00:39:07,500
the HOA will then have to keep on, carry on.

1046
00:39:07,500 --> 00:39:09,900
So the same kind

1047
00:39:10,633 --> 00:39:12,333
of regulations and restrictions that they're

1048
00:39:12,333 --> 00:39:14,670
providing for the HOA are also

1049
00:39:14,670 --> 00:39:15,933
going to be applied to the developer based on

1050
00:39:15,933 --> 00:39:17,633
their language and based on how we would

1051
00:39:17,633 --> 00:39:19,667
also govern that through

1052
00:39:19,667 --> 00:39:22,670
the site plan and construction process as well.

1053
00:39:22,670 --> 00:39:23,300
But I think the applicant can probably

1054
00:39:23,300 --> 00:39:24,733
talk a little bit more- more about

1055
00:39:24,733 --> 00:39:28,000
what they want kind of the homeowners association to be.

1056
00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:30,133
But in general, the town does

1057
00:39:30,133 --> 00:39:34,200
not- does not have any jurisdictional authority over

1058
00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:36,133
private HOA covenants unless there's

1059
00:39:36,133 --> 00:39:42,200
some other way that they are in violation of other codes.

1060
00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,200
>> Thank you.

1061
00:39:44,333 --> 00:39:46,333
>> Other questions.

1062
00:39:47,500 --> 00:39:50,500
>> Thank you, Kenzie. Moving on

1063
00:39:51,267 --> 00:39:54,867
to the applicant's statement for Ordinance 2007.

1064
00:39:59,733 --> 00:40:03,733
>> I think I know all of them.

1065
00:40:03,733 --> 00:40:07,500
So, um, you know about the survey

1066
00:40:07,500 --> 00:40:09,500
to ask the town residents

1067
00:40:09,500 --> 00:40:12,167
what their most pressing concerns were,

1068
00:40:12,167 --> 00:40:16,200
and the main point was the lack of affordable housing.

1069
00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:18,000
Well, we have heard that and we're providing

1070
00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:21,000
24 houses in perpetuity for 99 years.

1071
00:40:22,670 --> 00:40:26,000
In my case, I'm hoping for a good 20.

1072
00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:29,167
Um, also council members have expressed a desire or

1073
00:40:29,167 --> 00:40:33,333
hope that a developer would provide workforce housing.

1074
00:40:33,333 --> 00:40:36,000
So we have heard that and we are

1075
00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:38,400
providing 109 units for people.

1076
00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:42,100
Say, for example, Marla, son-in-law,

1077
00:40:42,100 --> 00:40:43,367
who is the only teacher in

1078
00:40:43,367 --> 00:40:46,467
a school who can afford to live in this town.

1079
00:40:46,467 --> 00:40:48,900
And the people who teach your kids,

1080
00:40:48,900 --> 00:40:51,833
the people who provide your healthcare,

1081
00:40:51,833 --> 00:40:53,667
the people who provide your safety,

1082
00:40:53,667 --> 00:40:55,367
the people who work for town

1083
00:40:55,367 --> 00:40:57,833
should be able to afford to live in town.

1084
00:40:57,833 --> 00:40:59,567
It's a justice issue.

1085
00:40:59,567 --> 00:41:01,900
I want to thank you all for all the effort that you

1086
00:41:01,900 --> 00:41:05,000
all provided and your concern and consideration,

1087
00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:07,500
and staff and all their help.

1088
00:41:07,500 --> 00:41:09,000
I hope you'll consider it.

1089
00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:12,500
And if not, this project- this

1090
00:41:12,500 --> 00:41:16,700
property where if not now when. Thanks.

1091
00:41:20,867 --> 00:41:22,367
>> Meredith Jones with Eden & Associates.

1092
00:41:22,367 --> 00:41:23,867
Good evening, council.

1093
00:41:23,867 --> 00:41:26,967
I'm going to start and talk, um, really big picture to

1094
00:41:26,967 --> 00:41:28,433
you tonight because I think we've had

1095
00:41:28,433 --> 00:41:30,733
lots of time for details in the work sessions and things.

1096
00:41:30,733 --> 00:41:33,500
Happy to answer questions if you have them, obviously.

1097
00:41:33,500 --> 00:41:35,133
Um, so- so I'd like to

1098
00:41:35,133 --> 00:41:37,330
start with your evaluation criteria.

1099
00:41:37,330 --> 00:41:38,767
Kenzie mentioned this. Um,

1100
00:41:38,767 --> 00:41:40,833
this is our burden to prove.

1101
00:41:40,833 --> 00:41:43,300
We feel like we've done that in your application.

1102
00:41:43,300 --> 00:41:45,330
I am going to talk very,

1103
00:41:45,330 --> 00:41:46,267
um, you know,

1104
00:41:46,267 --> 00:41:48,800
sort of high level about some of these,

1105
00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:51,633
um, tonight just to give you, again,

1106
00:41:51,633 --> 00:41:53,330
an indication that we feel like

1107
00:41:53,330 --> 00:41:55,133
this development meets what

1108
00:41:55,133 --> 00:41:57,133
the ordinance would say for

1109
00:41:57,133 --> 00:41:59,567
a re-zoning meets the master,

1110
00:41:59,567 --> 00:42:01,667
meets the goals of the comp plan, etc.

1111
00:42:01,667 --> 00:42:03,367
So these are the questions you all are

1112
00:42:03,367 --> 00:42:05,600
probably pretty familiar with them at this time.

1113
00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:08,167
The need in the justification for the change.

1114
00:42:08,167 --> 00:42:11,467
So again, we know this project looks different,

1115
00:42:11,467 --> 00:42:13,367
um, and functions a little different.

1116
00:42:13,367 --> 00:42:15,833
That's on purpose because our objective is different

1117
00:42:15,833 --> 00:42:17,100
from any other development

1118
00:42:17,100 --> 00:42:18,500
up to this point in Blacksburg.

1119
00:42:18,500 --> 00:42:20,433
And that's to provide for the affordability,

1120
00:42:20,433 --> 00:42:22,833
diversity, and mixed-income housing.

1121
00:42:22,967 --> 00:42:24,767
Um, this requires as we've discussed

1122
00:42:24,767 --> 00:42:27,330
density beyond that of one unit per acre,

1123
00:42:27,330 --> 00:42:29,100
which is the underlying zoning.

1124
00:42:29,100 --> 00:42:31,600
Um, and as we know, density affords, uh,

1125
00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:34,600
that affordability and mixed-income housing

1126
00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:37,667
that we- we so very much need in this town.

1127
00:42:37,667 --> 00:42:38,733
Um, it also,

1128
00:42:38,733 --> 00:42:40,300
lot size flexibility that

1129
00:42:40,300 --> 00:42:43,200
other zoning districts do not offer, um,

1130
00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,100
as we know FAR's balloon the lot sizes,

1131
00:42:46,100 --> 00:42:47,767
and so doing smaller,

1132
00:42:47,767 --> 00:42:49,100
more affordable lots is not

1133
00:42:49,100 --> 00:42:51,633
necessarily in the existing districts,

1134
00:42:51,633 --> 00:42:53,400
hence the need for our rezoning.

1135
00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:55,300
And then product type flexibility that

1136
00:42:55,300 --> 00:42:57,433
other zonings also don't offer.

1137
00:42:57,433 --> 00:42:59,500
Um, you know, we're- we are asking

1138
00:42:59,500 --> 00:43:02,533
for a number of variances that deal with townhomes.

1139
00:43:02,533 --> 00:43:05,133
Townhomes are written in this town for student housing,

1140
00:43:05,133 --> 00:43:06,300
parking in the rear,

1141
00:43:06,300 --> 00:43:07,600
um, or um,

1142
00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:10,467
parking lots and that's not what's desired here.

1143
00:43:10,467 --> 00:43:14,670
We want a seamless feel across our neighborhood.

1144
00:43:14,670 --> 00:43:15,600
So for that reason we are- we

1145
00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:17,400
are asking for variances and we

1146
00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:19,667
do need this- this rezoning district

1147
00:43:19,667 --> 00:43:21,433
to provide that for us.

1148
00:43:21,433 --> 00:43:22,967
Environmental flexibility such as

1149
00:43:22,967 --> 00:43:25,267
the canopy coverage that we've all covered, um,

1150
00:43:25,267 --> 00:43:27,367
and talked about that Kenzie touched

1151
00:43:27,367 --> 00:43:30,400
on at regional stormwater opportunities that may or may

1152
00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:32,200
not be able to happen without

1153
00:43:32,200 --> 00:43:34,700
a rezoning due to the- the density and being

1154
00:43:34,700 --> 00:43:37,933
able to afford those additional regional facilities

1155
00:43:37,933 --> 00:43:39,667
that we're providing additional

1156
00:43:39,667 --> 00:43:41,367
space in those regional facilities.

1157
00:43:41,367 --> 00:43:43,967
And then finally, I want to talk about variances.

1158
00:43:43,967 --> 00:43:46,767
Um, these are allowed in the PRD.

1159
00:43:46,767 --> 00:43:49,200
Um, as of late staff has, um,

1160
00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:51,400
pointed those out to you in the process,

1161
00:43:51,400 --> 00:43:53,167
but even some of our neighboring developments

1162
00:43:53,167 --> 00:43:55,100
have those variances as well.

1163
00:43:55,100 --> 00:43:57,167
They were not pointed out through the rezoning so

1164
00:43:57,167 --> 00:43:58,433
that's a little bit of a difference

1165
00:43:58,433 --> 00:44:00,333
as we're going through this time.

1166
00:44:00,333 --> 00:44:01,567
Um, and we feel like we're not

1167
00:44:01,567 --> 00:44:04,100
sacrificing quality in these variances.

1168
00:44:04,100 --> 00:44:05,233
We feel like we're making

1169
00:44:05,233 --> 00:44:07,600
a better neighborhood for Blacksburg.

1170
00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:09,300
We feel like we are substituting

1171
00:44:09,300 --> 00:44:10,833
good equals for the things that

1172
00:44:10,833 --> 00:44:12,900
we are asking for variances for,

1173
00:44:12,900 --> 00:44:15,233
and so in terms of the curve and gutter.

1174
00:44:15,233 --> 00:44:16,867
As an example, we are

1175
00:44:16,867 --> 00:44:19,233
providing that in places where we don't need that,

1176
00:44:19,233 --> 00:44:20,733
we're not providing it.

1177
00:44:20,733 --> 00:44:23,600
Um, why- why pay for that if not needed?

1178
00:44:23,600 --> 00:44:25,567
Um, so what is the relationship of

1179
00:44:25,567 --> 00:44:29,467
the proposed change to the comprehensive plan goals?

1180
00:44:29,467 --> 00:44:31,533
These are goals directly from

1181
00:44:31,533 --> 00:44:32,900
the comprehensive plan and I

1182
00:44:32,900 --> 00:44:35,167
believe that we meet all of them.

1183
00:44:35,167 --> 00:44:38,267
Um, we are consistent with the future land use plan at-

1184
00:44:38,267 --> 00:44:39,400
at less than or equal to

1185
00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:41,833
four units- dwelling units per acre.

1186
00:44:41,833 --> 00:44:43,667
It's a well-designed pedestrian

1187
00:44:43,667 --> 00:44:46,200
friendly with sidewalks and trails,

1188
00:44:46,200 --> 00:44:48,600
walkable, bikeable, and encourages

1189
00:44:48,767 --> 00:44:52,100
use of alterna- alternative transportation modes.

1190
00:44:52,100 --> 00:44:53,400
We're providing much needed,

1191
00:44:53,400 --> 00:44:56,167
affordable, and mixed income housing as you know.

1192
00:44:56,167 --> 00:44:58,767
We're providing owner-occupied housing and have put

1193
00:44:58,767 --> 00:45:02,467
the controls in to make sure that that is the case here,

1194
00:45:02,467 --> 00:45:06,300
um, to eliminate those student lifestyle conflicts

1195
00:45:06,300 --> 00:45:07,800
that often happen in town.

1196
00:45:07,800 --> 00:45:10,133
We're providing equity and inclusion by

1197
00:45:10,133 --> 00:45:14,233
providing housing to different income ranges for people.

1198
00:45:14,233 --> 00:45:16,133
Creating private parks, recreation amenities,

1199
00:45:16,133 --> 00:45:17,767
preserving open space.

1200
00:45:17,767 --> 00:45:19,000
Respecting the headwaters of

1201
00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:20,100
Tom's Creek with the

1202
00:45:20,100 --> 00:45:21,633
additional measures that we've taken,

1203
00:45:21,633 --> 00:45:23,467
and I'll talk about that a little bit more.

1204
00:45:23,467 --> 00:45:25,867
And creating reliable infrastructure.

1205
00:45:27,800 --> 00:45:29,433
So what is the anticipated effect of

1206
00:45:29,433 --> 00:45:32,367
the development on public services and facilities?

1207
00:45:32,367 --> 00:45:35,633
We have evaluated all of these through this process.

1208
00:45:35,633 --> 00:45:37,133
As you know, we are improving

1209
00:45:37,133 --> 00:45:39,900
stormwater beyond the current requirements.

1210
00:45:39,900 --> 00:45:41,967
We are providing a reliable new water system

1211
00:45:41,967 --> 00:45:44,433
and sewer system that will provide for

1212
00:45:44,433 --> 00:45:47,330
future capacity for the town and relieve

1213
00:45:47,330 --> 00:45:51,233
existing capacity issues on University City Boulevard.

1214
00:45:51,233 --> 00:45:52,400
Um, we are increasing

1215
00:45:52,400 --> 00:45:55,333
the town's trail network in connectivity,

1216
00:45:55,333 --> 00:45:57,900
um, through four different connections

1217
00:45:57,900 --> 00:45:59,533
outside of our property.

1218
00:45:59,533 --> 00:46:00,933
Um, the development is causing

1219
00:46:00,933 --> 00:46:03,333
new significant traffic issues

1220
00:46:03,333 --> 00:46:06,000
as evidenced by our traffic study.

1221
00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:07,800
Um, we altered our road connection to

1222
00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:09,100
Village Way South when

1223
00:46:09,100 --> 00:46:12,200
negative effect had resulted for people,

1224
00:46:12,200 --> 00:46:13,533
and we're adding

1225
00:46:13,533 --> 00:46:15,267
privately maintained Stormwater open

1226
00:46:15,267 --> 00:46:16,533
space and recreation facilities

1227
00:46:16,533 --> 00:46:18,567
that is managed by Homeowners Association.

1228
00:46:18,567 --> 00:46:22,200
So, that has no burden on the town.

1229
00:46:22,200 --> 00:46:23,633
How does this re-zoning further

1230
00:46:23,633 --> 00:46:25,600
the purposes of the zoning ordinance?

1231
00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:27,330
This is directly quoted

1232
00:46:27,330 --> 00:46:29,233
from the comprehensive, I mean, I'm sorry,

1233
00:46:29,233 --> 00:46:30,667
from the zoning ordinance in

1234
00:46:30,667 --> 00:46:33,900
the purposes create and preserve affordable housing.

1235
00:46:33,900 --> 00:46:36,333
That's what we're trying to do.

1236
00:46:36,333 --> 00:46:37,800
Uh, these other purposes

1237
00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:39,967
are what I call our housing goals,

1238
00:46:39,967 --> 00:46:41,533
but they directly align with

1239
00:46:41,533 --> 00:46:43,400
the purposes that are in the zoning ordinance.

1240
00:46:43,400 --> 00:46:44,667
Provide attractive,

1241
00:46:44,667 --> 00:46:47,330
well-built homes for diversity of income ranges,

1242
00:46:47,330 --> 00:46:50,633
seamlessly integrated through architecture and driveways.

1243
00:46:51,200 --> 00:46:53,400
And parking to bring

1244
00:46:53,400 --> 00:46:55,933
people together throughout the community.

1245
00:46:55,933 --> 00:46:57,567
Enlarge the real estate tax base,

1246
00:46:57,567 --> 00:46:59,800
as well as place these residents near

1247
00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:02,330
retail opportunities fueling the economy.

1248
00:47:02,330 --> 00:47:03,833
Again, this location being

1249
00:47:03,833 --> 00:47:06,433
close to University City Boulevard,

1250
00:47:06,433 --> 00:47:08,600
provide housing on an infill parcel with

1251
00:47:08,600 --> 00:47:12,167
existing infrastructure which we have and surrounding us,

1252
00:47:12,167 --> 00:47:13,933
thus preventing urban sprawl.

1253
00:47:13,933 --> 00:47:17,233
All things purposes within the zoning ordinance.

1254
00:47:17,233 --> 00:47:19,200
Providing convenient access to surrounding

1255
00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:22,000
properties with public trail connections,

1256
00:47:22,000 --> 00:47:25,670
We're providing for over 4,000 feet of bikeways and over

1257
00:47:25,670 --> 00:47:28,333
3,500 feet of sidewalk in this development.

1258
00:47:28,333 --> 00:47:29,800
There's only one road that we're

1259
00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:31,600
asking for a variance for sidewalk

1260
00:47:31,600 --> 00:47:36,400
or any means of- of traversing it off-road.

1261
00:47:37,133 --> 00:47:39,167
Environmental goals to provide

1262
00:47:39,167 --> 00:47:41,667
protection to the headwaters of Tom's Creek.

1263
00:47:41,667 --> 00:47:44,167
We believe we are doing that and

1264
00:47:44,167 --> 00:47:46,967
going beyond what would be required, um,

1265
00:47:46,967 --> 00:47:50,367
by reducing flooding for downstream property protection,

1266
00:47:50,367 --> 00:47:52,267
by improving water quality

1267
00:47:52,267 --> 00:47:55,330
beyond the requirements for added stream health.

1268
00:47:55,330 --> 00:47:57,333
Preserving the springs on our site,

1269
00:47:57,333 --> 00:47:58,700
and protecting the creek valley

1270
00:47:58,700 --> 00:48:00,167
overlay and floodplain areas

1271
00:48:00,167 --> 00:48:01,967
by staying out of them.

1272
00:48:01,967 --> 00:48:03,733
We're providing for a healthy environment.

1273
00:48:03,733 --> 00:48:05,667
And again, these in bold come directly

1274
00:48:05,667 --> 00:48:08,100
from the purposes in the zoning ordinance.

1275
00:48:08,100 --> 00:48:09,667
Provide for a healthy environment through the use of

1276
00:48:09,667 --> 00:48:11,400
purposeful natural open space in

1277
00:48:11,400 --> 00:48:13,233
excess of the requirements.

1278
00:48:13,233 --> 00:48:16,467
Our open space is 35% which is in excess of

1279
00:48:16,467 --> 00:48:18,867
the 20% requirement for PRD.

1280
00:48:20,800 --> 00:48:23,400
We're encouraging wildlife and habitat evolution

1281
00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:24,867
through the managed successional areas,

1282
00:48:24,867 --> 00:48:27,833
which will eventually produce forested areas,

1283
00:48:27,833 --> 00:48:30,233
which traditional landscaping requirements

1284
00:48:30,233 --> 00:48:31,867
as the canopy coverages are written,

1285
00:48:31,867 --> 00:48:33,967
does not- does not typically

1286
00:48:33,967 --> 00:48:36,967
create forested areas after 20 years.

1287
00:48:38,167 --> 00:48:40,167
That is something that is in the- in

1288
00:48:40,167 --> 00:48:42,867
the zoning ordinance and the comprehensive plan.

1289
00:48:42,867 --> 00:48:46,233
Um, net increase of wetland areas across our site.

1290
00:48:46,233 --> 00:48:47,967
So yes, we are removing some,

1291
00:48:47,967 --> 00:48:50,733
but we are also replacing that with more than we have

1292
00:48:50,733 --> 00:48:53,133
today, providing energy-efficient buildings.

1293
00:48:53,567 --> 00:48:55,967
We've got house ratings for the South area,

1294
00:48:55,967 --> 00:48:57,267
solar amenities,

1295
00:48:57,267 --> 00:49:00,667
and heating and cooling standards for the North area.

1296
00:49:00,667 --> 00:49:02,300
Um, and then reducing carbon emissions

1297
00:49:02,300 --> 00:49:03,933
with our sustainable location.

1298
00:49:03,933 --> 00:49:06,670
All things that are purposes.

1299
00:49:06,670 --> 00:49:07,267
Um, this is a list of

1300
00:49:07,267 --> 00:49:08,933
the changes that have happened during

1301
00:49:08,933 --> 00:49:12,300
the council process and you all are aware most of those.

1302
00:49:12,300 --> 00:49:14,000
I'm not going to touch on them individually,

1303
00:49:14,000 --> 00:49:15,467
but reading through them,

1304
00:49:15,467 --> 00:49:16,933
um, I do want to point

1305
00:49:16,933 --> 00:49:19,670
out the managed successional areas.

1306
00:49:19,670 --> 00:49:21,233
We will begin the transformation as

1307
00:49:21,233 --> 00:49:23,600
soon as the development construction begins,

1308
00:49:23,600 --> 00:49:25,670
that's been written into our proffer.

1309
00:49:25,670 --> 00:49:27,670
The developer will- will take over

1310
00:49:27,670 --> 00:49:30,567
that responsibility and then transfer it to the HOA.

1311
00:49:30,567 --> 00:49:32,767
We have tightened the management regulations for

1312
00:49:32,767 --> 00:49:37,567
the developer HOA team and the town's oversight.

1313
00:49:38,233 --> 00:49:41,167
Um, we believe these changes will provide

1314
00:49:41,167 --> 00:49:43,670
a more sustainable diverse community

1315
00:49:43,670 --> 00:49:45,330
for future residents of Blacksburg,

1316
00:49:45,330 --> 00:49:46,633
and one in which the town can point to as

1317
00:49:46,633 --> 00:49:49,800
a role model for private-public partnerships.

1318
00:49:49,800 --> 00:49:51,600
Finally, I want to say that we- we

1319
00:49:51,600 --> 00:49:53,567
have shown you that this development contains

1320
00:49:53,567 --> 00:49:57,167
anything but substandard infrastructure and conditions.

1321
00:49:57,400 --> 00:49:59,633
In fact, it contains or exceeds

1322
00:49:59,633 --> 00:50:00,800
the same ingredients as

1323
00:50:00,800 --> 00:50:02,967
every other neighborhood in Blacksburg,

1324
00:50:02,967 --> 00:50:06,600
including those surrounding the site with one exception.

1325
00:50:06,600 --> 00:50:09,533
It also contains affordable and mixed-income housing

1326
00:50:09,533 --> 00:50:11,567
that will all be owner-occupied.

1327
00:50:11,567 --> 00:50:14,767
We've put those controls in to ensure this development

1328
00:50:14,767 --> 00:50:18,433
has the quality- will succeed. I'm sorry.

1329
00:50:18,433 --> 00:50:20,333
We- we put controls in to

1330
00:50:20,333 --> 00:50:22,700
ensure that this quality development will succeed,

1331
00:50:22,700 --> 00:50:23,933
and by a developer that has

1332
00:50:23,933 --> 00:50:25,967
already proven he can succeed.

1333
00:50:25,967 --> 00:50:27,333
Please, we request that you approve

1334
00:50:27,333 --> 00:50:28,967
this development so that we can move

1335
00:50:28,967 --> 00:50:30,633
forward with this good work to provide

1336
00:50:30,633 --> 00:50:33,433
Blacksburg with the housing it needs.

1337
00:50:33,433 --> 00:50:36,330
>> Thank you. Do you have any questions?

1338
00:50:36,330 --> 00:50:37,500
>> Does anybody have questions?

1339
00:50:37,500 --> 00:50:39,100
>> I have one Meredith,

1340
00:50:39,100 --> 00:50:41,133
I was hoping you could talk a little bit

1341
00:50:41,133 --> 00:50:43,533
about what you're proffering

1342
00:50:43,767 --> 00:50:45,500
in terms of rental restrictions,

1343
00:50:45,500 --> 00:50:46,567
just so that everybody can

1344
00:50:46,567 --> 00:50:48,967
understand that especially myself.

1345
00:50:49,100 --> 00:50:50,367
>> Sure. Um,

1346
00:50:50,367 --> 00:50:57,567
let me grab that to make sure. Let me see that right.

1347
00:51:00,300 --> 00:51:03,900
>> So our restrictions will be, um,

1348
00:51:04,300 --> 00:51:06,500
if- if you are an owner of a piece of

1349
00:51:06,500 --> 00:51:09,500
property or an owner of a house in our development,

1350
00:51:09,500 --> 00:51:13,100
that you cannot- cannot rent it, um,

1351
00:51:13,100 --> 00:51:17,300
less than 12 months or more than 24 months,

1352
00:51:17,800 --> 00:51:19,600
um, at one time.

1353
00:51:19,600 --> 00:51:22,000
Which means that, um,

1354
00:51:22,267 --> 00:51:23,667
within a- sorry,

1355
00:51:23,667 --> 00:51:25,733
that's within a six-year period.

1356
00:51:25,733 --> 00:51:28,100
So if somebody goes on sabbatical,

1357
00:51:28,100 --> 00:51:29,633
as often happens in our town,

1358
00:51:29,633 --> 00:51:32,667
they would be able to allow a rental to go into

1359
00:51:32,667 --> 00:51:36,233
that property between a year or two,

1360
00:51:36,233 --> 00:51:37,633
um, in duration,

1361
00:51:37,633 --> 00:51:40,933
but after that they would have to occupy it themselves.

1362
00:51:40,933 --> 00:51:44,400
Um, we are also saying that short-term leases of

1363
00:51:44,400 --> 00:51:45,967
one week or less are limited to

1364
00:51:45,967 --> 00:51:48,867
only four per calendar year,

1365
00:51:48,867 --> 00:51:50,667
um, and it's

1366
00:51:50,667 --> 00:51:53,167
subject to the Town of Blacksburg Homestead Program,

1367
00:51:53,167 --> 00:51:54,867
so we would follow all the regulations

1368
00:51:54,867 --> 00:51:57,467
in the town homestay program for that.

1369
00:51:57,467 --> 00:51:59,000
It gives our association,

1370
00:51:59,000 --> 00:52:01,733
and this goes back to the question that you were asking,

1371
00:52:01,733 --> 00:52:04,633
um, that that the right to remove that privilege,

1372
00:52:04,633 --> 00:52:07,167
if the association decides it's being abused,

1373
00:52:07,167 --> 00:52:08,433
they can remove any of

1374
00:52:08,433 --> 00:52:10,433
those privileges if they get, uh,

1375
00:52:10,433 --> 00:52:12,167
complaints, um,

1376
00:52:12,167 --> 00:52:16,300
or take measures to enforce those provisions.

1377
00:52:16,300 --> 00:52:19,300
>> That's very helpful. Thank you.

1378
00:52:19,933 --> 00:52:20,733
>> Okay.

1379
00:52:20,733 --> 00:52:22,233
>> You have other questions?

1380
00:52:22,233 --> 00:52:23,867
>> I have a- I have a question,

1381
00:52:23,867 --> 00:52:26,733
and I think you've tried to answer it at a work session,

1382
00:52:26,733 --> 00:52:28,900
but I've gotten several emails from

1383
00:52:28,900 --> 00:52:31,600
folks who really are concerned about parking.

1384
00:52:31,600 --> 00:52:32,800
And so I know there's,

1385
00:52:32,800 --> 00:52:35,433
uh space, uh, for each house to park.

1386
00:52:35,433 --> 00:52:39,100
I think the concern is more- what if somebody comes over?

1387
00:52:39,100 --> 00:52:41,800
You know, where are the guests going to park?

1388
00:52:41,800 --> 00:52:44,500
Um, will there be parking on both sides of

1389
00:52:44,500 --> 00:52:48,533
the street or on all streets or one street?

1390
00:52:48,533 --> 00:52:49,733
And I know that, um,

1391
00:52:49,733 --> 00:52:52,333
this typically happens at the site plan phase.

1392
00:52:52,333 --> 00:52:54,233
And so you may not be prepared

1393
00:52:54,233 --> 00:52:56,967
to be super specific but, um,

1394
00:52:56,967 --> 00:53:00,100
but a little- little specificity would- I think would

1395
00:53:00,100 --> 00:53:01,500
help neighbors to try to

1396
00:53:01,500 --> 00:53:03,667
understand better the parking situation.

1397
00:53:03,667 --> 00:53:04,900
>> Sure- okay- yeah.

1398
00:53:04,900 --> 00:53:07,167
I mean, typically that is something that we would

1399
00:53:07,167 --> 00:53:09,833
look at in the site development stage, um,

1400
00:53:09,833 --> 00:53:14,833
but I do think our roads are 26 feet wide on road,

1401
00:53:14,833 --> 00:53:18,300
uh, Street A and Street B or 26 feet wide.

1402
00:53:18,300 --> 00:53:20,333
Um, and- and that allows for parking

1403
00:53:20,333 --> 00:53:22,433
on one side, which side?

1404
00:53:22,433 --> 00:53:24,367
I couldn't really tell you tonight,

1405
00:53:24,367 --> 00:53:26,500
but as we get into design,

1406
00:53:26,500 --> 00:53:28,367
we- we should be able to identify

1407
00:53:28,367 --> 00:53:30,267
which side of the road has more space,

1408
00:53:30,267 --> 00:53:32,670
and again that- how we'll look at

1409
00:53:32,670 --> 00:53:34,670
that is what kind of units,

1410
00:53:34,670 --> 00:53:36,300
what types of units are we putting on the lots,

1411
00:53:36,300 --> 00:53:38,200
where exactly are those driveways,

1412
00:53:38,200 --> 00:53:39,733
and where can we, you know,

1413
00:53:39,733 --> 00:53:40,833
we have lots of rules about

1414
00:53:40,833 --> 00:53:42,567
the driveways now in this development,

1415
00:53:42,567 --> 00:53:46,167
but where can we find that space in between driveways?

1416
00:53:46,167 --> 00:53:47,600
Because we don't have mailboxes,

1417
00:53:47,600 --> 00:53:49,300
we have a gang- a ganged mailbox,

1418
00:53:49,300 --> 00:53:50,767
so that's not going to be a conflict,

1419
00:53:50,767 --> 00:53:53,733
which is pretty typical in a lot of our neighborhood.

1420
00:53:53,733 --> 00:53:55,333
So parking in between,

1421
00:53:55,333 --> 00:53:56,733
driveways will be identified,

1422
00:53:56,733 --> 00:53:59,900
and if we can make more space there, we certainly will.

1423
00:53:59,900 --> 00:54:01,767
Um, but it's one of those things where,

1424
00:54:01,767 --> 00:54:04,330
um, you can put parking on one side of the road,

1425
00:54:04,330 --> 00:54:05,333
you can sign that there's

1426
00:54:05,333 --> 00:54:07,700
no guest parking on the other side of the road,

1427
00:54:07,700 --> 00:54:11,330
but what it comes down to really our- our neighbors,

1428
00:54:11,330 --> 00:54:13,100
um, being courteous to each other.

1429
00:54:13,100 --> 00:54:14,267
If you see someone- there's

1430
00:54:14,267 --> 00:54:15,867
plenty of sight distance in our neighborhood,

1431
00:54:15,867 --> 00:54:17,900
you can see someone coming,

1432
00:54:17,900 --> 00:54:19,100
you know, you tend to slow down,

1433
00:54:19,100 --> 00:54:21,367
let that person pass if it's tighter,

1434
00:54:21,367 --> 00:54:23,900
but with a 26-foot wide road,

1435
00:54:23,900 --> 00:54:27,667
that still leaves you 18 feet to pass vehicles.

1436
00:54:27,667 --> 00:54:28,867
And so, yeah, you

1437
00:54:28,867 --> 00:54:30,467
may be in a situation where you might be

1438
00:54:30,467 --> 00:54:33,333
yielding to someone coming on- going a little bit slower,

1439
00:54:33,333 --> 00:54:35,330
which is a good thing.

1440
00:54:35,330 --> 00:54:37,833
Um, I wanted to also mention to you that,

1441
00:54:37,833 --> 00:54:40,833
um, that area between, um,

1442
00:54:43,133 --> 00:54:46,100
the north area and the south area where

1443
00:54:46,100 --> 00:54:49,233
we- we don't have frontage for lots there,

1444
00:54:49,233 --> 00:54:51,633
uh, that's about 750 feet,

1445
00:54:52,333 --> 00:54:54,200
and so there will be able to be,

1446
00:54:54,200 --> 00:54:57,267
and we can certainly provide, uh, uh,

1447
00:54:57,267 --> 00:54:59,700
you know a sha- a substantial shoulder there,

1448
00:54:59,700 --> 00:55:02,233
but there will be able to be parking along that,

1449
00:55:02,233 --> 00:55:06,600
and that equates to about 30-35 spaces in that area.

1450
00:55:06,600 --> 00:55:08,800
So you'd have to walk a little ways,

1451
00:55:08,800 --> 00:55:12,433
but that's pretty common in- in dense neighborhoods.

1452
00:55:12,433 --> 00:55:16,600
Um, so I- I think- had I answered your question?

1453
00:55:16,600 --> 00:55:18,600
>> Yes. Thank you.

1454
00:55:19,467 --> 00:55:21,867
>> Other questions? Thank you.

1455
00:55:25,967 --> 00:55:28,233
Okay. We are moving on now

1456
00:55:28,233 --> 00:55:31,233
to public comment on Ordinance 2007,

1457
00:55:31,767 --> 00:55:35,733
and I want to remind people to please, um,

1458
00:55:35,733 --> 00:55:38,900
state your name and your address as you come forward,

1459
00:55:38,900 --> 00:55:41,330
but also, since I think quite a few of

1460
00:55:41,330 --> 00:55:43,633
the people here tonight are speaking to this,

1461
00:55:43,633 --> 00:55:45,533
if not all, to this ordinance,

1462
00:55:45,533 --> 00:55:47,167
you might wish to queue up at

1463
00:55:47,167 --> 00:55:49,670
the back of the room so that there's not

1464
00:55:49,670 --> 00:55:50,667
a lot of time spent shuffling and

1465
00:55:50,667 --> 00:55:53,500
trying to get through bouncy chairs.

1466
00:55:53,500 --> 00:55:55,933
Um, and I think that that will,

1467
00:55:55,933 --> 00:55:57,400
uh, that will help us all out.

1468
00:55:57,400 --> 00:55:59,100
When you're finished speaking,

1469
00:55:59,100 --> 00:56:01,333
we have a signage sheet here,

1470
00:56:01,333 --> 00:56:03,133
and that will also make things more

1471
00:56:03,133 --> 00:56:05,500
elegant because we won't, uh,

1472
00:56:05,500 --> 00:56:09,333
flub the spelling of your name or your address,

1473
00:56:09,333 --> 00:56:11,333
so, um, anyway.

1474
00:56:13,200 --> 00:56:14,867
Time to begin, and Robyn,

1475
00:56:14,867 --> 00:56:16,900
I think you know how those- the stoplight works?

1476
00:56:16,900 --> 00:56:18,167
>> Yes, thank you. And I hopefully

1477
00:56:18,167 --> 00:56:19,367
you won't take the whole time tonight.

1478
00:56:19,367 --> 00:56:22,833
So Robyn Jones,1224 Village Way South.

1479
00:56:22,833 --> 00:56:23,433
>> Uh, good evening.

1480
00:56:23,433 --> 00:56:24,800
Tonight, you will hear from members

1481
00:56:24,800 --> 00:56:26,867
of the Tom's Creek Sustainability Coalition.

1482
00:56:26,867 --> 00:56:28,667
Most of us are addressed in green,

1483
00:56:28,667 --> 00:56:31,367
and perhaps others who have concerns about the request to

1484
00:56:31,367 --> 00:56:33,367
rezone 1006 Glade Spring

1485
00:56:34,133 --> 00:56:36,200
for Glade Spring Crossing Development.

1486
00:56:36,200 --> 00:56:38,467
As a member of the coalition, as an individual,

1487
00:56:38,467 --> 00:56:40,233
I have been engaging with the town directly on

1488
00:56:40,233 --> 00:56:43,633
this project since our first letter on January 9th.

1489
00:56:43,633 --> 00:56:45,300
Many of our concerns and questions have

1490
00:56:45,300 --> 00:56:47,900
remained consistent throughout these four months.

1491
00:56:47,900 --> 00:56:49,670
As I have reflected on this,

1492
00:56:49,670 --> 00:56:50,600
I have wondered why.

1493
00:56:50,600 --> 00:56:52,200
Perhaps it's the questions we ask

1494
00:56:52,200 --> 00:56:54,167
or maybe even how we've asked them,

1495
00:56:54,167 --> 00:56:56,700
but perhaps it's also that we weren't able to engage in

1496
00:56:56,700 --> 00:57:00,133
real dialogue or learning throughout the process.

1497
00:57:00,133 --> 00:57:01,867
As you know, the process allows- itself

1498
00:57:01,867 --> 00:57:03,600
allows for the applicant and the town to have

1499
00:57:03,600 --> 00:57:05,300
meetings and conversations in

1500
00:57:05,300 --> 00:57:08,867
real-time to ask questions and get and give feedback.

1501
00:57:08,867 --> 00:57:11,300
For the citizens it doesn't really work the same way,

1502
00:57:11,300 --> 00:57:13,700
we're able to send messages and ask for meetings with

1503
00:57:13,700 --> 00:57:16,367
the town to give input and ask questions,

1504
00:57:16,367 --> 00:57:17,700
but it's not really the same,

1505
00:57:17,700 --> 00:57:19,533
sort of, give and take.

1506
00:57:19,533 --> 00:57:21,670
We are able to use public comment,

1507
00:57:21,670 --> 00:57:22,867
but it's also one-sided.

1508
00:57:22,867 --> 00:57:24,367
So while these ideas, thoughts,

1509
00:57:24,367 --> 00:57:26,300
and messages and input may have been

1510
00:57:26,300 --> 00:57:28,733
received and aside from the,

1511
00:57:28,733 --> 00:57:30,467
um, removal of the vehicular road,

1512
00:57:30,467 --> 00:57:33,330
we don't really know how it's been heard.

1513
00:57:33,330 --> 00:57:34,700
For us, this project was,

1514
00:57:34,700 --> 00:57:37,567
and always it has been more than the road.

1515
00:57:37,567 --> 00:57:38,967
So as a result of this process,

1516
00:57:38,967 --> 00:57:41,200
we have become frustrated with the other.

1517
00:57:41,200 --> 00:57:42,667
And citizens such as myself

1518
00:57:42,667 --> 00:57:44,567
keep sending emails as you know,

1519
00:57:44,567 --> 00:57:46,600
and recipients like yourselves

1520
00:57:46,600 --> 00:57:50,000
probably get overwhelmed and more than irritated.

1521
00:57:50,000 --> 00:57:50,833
Over the last few months,

1522
00:57:50,833 --> 00:57:51,933
I've had the pleasure of meeting

1523
00:57:51,933 --> 00:57:54,267
with Jerry Ford and Susan Mattingly,

1524
00:57:54,267 --> 00:57:55,767
uh, Lauren Carragher and

1525
00:57:55,767 --> 00:57:58,300
Susan Anderson and Kenzie Austrey.

1526
00:57:58,300 --> 00:58:00,433
It was in those meetings that I felt heard.

1527
00:58:00,433 --> 00:58:03,233
I hope that these folks would also say that I listened,

1528
00:58:03,233 --> 00:58:04,667
as I myself have

1529
00:58:04,667 --> 00:58:07,833
much better in person than I am on email.

1530
00:58:07,833 --> 00:58:09,567
I wanted information about the process,

1531
00:58:09,567 --> 00:58:12,167
the application, the impacts, and the benefits.

1532
00:58:12,167 --> 00:58:13,933
and when Randy Formica thoroughly answered

1533
00:58:13,933 --> 00:58:16,267
the coalition's long list of sewer questions recently,

1534
00:58:16,267 --> 00:58:18,800
I was so appreciative to learn more about the specifics,

1535
00:58:18,800 --> 00:58:20,167
but more importantly, it

1536
00:58:20,167 --> 00:58:21,867
reit- it reiterated confidence that the town

1537
00:58:21,867 --> 00:58:23,867
was very much doing their due diligence

1538
00:58:23,867 --> 00:58:27,330
and thinking about the same things that we were.

1539
00:58:27,330 --> 00:58:28,667
Tonight, my neighbors will share their thoughts,

1540
00:58:28,667 --> 00:58:30,133
some of them will tell you how they think

1541
00:58:30,133 --> 00:58:32,900
the development will be experienced by future residents,

1542
00:58:32,900 --> 00:58:34,300
some will have questions,

1543
00:58:34,300 --> 00:58:36,000
some will have more input.

1544
00:58:36,000 --> 00:58:38,533
If you are able in your comments and deliberations,

1545
00:58:38,533 --> 00:58:40,967
let us know that you've heard and what you've-

1546
00:58:40,967 --> 00:58:42,333
what you've heard and what you've

1547
00:58:42,333 --> 00:58:44,167
considered to help make your decision.

1548
00:58:44,167 --> 00:58:45,433
I'm convinced that the residents and

1549
00:58:45,433 --> 00:58:48,670
the town are striving towards the same goals,

1550
00:58:48,670 --> 00:58:50,467
development that is equitable and affordable,

1551
00:58:50,467 --> 00:58:52,670
respectful of the environment,

1552
00:58:52,670 --> 00:58:55,567
safe and compliant, innovative, and sustainable.

1553
00:58:55,567 --> 00:58:57,233
So I hope you hear those goals and

1554
00:58:57,233 --> 00:58:59,233
intentions and the messages that you have

1555
00:58:59,233 --> 00:59:01,167
been- that you've already received

1556
00:59:01,167 --> 00:59:03,900
and that's what you will hear tonight. Thank you.

1557
00:59:03,900 --> 00:59:05,900
>> Thank you.

1558
00:59:17,800 --> 00:59:19,800
>> Hello. I'm Rob Solomon from

1559
00:59:19,800 --> 00:59:23,433
1507 Trillium Lane in the Village Tom's Creek.

1560
00:59:23,433 --> 00:59:25,433
I have some questions regarding, um,

1561
00:59:25,433 --> 00:59:27,000
the- I don't feel were addressed by

1562
00:59:27,000 --> 00:59:30,500
the developer regarding trees and landscaping.

1563
00:59:30,500 --> 00:59:32,800
Since open space trees don't compensate for

1564
00:59:32,800 --> 00:59:36,000
a lack of ordinance required by street trees,

1565
00:59:36,000 --> 00:59:37,167
how will the reduction of

1566
00:59:37,167 --> 00:59:40,133
required street trees keep temperatures down?

1567
00:59:40,133 --> 00:59:44,933
And will Blacksburg maintain their tree city status?

1568
00:59:45,367 --> 00:59:46,667
Number 1, how can develop-

1569
00:59:46,667 --> 00:59:49,670
the developer claim environmental justice and

1570
00:59:49,670 --> 00:59:52,100
cut down five acres of existing trees?

1571
00:59:52,100 --> 00:59:55,833
Request to plant 226- fewer street trees

1572
00:59:55,833 --> 01:00:00,330
and intensify soil erosion with excessive grading.

1573
01:00:00,200 --> 01:00:03,000
Also hosting a- a nature expert

1574
01:00:03,000 --> 01:00:07,200
once a year to mitigate invasive plants.

1575
01:00:08,000 --> 01:00:10,000
>> Thank you.

1576
01:00:19,000 --> 01:00:20,267
>> Hi, my name is Kasey Hodges.

1577
01:00:20,267 --> 01:00:22,567
I live at 1223 Village Way South.

1578
01:00:22,567 --> 01:00:25,233
I wanted to speak to you about transportation.

1579
01:00:25,233 --> 01:00:27,567
The application notes that the Glade Spring Crossing

1580
01:00:27,567 --> 01:00:30,267
offers convenient access to local grocers,

1581
01:00:30,267 --> 01:00:31,933
shops, and restaurants.

1582
01:00:31,933 --> 01:00:34,100
And states that the community will be able to

1583
01:00:34,100 --> 01:00:36,300
access public transit and be in

1584
01:00:36,300 --> 01:00:37,700
walking and biking distance of

1585
01:00:37,700 --> 01:00:39,333
University City Boulevard in

1586
01:00:39,333 --> 01:00:42,400
minutes from downtown Blacksburg in Virginia Tech.

1587
01:00:42,400 --> 01:00:44,767
This is a very idealistic painting of

1588
01:00:44,767 --> 01:00:48,000
a picture that does not work very well in reality.

1589
01:00:48,000 --> 01:00:50,333
It is true that the top corner of

1590
01:00:50,333 --> 01:00:53,700
the property is a half a mile from a transit stop.

1591
01:00:53,700 --> 01:00:55,367
But if you don't live in the first lot,

1592
01:00:55,367 --> 01:00:56,700
the additional walking to get to

1593
01:00:56,700 --> 01:00:58,600
the bus stop is required.

1594
01:00:58,600 --> 01:01:00,400
And some houses in the development

1595
01:01:00,400 --> 01:01:03,233
are more than a mile from the transit stop.

1596
01:01:03,233 --> 01:01:05,200
And then the transit system in Blacksburg is

1597
01:01:05,200 --> 01:01:08,633
designed to move students to and from campus.

1598
01:01:08,633 --> 01:01:11,300
While there are some routes like the two-town trolley,

1599
01:01:11,300 --> 01:01:15,500
the stop on UCB goes to squires.

1600
01:01:15,733 --> 01:01:17,100
The Glade Spring application

1601
01:01:17,100 --> 01:01:18,567
states that the transit is- is

1602
01:01:18,567 --> 01:01:20,333
a half a mile walk and this will

1603
01:01:20,333 --> 01:01:23,133
encourage residents to use mass transit.

1604
01:01:23,133 --> 01:01:25,533
I believe this is an exaggeration.

1605
01:01:25,533 --> 01:01:28,233
The words sound good, but they're not reality.

1606
01:01:28,233 --> 01:01:30,833
The applicant notes that they feel the application

1607
01:01:30,833 --> 01:01:33,833
promotes Number 13 of the comprehensive plan,

1608
01:01:33,833 --> 01:01:35,933
encouraging designs that move

1609
01:01:35,933 --> 01:01:37,967
people rather than vehicles.

1610
01:01:37,967 --> 01:01:40,300
But have they asked regular users how they feel

1611
01:01:40,300 --> 01:01:43,333
about the half-mile walk or more in each direction?

1612
01:01:43,333 --> 01:01:44,733
How long it takes them to get to

1613
01:01:44,733 --> 01:01:46,567
places on the bus and where they

1614
01:01:46,567 --> 01:01:48,100
actually want to go and

1615
01:01:48,100 --> 01:01:50,533
what shopping they need available to them?

1616
01:01:50,533 --> 01:01:53,733
Along UCB, they're probably not headed to

1617
01:01:53,733 --> 01:01:59,330
Chantilly Lace or Bonomo's Plaza or Volume II Bookstore.

1618
01:01:59,330 --> 01:02:00,433
I have several friends with

1619
01:02:00,433 --> 01:02:03,667
lower incomes that live in the affordable apartments,

1620
01:02:03,667 --> 01:02:05,633
um, on the north side of town.

1621
01:02:05,633 --> 01:02:07,633
They do not own vehicles.

1622
01:02:07,633 --> 01:02:10,467
They frequently take the bus to and from work.

1623
01:02:10,467 --> 01:02:12,167
The drive from their apartment to

1624
01:02:12,167 --> 01:02:14,600
Virginia Tech or Kroger is 10 minutes.

1625
01:02:14,600 --> 01:02:17,500
The bus ride is 45 minutes.

1626
01:02:17,500 --> 01:02:19,367
When they go to work, they have to plan over

1627
01:02:19,367 --> 01:02:22,000
an extra hour in each direction for commuting.

1628
01:02:22,000 --> 01:02:23,700
Most of them are wage workers,

1629
01:02:23,700 --> 01:02:25,900
and due to the commutes and the bus schedules,

1630
01:02:25,900 --> 01:02:27,267
they can only work six hours

1631
01:02:27,267 --> 01:02:28,467
in the same amount of time as

1632
01:02:28,467 --> 01:02:31,500
someone who has a car can work eight hours.

1633
01:02:31,500 --> 01:02:32,933
If they missed the bus and need to

1634
01:02:32,933 --> 01:02:34,833
wait, they're late for work.

1635
01:02:34,833 --> 01:02:36,700
If they missed the bus on the way home,

1636
01:02:36,700 --> 01:02:37,800
they may not be home when

1637
01:02:37,800 --> 01:02:40,670
their children come home from school.

1638
01:02:40,670 --> 01:02:43,330
On the bus route, they can get to VT using one bus.

1639
01:02:43,330 --> 01:02:44,433
But if they need to go further,

1640
01:02:44,433 --> 01:02:47,533
like to the doctor or to the international food store,

1641
01:02:47,533 --> 01:02:49,100
or if they do not work at VTA,

1642
01:02:49,100 --> 01:02:51,670
second transfer is necessary.

1643
01:02:51,670 --> 01:02:53,467
This increases travel time and the transfer is

1644
01:02:53,467 --> 01:02:56,700
just another opportunity to miss a bus or a connection.

1645
01:02:56,700 --> 01:02:58,567
Another problem with the BT is since

1646
01:02:58,567 --> 01:03:00,667
its job is to move VT students,

1647
01:03:00,667 --> 01:03:02,633
it works on the VT schedule.

1648
01:03:02,633 --> 01:03:05,733
During summer breaks and other VT breaks,

1649
01:03:05,733 --> 01:03:07,500
the bus schedule changes

1650
01:03:07,500 --> 01:03:09,500
and it makes it much more difficult for

1651
01:03:09,500 --> 01:03:11,667
full-time residents working to stay on

1652
01:03:11,667 --> 01:03:14,833
a consistent schedule to take a bus to and from work.

1653
01:03:14,833 --> 01:03:17,500
The proposal makes a lot of assumptions that sound good,

1654
01:03:17,500 --> 01:03:19,200
but they're poorly supported and

1655
01:03:19,200 --> 01:03:21,600
this is just one example. Thank you.

1656
01:03:21,600 --> 01:03:24,600
>> Thank you. Anybody up next?

1657
01:03:31,767 --> 01:03:34,133
>> Hello. My name is Becky Fritz,

1658
01:03:34,133 --> 01:03:36,767
and I live at 1507 Trillium Lane

1659
01:03:36,767 --> 01:03:39,267
in the village of Tom's Creek.

1660
01:03:39,267 --> 01:03:42,933
Um, so I was not initially intending to speak tonight.

1661
01:03:42,933 --> 01:03:44,767
I came with my husband, Rob,

1662
01:03:44,767 --> 01:03:45,933
who has the concerns about

1663
01:03:45,933 --> 01:03:48,367
the landscaping and trees, um,

1664
01:03:48,367 --> 01:03:51,933
but I watched the recent WDBJ newscast

1665
01:03:51,933 --> 01:03:55,000
with an interview with Mr. Hopper,

1666
01:03:55,000 --> 01:03:56,833
and I felt like I needed to address some of

1667
01:03:56,833 --> 01:03:59,567
the statements that he made.

1668
01:03:59,567 --> 01:04:01,767
To quote Mr. Hopper,

1669
01:04:01,767 --> 01:04:05,700
he described this development as a classic example.

1670
01:04:05,700 --> 01:04:09,300
As a win-win for public-private partnership.

1671
01:04:09,700 --> 01:04:12,600
And that's what we hope this will be.

1672
01:04:12,600 --> 01:04:14,700
And this will certainly be a win

1673
01:04:14,700 --> 01:04:17,933
for the builders and the developers financials.

1674
01:04:17,933 --> 01:04:19,867
It may be a win

1675
01:04:19,867 --> 01:04:23,467
limited for 10 families seeking affordable housing.

1676
01:04:24,167 --> 01:04:25,833
Casey's already mentioned some-

1677
01:04:25,833 --> 01:04:29,000
some concerns and doubts associated with that,

1678
01:04:29,000 --> 01:04:30,933
but that's where the winning stops.

1679
01:04:30,933 --> 01:04:34,567
That doesn't benefit the other 152 housing units

1680
01:04:34,567 --> 01:04:35,933
in the plan who have to deal with

1681
01:04:35,933 --> 01:04:37,833
roads with no sidewalks,

1682
01:04:37,833 --> 01:04:40,767
drainage ditches instead of curbs.

1683
01:04:40,767 --> 01:04:42,233
A lack of landscaping,

1684
01:04:42,233 --> 01:04:44,633
as my husband Rob mentioned,

1685
01:04:44,633 --> 01:04:47,633
and no or little parking.

1686
01:04:48,400 --> 01:04:53,300
And many of those units built on 15%-20% slopes.

1687
01:04:53,300 --> 01:04:55,433
It certainly doesn't benefit the other neighbors

1688
01:04:55,433 --> 01:04:58,933
downstream on Glade or in my neighborhood,

1689
01:04:58,933 --> 01:05:00,833
the village at Tom's Creek.

1690
01:05:00,833 --> 01:05:04,300
This was followed by his statement in the interview.

1691
01:05:04,300 --> 01:05:05,633
The way there's such a dearth of

1692
01:05:05,633 --> 01:05:07,267
housing product in this town,

1693
01:05:07,267 --> 01:05:09,367
they'll sell like crazy and then we'll have

1694
01:05:09,367 --> 01:05:12,967
42 for rich people on the other end.

1695
01:05:12,967 --> 01:05:14,667
They'll be expensive, but that will actually

1696
01:05:14,667 --> 01:05:17,533
fund the rest of this being subsidized.

1697
01:05:17,533 --> 01:05:21,967
That doesn't sound like a equitable housing seamlessly

1698
01:05:21,967 --> 01:05:24,367
dispersed and integrated by

1699
01:05:24,567 --> 01:05:27,567
architecture that was described earlier.

1700
01:05:29,167 --> 01:05:33,670
It sounds like two very different distinct developments

1701
01:05:33,670 --> 01:05:34,967
separated by a moat in the form of

1702
01:05:34,967 --> 01:05:37,967
a storm water management pond.

1703
01:05:39,467 --> 01:05:40,700
It sounds like this plan

1704
01:05:40,700 --> 01:05:43,100
is gonna perpetuate divisiveness.

1705
01:05:43,967 --> 01:05:46,367
Mr. Hopper additionally stated,

1706
01:05:46,567 --> 01:05:48,100
it means a lot to me and

1707
01:05:48,100 --> 01:05:52,433
gratitude is the most strained of human emotions.

1708
01:05:52,433 --> 01:05:53,933
But I'll know that I did something that's

1709
01:05:53,933 --> 01:05:55,733
good for this town and there'll be

1710
01:05:55,733 --> 01:05:57,400
people living here who can't afford

1711
01:05:57,400 --> 01:05:59,800
to, and that's profound.

1712
01:06:00,933 --> 01:06:02,600
Um, as one who live next

1713
01:06:02,600 --> 01:06:05,330
to this overly dense development.

1714
01:06:05,330 --> 01:06:07,433
My purpose- personal sense

1715
01:06:07,633 --> 01:06:11,167
is that he's not driven by generosity,

1716
01:06:11,167 --> 01:06:14,167
rather this is driven by greed,

1717
01:06:14,167 --> 01:06:16,567
excess, and perhaps self-affirmation.

1718
01:06:19,500 --> 01:06:21,500
We've sent the town requests for

1719
01:06:21,500 --> 01:06:24,670
details around the financials of this project,

1720
01:06:24,670 --> 01:06:27,933
only to be told that the town really doesn't have any.

1721
01:06:27,933 --> 01:06:30,800
And to be repeatedly told in this very venue by

1722
01:06:30,800 --> 01:06:32,667
the developer that the numbers are

1723
01:06:32,667 --> 01:06:35,267
so tight that we can't lose a unit,

1724
01:06:35,267 --> 01:06:38,233
and we must have all of the variances approved

1725
01:06:38,233 --> 01:06:43,330
to get the density up and the unit calls down.

1726
01:06:43,330 --> 01:06:46,300
So it would be nice if we could actually see some

1727
01:06:46,300 --> 01:06:47,900
of the information that we've

1728
01:06:47,900 --> 01:06:51,330
requested so we can all review it.

1729
01:06:51,330 --> 01:06:52,433
You know, it's we all

1730
01:06:52,433 --> 01:06:54,567
understand that developers, you know,

1731
01:06:54,567 --> 01:06:58,767
want to make money and that's what they do.

1732
01:06:58,767 --> 01:07:02,367
But I think to mask this in some sort of motive-

1733
01:07:02,367 --> 01:07:06,467
mask his motives in a cloak of unappreciated gratitude,

1734
01:07:06,467 --> 01:07:08,400
or that he's just doing this out of- out of

1735
01:07:08,400 --> 01:07:10,667
the bottom of his heart for the town of Blacksburg.

1736
01:07:10,667 --> 01:07:12,267
>> Thank you. Your time is up.

1737
01:07:12,267 --> 01:07:14,267
>> Ah, thank you.

1738
01:07:17,000 --> 01:07:18,233
>> That's the kind of personal attack,

1739
01:07:18,233 --> 01:07:23,330
I hope I don't hear again. Who's next?

1740
01:07:27,800 --> 01:07:29,567
>> Hello, my name is Chris Bondrend and I live

1741
01:07:29,567 --> 01:07:31,967
at 1219 Village Way South.

1742
01:07:32,667 --> 01:07:36,330
I've tried to visualize this glaze crossing

1743
01:07:36,330 --> 01:07:37,967
development and try to imagine if

1744
01:07:37,967 --> 01:07:40,300
I was living in that development,

1745
01:07:40,300 --> 01:07:42,367
since those future residents

1746
01:07:42,367 --> 01:07:45,333
aren't here to speak for themselves.

1747
01:07:45,333 --> 01:07:46,733
That person, you know,

1748
01:07:46,733 --> 01:07:47,800
has worked hard all day,

1749
01:07:47,800 --> 01:07:49,567
indoors, all week possibly,

1750
01:07:49,567 --> 01:07:51,267
and they want to spend some time outdoors

1751
01:07:51,267 --> 01:07:53,367
in their yard in their neighborhood,

1752
01:07:53,367 --> 01:07:55,933
they live on the south side with one of the center units,

1753
01:07:55,933 --> 01:07:59,300
so their entire front yard is just the slope driveway.

1754
01:07:59,300 --> 01:08:03,167
There's no trees, so their front porch is very

1755
01:08:03,167 --> 01:08:07,633
hot and so they proceed to the backyard for some relief,

1756
01:08:07,633 --> 01:08:09,400
there is a proposed tree back there but

1757
01:08:09,400 --> 01:08:11,467
the yard is pretty small and so there's

1758
01:08:11,467 --> 01:08:13,667
a limited space to stretch their legs or for

1759
01:08:13,667 --> 01:08:17,400
their children to play so they venture down the street.

1760
01:08:17,400 --> 01:08:18,967
There are not many stre- trees or

1761
01:08:18,967 --> 01:08:22,500
yard trees due to the allowed variance.

1762
01:08:22,500 --> 01:08:23,900
So the sidewalk is hot and

1763
01:08:23,900 --> 01:08:27,167
the street- and the asphalt is even hotter.

1764
01:08:27,167 --> 01:08:29,800
They have to transverse the multiple parked cars along

1765
01:08:29,800 --> 01:08:32,600
the way and they pass endless rows, driveways,

1766
01:08:32,600 --> 01:08:35,167
and townhouses with limited green space,

1767
01:08:35,167 --> 01:08:39,967
with only a few single units having that space.

1768
01:08:39,967 --> 01:08:42,670
They look for the neighborhood open space,

1769
01:08:42,670 --> 01:08:43,833
but the closest they can get to it

1770
01:08:43,833 --> 01:08:45,967
is to access through other people's property,

1771
01:08:45,967 --> 01:08:48,300
which they don't want to do and

1772
01:08:48,300 --> 01:08:50,733
much of that space is deg- designated for

1773
01:08:50,733 --> 01:08:52,567
just a few trees as part of

1774
01:08:52,567 --> 01:08:55,167
the managed succession planning and weeds

1775
01:08:55,167 --> 01:08:58,733
and tall grasses have taken over most of that.

1776
01:08:58,733 --> 01:09:02,400
They finally find a backyard transitional strip

1777
01:09:02,400 --> 01:09:04,670
at the end of the street where they can try to

1778
01:09:04,670 --> 01:09:06,100
navigate to the south side,

1779
01:09:06,100 --> 01:09:09,100
open space and the managed turf areas.

1780
01:09:09,100 --> 01:09:10,967
But it's really not accessible for bikes or

1781
01:09:10,967 --> 01:09:13,633
strollers since it's not paved.

1782
01:09:13,633 --> 01:09:14,933
And like the entire neighborhood,

1783
01:09:14,933 --> 01:09:16,500
the turf is not really flat but a

1784
01:09:16,500 --> 01:09:18,900
very slope- steep slope.

1785
01:09:19,600 --> 01:09:21,200
The one true recreation area on

1786
01:09:21,200 --> 01:09:22,467
the south side is located

1787
01:09:22,467 --> 01:09:24,433
right next to the farm development,

1788
01:09:24,433 --> 01:09:27,300
which is congested and loud.

1789
01:09:27,300 --> 01:09:30,633
They could travel up to Glade rolled entrance,

1790
01:09:30,633 --> 01:09:32,700
but traffic is even worse up there,

1791
01:09:32,700 --> 01:09:35,367
it's not really safe for their children.

1792
01:09:35,367 --> 01:09:36,500
They could travel down the very

1793
01:09:36,500 --> 01:09:38,633
steep slope to North side,

1794
01:09:38,633 --> 01:09:40,700
which is at least a quarter mile

1795
01:09:40,700 --> 01:09:43,233
where they have more accessible open space.

1796
01:09:43,233 --> 01:09:45,330
There's still limited shade

1797
01:09:45,330 --> 01:09:47,367
due to the managed succession planning,

1798
01:09:47,367 --> 01:09:49,670
and majority of that area is really

1799
01:09:49,670 --> 01:09:51,233
the giant to dry ponds,

1800
01:09:51,233 --> 01:09:56,330
the wet pond and what is called vegetated embankments.

1801
01:09:56,330 --> 01:09:58,800
By this time they're tired, the children are hot,

1802
01:09:58,800 --> 01:10:00,467
so they just work their way back up

1803
01:10:00,467 --> 01:10:03,000
the long incline up to their house.

1804
01:10:03,000 --> 01:10:04,533
They admit they've had

1805
01:10:04,533 --> 01:10:06,400
some exercise and stretch their legs,

1806
01:10:06,400 --> 01:10:09,867
but it wasn't much of a relaxed or enjoyment.

1807
01:10:09,867 --> 01:10:11,400
I'd like the council to consider

1808
01:10:11,400 --> 01:10:13,767
these images when they make their decision of

1809
01:10:13,767 --> 01:10:16,900
this overly dense and congested development

1810
01:10:16,900 --> 01:10:18,600
and vote no tonight.

1811
01:10:18,600 --> 01:10:19,867
The town and developer can do

1812
01:10:19,867 --> 01:10:22,400
better and should be able to create a neighborhood

1813
01:10:22,400 --> 01:10:24,967
that doesn't go beyond the future land use

1814
01:10:24,967 --> 01:10:27,700
and where town residents would like to call home.

1815
01:10:27,700 --> 01:10:29,133
Thank you for your consideration.

1816
01:10:29,133 --> 01:10:32,200
>> Thank you. If you'll go to that signing,

1817
01:10:32,200 --> 01:10:35,200
Chris, thank you. Who's next?

1818
01:10:39,000 --> 01:10:41,000
>> Good evening.

1819
01:10:46,400 --> 01:10:48,100
My name is Rebecca Weaver High Tower,

1820
01:10:48,100 --> 01:10:50,667
and I live at 1207 Village Way South.

1821
01:10:50,667 --> 01:10:52,167
But for the next three minutes,

1822
01:10:52,167 --> 01:10:55,600
I'm a future resident of Glade Springs Crossing.

1823
01:10:55,600 --> 01:10:58,330
I divorced three years ago and I wanted to stay in

1824
01:10:58,330 --> 01:10:59,333
Blacksburg so my boys could

1825
01:10:59,333 --> 01:11:01,300
keep the same school and friends.

1826
01:11:01,300 --> 01:11:04,167
So I bought a small house in Glade Springs Crossing,

1827
01:11:04,167 --> 01:11:06,533
but I'm wishing now I just moved to Pulaski,

1828
01:11:06,533 --> 01:11:08,233
where I could have gotten three times the house

1829
01:11:08,233 --> 01:11:09,400
for the same price,

1830
01:11:09,400 --> 01:11:10,667
and it wasn't cheap,

1831
01:11:10,667 --> 01:11:13,667
$300,000 which was the market rate

1832
01:11:13,667 --> 01:11:15,667
for a town home or comparable small house

1833
01:11:15,667 --> 01:11:17,333
in Blacksburg back then.

1834
01:11:17,333 --> 01:11:18,433
I'm a teacher, so I didn't

1835
01:11:18,433 --> 01:11:21,000
qualify for low income housing.

1836
01:11:21,000 --> 01:11:22,500
You see the problem with Glade Springs

1837
01:11:22,500 --> 01:11:24,333
is there's just not enough room.

1838
01:11:24,333 --> 01:11:26,300
The houses are on top of one another.

1839
01:11:26,300 --> 01:11:29,167
My back yard is too steep for even a picnic table,

1840
01:11:29,167 --> 01:11:31,670
and my front yard is my parking place

1841
01:11:31,670 --> 01:11:33,167
for mine and my eldest son's car.

1842
01:11:33,167 --> 01:11:35,367
There's no place for the kids to play.

1843
01:11:35,367 --> 01:11:37,300
My eldest plays basketball and he'd love

1844
01:11:37,300 --> 01:11:40,300
a basketball hoop but again, no place.

1845
01:11:40,300 --> 01:11:43,433
My youngest swims and there's a pool right over there,

1846
01:11:43,433 --> 01:11:45,200
but you have to pay a lot of money to join,

1847
01:11:45,200 --> 01:11:46,633
which I couldn't afford even if there

1848
01:11:46,633 --> 01:11:48,733
wasn't a three year waiting list.

1849
01:11:48,733 --> 01:11:51,933
But still, this son loves water on a dare,

1850
01:11:51,933 --> 01:11:53,933
he went waiting in that pond over there the other

1851
01:11:53,933 --> 01:11:57,100
day and came back with algae up to his knee.

1852
01:11:57,100 --> 01:11:58,500
I told him he was not under

1853
01:11:58,500 --> 01:12:01,300
any circumstances to go back in that pond because I know

1854
01:12:01,300 --> 01:12:02,500
what's washing into it with every

1855
01:12:02,500 --> 01:12:04,167
rainstorm and I know what's

1856
01:12:04,167 --> 01:12:07,400
washing into it because I see it on the streets.

1857
01:12:07,400 --> 01:12:11,167
There are cars everywhere parked in front of every house,

1858
01:12:11,167 --> 01:12:13,700
of course, but also all along the streets

1859
01:12:13,700 --> 01:12:16,233
and on the grass, leaving oil slicks,

1860
01:12:16,233 --> 01:12:18,433
trash, some McDonald's cups,

1861
01:12:18,433 --> 01:12:20,400
I even saw some cigarette butts

1862
01:12:20,400 --> 01:12:21,867
and I know that all that's washing into

1863
01:12:21,867 --> 01:12:24,330
the pond along with pee and poop from

1864
01:12:24,330 --> 01:12:27,900
the Canadian geese and also from dogs.

1865
01:12:27,900 --> 01:12:28,600
You know, I heard when I

1866
01:12:28,600 --> 01:12:29,733
bought the house that there weren't

1867
01:12:29,733 --> 01:12:31,700
supposed to be Reynolds in Glade Springs,

1868
01:12:31,700 --> 01:12:33,733
but there are students living here anyway.

1869
01:12:33,733 --> 01:12:36,200
I guess the HOA doesn't care or

1870
01:12:36,200 --> 01:12:37,567
maybe the students- maybe one of

1871
01:12:37,567 --> 01:12:39,670
the students parents bought a house,

1872
01:12:39,670 --> 01:12:40,100
got on the HOA,

1873
01:12:40,100 --> 01:12:41,667
and changed the rules,

1874
01:12:41,667 --> 01:12:43,467
um, I'm not sure.

1875
01:12:43,467 --> 01:12:44,933
Most of the students are nice enough,

1876
01:12:44,933 --> 01:12:46,367
but some of them are loud,

1877
01:12:46,367 --> 01:12:48,300
and they love to have outdoor parties

1878
01:12:48,300 --> 01:12:51,367
especially on that little bit of grass over by the pond,

1879
01:12:51,367 --> 01:12:54,200
I wish there were some trees over there too.

1880
01:12:54,200 --> 01:12:55,567
Speaking of the pond,

1881
01:12:55,567 --> 01:12:57,600
my youngest just did a school project about

1882
01:12:57,600 --> 01:12:59,133
Tom's Creek and how messed up it's

1883
01:12:59,133 --> 01:13:01,200
become like stroubles creek.

1884
01:13:01,200 --> 01:13:03,133
He's a real nature lover and likes

1885
01:13:03,133 --> 01:13:05,633
to walk down to the creek and look at the fish,

1886
01:13:05,633 --> 01:13:06,933
but he's been learning about how

1887
01:13:06,933 --> 01:13:08,233
the fish are dying because of

1888
01:13:08,233 --> 01:13:10,300
the heat from all the houses

1889
01:13:10,300 --> 01:13:13,433
and all the cars and the streets.

1890
01:13:13,433 --> 01:13:14,967
They say they wish that people who

1891
01:13:14,967 --> 01:13:16,933
built the neighborhood and all the others up and down

1892
01:13:16,933 --> 01:13:18,333
Tom's Creek had thought

1893
01:13:18,333 --> 01:13:20,167
about that and thought about the environment when

1894
01:13:20,167 --> 01:13:23,800
making choices about how to build and how much,

1895
01:13:23,800 --> 01:13:26,367
he did a poster on it for school.

1896
01:13:26,367 --> 01:13:29,330
I have to say I kind of agree with him.

1897
01:13:29,330 --> 01:13:30,200
This could have been a real nice

1898
01:13:30,200 --> 01:13:31,633
neighborhood if someone had taken

1899
01:13:31,633 --> 01:13:33,633
just a little more care like they did

1900
01:13:33,633 --> 01:13:36,100
with the big houses on the other side of the pond,

1901
01:13:36,100 --> 01:13:37,233
which is by the way,

1902
01:13:37,233 --> 01:13:39,500
where all the playground equipment and trees are,

1903
01:13:39,500 --> 01:13:41,633
which doesn't seem at all fair,

1904
01:13:41,633 --> 01:13:43,767
that's my view across the pond,

1905
01:13:43,767 --> 01:13:45,633
and it makes me pretty mad that the neighborhood is

1906
01:13:45,633 --> 01:13:48,667
divided into the haves and the have nots that way.

1907
01:13:48,667 --> 01:13:50,100
I'm sure the people who built all

1908
01:13:50,100 --> 01:13:52,133
the- all this made a pretty penny,

1909
01:13:52,133 --> 01:13:54,267
especially with all the ways they could cost.

1910
01:13:54,267 --> 01:13:56,700
I mean, they're business people, right?

1911
01:13:56,700 --> 01:13:58,300
This place is only three years old

1912
01:13:58,300 --> 01:13:59,567
and things are breaking

1913
01:13:59,567 --> 01:14:01,670
but I know they had to throw up this side

1914
01:14:01,670 --> 01:14:03,433
of the neighborhood real fast.

1915
01:14:03,433 --> 01:14:05,300
Well I have to go laundry to fold,

1916
01:14:05,300 --> 01:14:06,700
and papers to grade.

1917
01:14:06,700 --> 01:14:08,100
If only someone could have talked

1918
01:14:08,100 --> 01:14:10,867
some sense into the people who built this neighborhood.

1919
01:14:10,867 --> 01:14:12,867
>> Thank you.

1920
01:14:19,267 --> 01:14:20,567
>> My name is Vicky Fix,

1921
01:14:20,567 --> 01:14:24,670
and I live at 1301 Village Way South.

1922
01:14:24,670 --> 01:14:26,933
I'm speaking to you today imagining I'm

1923
01:14:26,933 --> 01:14:32,330
a member of the HOA board for Glade Springs Crossing.

1924
01:14:32,330 --> 01:14:33,600
I'm one of the few persons in

1925
01:14:33,600 --> 01:14:36,000
our new neighborhood who is retired or

1926
01:14:36,000 --> 01:14:40,700
otherwise has time beyond job and family to volunteer.

1927
01:14:40,700 --> 01:14:43,933
Here's a list of what the board deals with.

1928
01:14:43,933 --> 01:14:46,867
One, manage the vegetative embankments,

1929
01:14:46,867 --> 01:14:49,233
entrance areas, manage turf,

1930
01:14:49,233 --> 01:14:52,167
existing wood lands, grassy trails,

1931
01:14:52,167 --> 01:14:54,567
playground areas, snow removal.

1932
01:14:55,100 --> 01:14:56,467
I'm sure I've forgotten something,

1933
01:14:56,467 --> 01:14:59,330
but you get the idea.

1934
01:14:59,330 --> 01:15:01,670
Two, hire someone to bush hog

1935
01:15:01,670 --> 01:15:04,600
the dry ponds up to four times a year.

1936
01:15:04,600 --> 01:15:09,367
Three, enforce rules about rentals and other covenants.

1937
01:15:09,367 --> 01:15:12,367
Four, manage town home landscaping

1938
01:15:12,400 --> 01:15:16,533
and save up money for replacing roofs, etc.

1939
01:15:16,533 --> 01:15:18,533
Five, determine how to

1940
01:15:18,533 --> 01:15:20,667
complete the list an expert has provided

1941
01:15:20,667 --> 01:15:22,433
about what we need to do to manage the

1942
01:15:22,433 --> 01:15:24,833
undisturbed, managed succession areas.

1943
01:15:25,667 --> 01:15:27,670
We've tried to get neighbors to

1944
01:15:27,670 --> 01:15:29,670
volunteer to do some of this,

1945
01:15:29,670 --> 01:15:31,467
but we've not been successful.

1946
01:15:31,467 --> 01:15:33,000
There often is not enough money in

1947
01:15:33,000 --> 01:15:34,933
the budget to complete everything,

1948
01:15:34,933 --> 01:15:36,633
so we have to raise dues,

1949
01:15:36,633 --> 01:15:40,500
which is not a popular idea with our homeowners.

1950
01:15:40,500 --> 01:15:43,500
Six, deal with homeowner complaints

1951
01:15:43,767 --> 01:15:46,167
about safety, parking, etc.

1952
01:15:47,333 --> 01:15:49,767
I'm tired and can't sleep.

1953
01:15:49,767 --> 01:15:53,767
The stress of it is causing my angina to flare up.

1954
01:15:53,767 --> 01:15:57,233
Today was the last straw, apparently,

1955
01:15:57,233 --> 01:15:59,800
there was a proffer stating that

1956
01:15:59,800 --> 01:16:03,600
areas of land disturbance that are to become

1957
01:16:03,600 --> 01:16:06,000
managed successional area shall

1958
01:16:06,000 --> 01:16:08,670
be accepted and maintained by

1959
01:16:08,670 --> 01:16:10,867
the association within one year after

1960
01:16:10,867 --> 01:16:14,700
acceptance of the Phase 2 infrastructure by the town.

1961
01:16:14,700 --> 01:16:16,700
We just received notice that we are now

1962
01:16:16,700 --> 01:16:18,967
responsible for those disturbed

1963
01:16:18,967 --> 01:16:21,267
managed succession lands that

1964
01:16:21,267 --> 01:16:22,833
the developer did not promise

1965
01:16:22,833 --> 01:16:24,567
to do anything about except

1966
01:16:24,567 --> 01:16:27,700
plant two trees per quarter acre.

1967
01:16:27,700 --> 01:16:29,600
Where do we find the money for making

1968
01:16:29,600 --> 01:16:34,400
the worst part of managed succession areas attractive?

1969
01:16:34,500 --> 01:16:36,900
I'm ready to resign.

1970
01:16:37,330 --> 01:16:39,330
>> Thank you.

1971
01:16:46,900 --> 01:16:48,100
>> My name is Jesse Genuac.

1972
01:16:48,100 --> 01:16:50,167
I live at 1407 Glade Wood Drive.

1973
01:16:50,167 --> 01:16:51,633
I believe that makes me the first person

1974
01:16:51,633 --> 01:16:54,633
not from Tom's Creek neighborhood.

1975
01:16:55,233 --> 01:16:56,467
Uh, my interest in

1976
01:16:56,467 --> 01:16:58,300
the proposed Glade Spring Crossing Development

1977
01:16:58,300 --> 01:17:02,567
started with concerns about traffic on Glade Road,

1978
01:17:02,567 --> 01:17:04,200
uh, those concerns aren't gone,

1979
01:17:04,200 --> 01:17:05,600
but when I attended

1980
01:17:05,600 --> 01:17:08,000
the public hearing by the planning commission,

1981
01:17:08,000 --> 01:17:09,500
I was really surprised to learn

1982
01:17:09,500 --> 01:17:12,600
how many concessions were being asked

1983
01:17:12,600 --> 01:17:15,133
for mostly at the expense of the people who

1984
01:17:15,133 --> 01:17:18,767
are going to live in the planned community.

1985
01:17:18,767 --> 01:17:21,670
Uh, other people can definitely tell you more about

1986
01:17:21,670 --> 01:17:22,967
the specific problems you don't have- I

1987
01:17:22,967 --> 01:17:25,700
don't have any information that you don't have.

1988
01:17:25,700 --> 01:17:28,233
Uh, I'm sure you've heard many of the things

1989
01:17:28,233 --> 01:17:29,767
that people are saying tonight

1990
01:17:29,767 --> 01:17:32,167
that people said at the planning commission.

1991
01:17:32,167 --> 01:17:34,467
Uh, what I want to address is how those problems

1992
01:17:34,467 --> 01:17:36,833
add up to a proposal that mainly benefits

1993
01:17:36,833 --> 01:17:39,100
the developer's bottom line at the expense of

1994
01:17:39,100 --> 01:17:40,333
the very people that the affordable

1995
01:17:40,333 --> 01:17:41,600
housing is meant to help.

1996
01:17:41,600 --> 01:17:46,333
Uh, I support the goals of this development.

1997
01:17:46,333 --> 01:17:49,933
We need more affordable housing, uh,

1998
01:17:50,000 --> 01:17:54,733
but we don't need affordable housing that is going to,

1999
01:17:54,733 --> 01:17:58,200
um, make life worse for the people who live there.

2000
01:17:58,200 --> 01:18:00,330
Uh, keep in mind that

2001
01:18:00,330 --> 01:18:03,133
the developer wants to build here, uh,

2002
01:18:03,133 --> 01:18:04,333
they can come up with

2003
01:18:04,333 --> 01:18:06,700
a plan that conforms to town codes and

2004
01:18:06,700 --> 01:18:10,900
safeguards our people and our waterways and,

2005
01:18:11,433 --> 01:18:13,233
uh, our ecosystem.

2006
01:18:13,233 --> 01:18:15,533
Uh, why would they want to

2007
01:18:15,533 --> 01:18:19,767
if we are going to let them do it the way they want to?

2008
01:18:19,767 --> 01:18:21,433
So, um,

2009
01:18:21,433 --> 01:18:23,833
I'm asking for pushback.

2010
01:18:24,133 --> 01:18:25,600
Uh, I don't expect

2011
01:18:25,600 --> 01:18:28,367
the developer to be habitat for humanity.

2012
01:18:28,367 --> 01:18:30,670
It's okay that they know how to make

2013
01:18:30,670 --> 01:18:32,367
money- that they need to make money to exist.

2014
01:18:32,367 --> 01:18:34,670
But what's not okay is cutting

2015
01:18:34,670 --> 01:18:35,600
their own costs by segregating

2016
01:18:35,600 --> 01:18:36,933
their low-cost housing into

2017
01:18:36,933 --> 01:18:39,533
a substandard neighborhood where they've cut corners

2018
01:18:39,533 --> 01:18:40,800
and circumvented the laws meant to

2019
01:18:40,800 --> 01:18:42,633
protect the people who live there.

2020
01:18:42,633 --> 01:18:44,767
In particular, the safety

2021
01:18:44,767 --> 01:18:47,600
measures about driveways from streets,

2022
01:18:47,600 --> 01:18:50,467
uh, cul-de-sac- lack of cul-de-sacs,

2023
01:18:50,467 --> 01:18:53,100
then dead ends with no turnarounds, uh,

2024
01:18:53,100 --> 01:18:55,333
no proper drainage, uh,

2025
01:18:55,333 --> 01:18:58,933
as dictated by the codes, um,

2026
01:18:58,933 --> 01:19:02,000
and passing on the costs of the canopy, uh,

2027
01:19:02,000 --> 01:19:05,000
development to the low-income residents

2028
01:19:05,000 --> 01:19:07,467
who will be taking on the affordable housing.

2029
01:19:07,467 --> 01:19:10,533
Uh, in Blacksburg we believe that there are

2030
01:19:10,533 --> 01:19:11,867
some things that all of our people should

2031
01:19:11,867 --> 01:19:14,670
have no matter how much money they make.

2032
01:19:14,670 --> 01:19:15,433
Things like safe streets,

2033
01:19:15,433 --> 01:19:17,133
reliable access to town services,

2034
01:19:17,133 --> 01:19:19,933
and adequate- adequate stormwater drainage and you can

2035
01:19:19,933 --> 01:19:21,267
tell we believe this

2036
01:19:21,267 --> 01:19:23,533
because we passed laws and sort- and,

2037
01:19:23,533 --> 01:19:26,667
uh, created codes and regulations to back that up.

2038
01:19:26,667 --> 01:19:28,733
Today you're being asked to walk back

2039
01:19:28,733 --> 01:19:31,333
Blacksburg's commitment to endorse the notion that

2040
01:19:31,333 --> 01:19:32,567
it's okay if some neighborhoods

2041
01:19:32,567 --> 01:19:33,733
don't have safe streets or

2042
01:19:33,733 --> 01:19:35,233
adequate drainage as long

2043
01:19:35,233 --> 01:19:37,433
as a house is there are affordable.

2044
01:19:37,433 --> 01:19:39,600
Please don't do that.

2045
01:19:39,600 --> 01:19:42,100
Uh, show the whole town that you will uphold

2046
01:19:42,100 --> 01:19:44,367
our shared commitment to protecting everyone

2047
01:19:44,367 --> 01:19:46,833
that lives here now and in the future. Thank you.

2048
01:19:46,833 --> 01:19:48,833
>> Thank you.

2049
01:19:53,867 --> 01:19:54,967
>> I prepared statement, sorry.

2050
01:19:54,967 --> 01:19:57,330
Uh, I'm Jared Leland.

2051
01:19:57,330 --> 01:19:59,367
I live at 1802 Shadow Lake Road

2052
01:19:59,367 --> 01:20:00,467
which is the property right

2053
01:20:00,467 --> 01:20:02,330
up against it where the little cutout

2054
01:20:02,330 --> 01:20:03,800
goes out to Shadow Lake Road,

2055
01:20:03,800 --> 01:20:05,900
so I might be the most impacted person here,

2056
01:20:05,900 --> 01:20:07,100
I should probably- bad statement.

2057
01:20:07,100 --> 01:20:10,670
Um, so I've lived there for 16 years.

2058
01:20:10,670 --> 01:20:11,300
My, uh,

2059
01:20:11,300 --> 01:20:12,733
youngest son turns 18 tonight,

2060
01:20:12,733 --> 01:20:14,670
so we've been there since he was two.

2061
01:20:14,670 --> 01:20:16,700
I bike on Glade Road every day in bike commuter.

2062
01:20:16,700 --> 01:20:18,767
My dog drinks out of Tom's Creek which is

2063
01:20:18,767 --> 01:20:19,833
probably not a good idea going through

2064
01:20:19,833 --> 01:20:21,767
Brown's Farm every day.

2065
01:20:21,767 --> 01:20:23,000
Um, so I'm just trying to get

2066
01:20:23,000 --> 01:20:24,330
an impression of this place,

2067
01:20:24,330 --> 01:20:25,200
you know, I- I- I spent

2068
01:20:25,200 --> 01:20:26,500
a lot of time- I know the property well,

2069
01:20:26,500 --> 01:20:29,400
we used to sled ride it all- all the time, you know,

2070
01:20:29,400 --> 01:20:30,633
um, and I guess

2071
01:20:30,633 --> 01:20:32,967
my overall impression is a bike commuter, yeah.

2072
01:20:32,967 --> 01:20:34,433
Things get really busy, you know.

2073
01:20:34,433 --> 01:20:35,330
That's probably one of

2074
01:20:35,330 --> 01:20:36,400
the more dangerous stretches that I bike

2075
01:20:36,400 --> 01:20:39,633
on coming up through there and, um,

2076
01:20:39,633 --> 01:20:41,767
just having spent a lot of time on the property,

2077
01:20:41,767 --> 01:20:44,833
it seems like a remarkably steep area to have

2078
01:20:44,833 --> 01:20:46,500
a lot of pavement going directly

2079
01:20:46,500 --> 01:20:47,933
into the headwaters of Tom's Creek.

2080
01:20:47,933 --> 01:20:49,667
I know there's discussions of

2081
01:20:49,667 --> 01:20:51,800
waste- of- of floodwater management

2082
01:20:51,800 --> 01:20:53,167
and such and I- I, you know,

2083
01:20:53,167 --> 01:20:54,200
I guess maybe the more impacted

2084
01:20:54,200 --> 01:20:55,567
people would be the people flooded

2085
01:20:55,567 --> 01:20:58,467
downstream but- but try to keep an open mind of this,

2086
01:20:58,467 --> 01:20:59,967
um, but the impression I

2087
01:20:59,967 --> 01:21:01,500
have is it seems like a steep piece of

2088
01:21:01,500 --> 01:21:03,330
property going right into the headwaters of

2089
01:21:03,330 --> 01:21:05,233
Tom's Creek to have a lot of pavement on.

2090
01:21:05,233 --> 01:21:08,867
I wonder if that density could be elsewhere.

2091
01:21:08,867 --> 01:21:11,333
That's- that's my takeaway. Thanks.

2092
01:21:11,333 --> 01:21:13,333
>> Thank you.

2093
01:21:18,967 --> 01:21:21,967
>> Deans Fader, 1301 Village Choice South.

2094
01:21:22,300 --> 01:21:23,900
I have been a master gardener for

2095
01:21:23,900 --> 01:21:27,600
16 years and a master naturalist for five years.

2096
01:21:27,600 --> 01:21:28,833
I grew up on a farm in

2097
01:21:28,833 --> 01:21:31,700
South Dakota and farmed all through high school.

2098
01:21:31,700 --> 01:21:34,433
For 25 years on a small acreage,

2099
01:21:34,433 --> 01:21:36,833
I did succession management

2100
01:21:36,967 --> 01:21:39,667
of several small plots and I helped

2101
01:21:39,667 --> 01:21:41,667
a good friend turn pastures into

2102
01:21:41,667 --> 01:21:45,867
a beautiful lush prairie using succession management.

2103
01:21:46,733 --> 01:21:49,100
With this background, I favor

2104
01:21:49,100 --> 01:21:51,500
managed succession in principle.

2105
01:21:53,400 --> 01:21:55,400
We all know that the devils in

2106
01:21:55,400 --> 01:21:58,567
the details and this proposal and proffers are

2107
01:21:58,567 --> 01:22:00,433
full of general words that give

2108
01:22:00,433 --> 01:22:04,433
unfettered discretion and how they are interpreted,

2109
01:22:04,433 --> 01:22:07,133
thus I have many reservations.

2110
01:22:07,133 --> 01:22:10,867
One is that without a lot of work, knowledge, and money,

2111
01:22:10,867 --> 01:22:14,867
I think this will become a managed mess especially given

2112
01:22:14,867 --> 01:22:17,200
the large area of

2113
01:22:17,200 --> 01:22:21,533
the managed succession and the many invasive species.

2114
01:22:21,533 --> 01:22:23,500
Second and very importantly it

2115
01:22:23,500 --> 01:22:25,833
will succeed only if the HOA

2116
01:22:25,833 --> 01:22:31,633
starts with soil that is not compacted and not disturbed.

2117
01:22:31,633 --> 01:22:34,633
Therefore, I have one recommendation,

2118
01:22:34,867 --> 01:22:37,867
amend the proffer to provide clear mandates

2119
01:22:37,867 --> 01:22:41,330
that none of the many succession areas are disturbed

2120
01:22:41,330 --> 01:22:44,330
at any time and in any way

2121
01:22:44,330 --> 01:22:48,330
except perhaps to install utility rights away.

2122
01:22:48,330 --> 01:22:50,200
As written, nothing prevents

2123
01:22:50,200 --> 01:22:53,900
the developer from disturbing the man's succession area.

2124
01:22:53,900 --> 01:22:57,133
In fact, the cunningly worded document

2125
01:22:57,133 --> 01:22:59,133
incentivizes disturbance because

2126
01:23:00,670 --> 01:23:02,933
the developer has a duty only to manage

2127
01:23:02,933 --> 01:23:07,533
undisturbed areas before conveying them to the HOA.

2128
01:23:07,533 --> 01:23:11,233
Thus, the more areas that they- that are disturbed,

2129
01:23:11,233 --> 01:23:13,333
the less management the developer

2130
01:23:13,333 --> 01:23:16,100
has and the disturbed land

2131
01:23:16,100 --> 01:23:18,533
requires only two acres per

2132
01:23:18,533 --> 01:23:21,900
quarter or two trees per quarter acre.

2133
01:23:21,900 --> 01:23:26,467
Section 4F of the proffer should be amended to one,

2134
01:23:26,467 --> 01:23:28,167
require that no part of

2135
01:23:28,167 --> 01:23:31,567
the man's succession areas be disturbed at any time by

2136
01:23:31,567 --> 01:23:33,300
any means whether by

2137
01:23:33,300 --> 01:23:37,500
inadvertent heavy equipment or removal of topsoil.

2138
01:23:38,670 --> 01:23:39,567
Two, require that

2139
01:23:39,567 --> 01:23:41,533
many su- succession areas

2140
01:23:41,533 --> 01:23:43,833
be roped off from the very beginning,

2141
01:23:43,833 --> 01:23:45,767
not six months later,

2142
01:23:45,767 --> 01:23:47,833
with signs to stay off and

2143
01:23:47,833 --> 01:23:50,833
substantial penalties for any violations.

2144
01:23:51,600 --> 01:23:54,733
These requirements are absolutely necessary because

2145
01:23:54,733 --> 01:23:57,533
young construction workers love to drive

2146
01:23:57,533 --> 01:24:01,133
their heavy equipment across land without obstacles.

2147
01:24:01,133 --> 01:24:03,733
I know because I was one.

2148
01:24:03,733 --> 01:24:07,333
They like- they like most people see soil as dirt,

2149
01:24:07,333 --> 01:24:09,167
and see no harm in driving

2150
01:24:09,167 --> 01:24:11,833
on grassland or any other land.

2151
01:24:11,833 --> 01:24:15,330
Modern science shows the massive harm done by

2152
01:24:15,330 --> 01:24:18,667
such ignorance and compacted soil take years,

2153
01:24:18,667 --> 01:24:22,200
and in my experience decades to recover.

2154
01:24:22,200 --> 01:24:24,767
Since the HOA will be responsible for

2155
01:24:24,767 --> 01:24:27,767
these many succession areas for decades,

2156
01:24:27,767 --> 01:24:31,367
the town must assure that every many succession area

2157
01:24:31,367 --> 01:24:35,467
remains undisturbed during the entire development period.

2158
01:24:35,467 --> 01:24:37,167
Amend the proffer to close

2159
01:24:37,167 --> 01:24:40,200
this massive loop- loophole and avoid

2160
01:24:40,200 --> 01:24:42,600
imposing a huge financial burden on

2161
01:24:42,600 --> 01:24:45,333
future homeowners. Thank you for your time.

2162
01:24:45,333 --> 01:24:47,400
>> Thank you. Will- will you please sign in also?

2163
01:24:47,400 --> 01:24:52,800
We'd like to get your name, yeah. Thank you.

2164
01:24:55,100 --> 01:24:57,167
>> Good evening. My name is Mike Stein.

2165
01:24:57,167 --> 01:25:00,100
I live at 1225 Village Way South.

2166
01:25:00,100 --> 01:25:03,333
Recreation in Blacksburg is very important.

2167
01:25:03,333 --> 01:25:05,667
The town and the people of this town have made it

2168
01:25:05,667 --> 01:25:08,967
clear that being outside it's very important.

2169
01:25:08,967 --> 01:25:11,633
You see it in the bike paths, outdoor events,

2170
01:25:11,633 --> 01:25:12,933
open spaces,

2171
01:25:12,933 --> 01:25:14,567
and walkable family neighborhoods

2172
01:25:14,567 --> 01:25:17,300
that fill our amazing town.

2173
01:25:17,300 --> 01:25:23,300
GSE does not fit the pattern set by this town.

2174
01:25:24,400 --> 01:25:27,300
Kids playing, dogs walking, riding bikes,

2175
01:25:27,300 --> 01:25:29,330
all things that happen regularly in

2176
01:25:29,330 --> 01:25:33,667
Blacksburg neighborhoods and all over the US really.

2177
01:25:33,667 --> 01:25:37,700
For me, it's about a safe way to get there.

2178
01:25:37,700 --> 01:25:39,600
The sheer number of driveways with

2179
01:25:39,600 --> 01:25:42,600
parked cars, it's a lot.

2180
01:25:43,933 --> 01:25:45,933
Kids, runners, walkers,

2181
01:25:46,367 --> 01:25:48,100
dogs all have to navigate

2182
01:25:48,100 --> 01:25:51,700
too many driveways and park cars.

2183
01:25:53,700 --> 01:25:55,800
As a parent, I'd be very

2184
01:25:55,800 --> 01:25:58,733
concerned about my kids walking to the bus,

2185
01:25:58,733 --> 01:26:01,133
going to the playground.

2186
01:26:01,200 --> 01:26:04,100
There's a lot of driveways, um,

2187
01:26:04,100 --> 01:26:07,133
I counted up from one cul-de-sac in Street B,

2188
01:26:07,133 --> 01:26:08,200
all the way to the end of the street

2189
01:26:08,200 --> 01:26:10,200
is over 35 driveways.

2190
01:26:11,200 --> 01:26:12,633
It's a lot of driveways for your kid to

2191
01:26:12,633 --> 01:26:16,767
walk on their own to get to the park.

2192
01:26:16,767 --> 01:26:18,100
Why is the playground on

2193
01:26:18,100 --> 01:26:21,670
the North side located on the very edge?

2194
01:26:21,670 --> 01:26:23,900
Why not central to the bulk of the houses?

2195
01:26:23,900 --> 01:26:25,400
Why do they have to walk so far

2196
01:26:25,400 --> 01:26:27,900
to get to- why can't we put it in the middle?

2197
01:26:27,900 --> 01:26:29,567
Why is usable open space

2198
01:26:29,567 --> 01:26:32,300
so far from the bulk of the homes?

2199
01:26:32,300 --> 01:26:35,433
It seems it's pretty far away.

2200
01:26:35,433 --> 01:26:37,167
Where do homeowners store bikes,

2201
01:26:37,167 --> 01:26:40,167
sports equipment, and lawn equipment?

2202
01:26:41,867 --> 01:26:46,433
Um, where do homeowners store trash and recycling bins?

2203
01:26:46,433 --> 01:26:49,800
Will these be stored in driveways?

2204
01:26:49,800 --> 01:26:52,633
Certainly not the best option,

2205
01:26:52,633 --> 01:26:53,800
everybody having their's right in

2206
01:26:53,800 --> 01:26:56,400
the driveway right up front to see.

2207
01:26:56,400 --> 01:26:58,167
I would love to see

2208
01:26:58,167 --> 01:27:02,233
easier and safer access to the recreational areas.

2209
01:27:02,233 --> 01:27:05,933
From my perspective, this neighborhood could do

2210
01:27:05,933 --> 01:27:07,167
a better job of creating

2211
01:27:07,167 --> 01:27:10,167
recreational opportunities, ease of access.

2212
01:27:11,333 --> 01:27:14,100
This is not the right design for a town that puts

2213
01:27:14,100 --> 01:27:17,700
a premium on recreation. Thank you.

2214
01:27:17,933 --> 01:27:20,333
>> Thank you- thank you.

2215
01:27:30,233 --> 01:27:32,670
>> Hello.

2216
01:27:32,670 --> 01:27:33,200
>> Uh, my name is Chris Caldwell.

2217
01:27:33,200 --> 01:27:36,200
I live at 2105 Meadowbrook Drive.

2218
01:27:36,333 --> 01:27:37,600
Uh, first of all,

2219
01:27:37,600 --> 01:27:40,233
thank you all for your service to the community.

2220
01:27:40,233 --> 01:27:42,433
I wasn't sure I was going to get here.

2221
01:27:42,433 --> 01:27:44,133
Uh, I just came from the Blacksburg High

2222
01:27:44,133 --> 01:27:46,000
School baseball and softball game,

2223
01:27:46,000 --> 01:27:47,767
so beat Patrick Henry,

2224
01:27:47,767 --> 01:27:49,833
yeah both of them.

2225
01:27:49,833 --> 01:27:52,500
So uh, I'm dressed appropriately.

2226
01:27:52,500 --> 01:27:53,567
I don't have something

2227
01:27:53,567 --> 01:27:55,767
prepared but I would like to say I'm

2228
01:27:55,767 --> 01:27:59,600
a lifelong resident since 1968 when I was born,

2229
01:27:59,600 --> 01:28:02,533
with exception of a few years.

2230
01:28:02,533 --> 01:28:06,200
Um, I grew up in the Meadowbrook area.

2231
01:28:06,200 --> 01:28:09,867
Uh, I know well the drainage and floodage,

2232
01:28:09,867 --> 01:28:11,867
uh, flooding issues.

2233
01:28:13,767 --> 01:28:16,167
So coming home Friday,

2234
01:28:17,533 --> 01:28:19,533
7:30 PM, March 3rd,

2235
01:28:20,670 --> 01:28:22,200
after about two hours of

2236
01:28:22,200 --> 01:28:25,800
hard rain at 2801 Shadow Lake Road,

2237
01:28:27,000 --> 01:28:28,300
the area was underwater,

2238
01:28:28,300 --> 01:28:30,300
which frequently, um,

2239
01:28:30,333 --> 01:28:33,670
signs are set out high water,

2240
01:28:33,670 --> 01:28:35,670
obviously, um,

2241
01:28:35,667 --> 01:28:38,200
turnaround don't drown type of scenario.

2242
01:28:38,200 --> 01:28:41,200
Um, so in those areas,

2243
01:28:41,367 --> 01:28:44,367
um, water comes up fast.

2244
01:28:46,000 --> 01:28:48,967
Some people know that as Shadow Lake.

2245
01:28:48,967 --> 01:28:51,467
Uh, I know it growing up as Kelly's pond.

2246
01:28:51,467 --> 01:28:53,100
Kelly's owned that property,

2247
01:28:53,100 --> 01:28:56,700
um, at the time, and uh,

2248
01:28:56,867 --> 01:29:01,670
this subdivision with this extreme high density

2249
01:29:02,467 --> 01:29:04,400
is going to shove

2250
01:29:04,400 --> 01:29:07,367
a lot of water down through that valley.

2251
01:29:07,367 --> 01:29:09,767
It's going to worsen

2252
01:29:10,967 --> 01:29:13,267
the problems of the springtime floods

2253
01:29:13,267 --> 01:29:15,667
Tom's Creek currently gets.

2254
01:29:16,367 --> 01:29:18,367
Um, and uh,

2255
01:29:18,833 --> 01:29:22,367
I just think that this is- I'm not anti-development,

2256
01:29:22,367 --> 01:29:24,767
I'm not anti-affordable housing,

2257
01:29:25,100 --> 01:29:29,200
I just think this is the wrong location for the idea.

2258
01:29:29,200 --> 01:29:34,200
And it- it does not fit the existing area.

2259
01:29:34,200 --> 01:29:35,933
It doesn't match Westover Hills,

2260
01:29:35,933 --> 01:29:37,200
it doesn't match Gladewood.

2261
01:29:37,200 --> 01:29:40,233
It doesn't match the village at Tom's Creek.

2262
01:29:40,233 --> 01:29:43,833
It doesn't fit. It doesn't belong.

2263
01:29:44,333 --> 01:29:46,733
So that's my passionate speech.

2264
01:29:46,733 --> 01:29:49,533
Thank you for listening to me and I would

2265
01:29:49,533 --> 01:29:52,933
like for us to adhere to the comprehensive plan.

2266
01:29:52,933 --> 01:29:57,633
That- that side of 460 remains open and rule.

2267
01:29:57,633 --> 01:30:00,330
Low density. Thank you.

2268
01:30:00,233 --> 01:30:02,233
>> Thank you.

2269
01:30:12,333 --> 01:30:13,500
I emailed

2270
01:30:13,500 --> 01:30:14,700
this to you as well but I just wanted to,

2271
01:30:14,700 --> 01:30:16,767
uh, you to have the open space management

2272
01:30:16,767 --> 01:30:19,167
just kinda for reference.

2273
01:30:20,167 --> 01:30:21,700
My name is Oslin Bushy.

2274
01:30:21,700 --> 01:30:24,733
I live at 1222 Village Way South.

2275
01:30:24,733 --> 01:30:26,733
Also, recently I've

2276
01:30:27,200 --> 01:30:29,767
sent you a couple of emails about weapons.

2277
01:30:29,767 --> 01:30:33,000
I also talked about weapons safety on April 25.

2278
01:30:33,000 --> 01:30:36,667
And regarding stormwater in the most recent application,

2279
01:30:36,667 --> 01:30:39,167
I feel like nothing has really changed.

2280
01:30:39,167 --> 01:30:40,500
During the last work session,

2281
01:30:40,500 --> 01:30:43,733
the only thing discussed relevant to safety was a fence,

2282
01:30:43,733 --> 01:30:46,800
which wasn't liked as an idea.

2283
01:30:46,800 --> 01:30:49,800
So please imagine this scenario.

2284
01:30:49,867 --> 01:30:51,333
My name is Mary.

2285
01:30:51,333 --> 01:30:52,600
I live at the bottom end of

2286
01:30:52,600 --> 01:30:56,200
Street C in Glade Spring Crossing.

2287
01:30:56,267 --> 01:30:58,167
I look out of my kitchen window and see

2288
01:30:58,167 --> 01:31:02,667
the wet pond backing up to my yard, it's pretty close.

2289
01:31:02,667 --> 01:31:05,100
I have three children under 10,

2290
01:31:05,100 --> 01:31:07,500
they love playing outside.

2291
01:31:07,867 --> 01:31:09,467
The nearest wreck area,

2292
01:31:09,467 --> 01:31:11,167
as one of the other people has said,

2293
01:31:11,167 --> 01:31:13,533
is on the other side of the pond,

2294
01:31:13,533 --> 01:31:17,133
actually, right next to the pond.

2295
01:31:17,167 --> 01:31:18,500
On the handout, it reads as

2296
01:31:18,500 --> 01:31:20,600
B and C, those two wreck areas.

2297
01:31:20,600 --> 01:31:22,733
I don't have time to take the kids out right now,

2298
01:31:22,733 --> 01:31:24,467
but there is no way I'm letting them play in

2299
01:31:24,467 --> 01:31:26,900
the small backyard by themselves.

2300
01:31:26,900 --> 01:31:28,700
Last week, two neighbor kids from

2301
01:31:28,700 --> 01:31:30,567
the other side were playing

2302
01:31:30,567 --> 01:31:33,367
on the pond and fell through the ice.

2303
01:31:33,367 --> 01:31:35,433
It's been hard living right next to the pond.

2304
01:31:35,433 --> 01:31:37,400
I wish we had better safe options

2305
01:31:37,400 --> 01:31:39,367
for children's play areas.

2306
01:31:39,367 --> 01:31:41,633
And it's not just about the kids either.

2307
01:31:41,633 --> 01:31:43,233
Last year our dog contracted

2308
01:31:43,233 --> 01:31:45,933
heartworm disease from a mosquito bite.

2309
01:31:45,933 --> 01:31:47,933
We had loads of them last fall.

2310
01:31:47,933 --> 01:31:50,767
At least this snowy cold snap will help with that.

2311
01:31:50,767 --> 01:31:51,967
I'm worried though, about

2312
01:31:51,967 --> 01:31:54,200
the kids wanting to slide down the hill.

2313
01:31:54,200 --> 01:31:55,567
One of them is going to slide

2314
01:31:55,567 --> 01:31:57,667
right into the pond one day.

2315
01:31:57,667 --> 01:32:00,333
I'll just turn on the TV instead.

2316
01:32:00,333 --> 01:32:03,667
Do you think this is a far-fetched story?

2317
01:32:03,667 --> 01:32:05,367
Right now on the town website,

2318
01:32:05,367 --> 01:32:07,733
Glade Spring Crossing rezoning request has

2319
01:32:07,733 --> 01:32:11,933
at least 78 document links, just since December.

2320
01:32:11,967 --> 01:32:15,267
That's a lot of back and forth and issues for a project,

2321
01:32:15,267 --> 01:32:17,867
approximately two years in the planning.

2322
01:32:17,867 --> 01:32:19,367
I feel that in that time,

2323
01:32:19,367 --> 01:32:20,933
the town and developer could have

2324
01:32:20,933 --> 01:32:22,833
come up with something better,

2325
01:32:22,833 --> 01:32:25,233
safer, and more equitable.

2326
01:32:25,767 --> 01:32:29,867
Your planning commission voted against this rezoning 5-2.

2327
01:32:29,867 --> 01:32:33,670
I realize that this is a town-partnered project,

2328
01:32:33,670 --> 01:32:35,000
and the town council has the last word on

2329
01:32:35,000 --> 01:32:37,100
whether it moves forward but please,

2330
01:32:37,100 --> 01:32:39,967
I ask you to vote with common sense and

2331
01:32:39,967 --> 01:32:41,933
integrity when making your decision

2332
01:32:41,933 --> 01:32:43,700
tonight. Thank you very much.

2333
01:32:43,700 --> 01:32:45,700
>> Thank you.

2334
01:32:55,467 --> 01:32:57,367
>> Good evening. My name is Rosea Bushy.

2335
01:32:57,367 --> 01:33:00,633
I live at 1222 Village Way South.

2336
01:33:00,633 --> 01:33:01,933
Earlier this year, I had

2337
01:33:01,933 --> 01:33:03,967
the opportunity to speak with the Planning Commission,

2338
01:33:03,967 --> 01:33:06,670
and I left them with this message.

2339
01:33:06,670 --> 01:33:09,367
With the number of variances the GSC development had,

2340
01:33:09,367 --> 01:33:10,667
they were setting themselves

2341
01:33:10,667 --> 01:33:13,100
and Blacksburg up for failure.

2342
01:33:13,100 --> 01:33:16,133
Each variance is an opportunity for catastrophe.

2343
01:33:16,133 --> 01:33:18,133
Monetarily, ecologically,

2344
01:33:18,233 --> 01:33:20,667
safety or through loss of life.

2345
01:33:20,667 --> 01:33:24,900
There are more variances now than when I spoke then.

2346
01:33:24,900 --> 01:33:26,667
Now, perhaps I'm cynical,

2347
01:33:26,667 --> 01:33:29,330
perhaps I'm pessimistic, I

2348
01:33:29,330 --> 01:33:32,933
hope by the end of tonight I'm not realist.

2349
01:33:32,933 --> 01:33:34,670
But it is my opinion,

2350
01:33:34,670 --> 01:33:35,700
having watched and listened to the input

2351
01:33:35,700 --> 01:33:37,533
from the Town Planning Commission in their vote

2352
01:33:37,533 --> 01:33:41,133
to deny the GSC and the well-reasoned, well-informed,

2353
01:33:41,133 --> 01:33:42,967
and scientifically objective voices of

2354
01:33:42,967 --> 01:33:45,933
pertinent professionals who reside in the town,

2355
01:33:45,933 --> 01:33:48,967
that there is sufficient dubiousness to delay if not deny

2356
01:33:48,967 --> 01:33:50,500
the further- furtherance of

2357
01:33:50,500 --> 01:33:53,500
this development as currently proposed.

2358
01:33:53,633 --> 01:33:55,400
What's been more enlightening for me, however,

2359
01:33:55,400 --> 01:33:56,567
is the seeming willingness of

2360
01:33:56,567 --> 01:33:57,867
the town to continue to press

2361
01:33:57,867 --> 01:33:59,333
forward with this development while

2362
01:33:59,333 --> 01:34:01,567
adding even more variances.

2363
01:34:01,567 --> 01:34:04,300
I can't help but feel that

2364
01:34:04,300 --> 01:34:08,867
this- sorry that my own sense is that the town has

2365
01:34:08,867 --> 01:34:10,833
made up its collective mind

2366
01:34:10,833 --> 01:34:13,200
to refute its own planning commission

2367
01:34:13,200 --> 01:34:17,733
and not listen to the folks here tonight who have,

2368
01:34:17,733 --> 01:34:19,167
for months offered be- to

2369
01:34:19,167 --> 01:34:21,467
be the voices of your better angels.

2370
01:34:21,467 --> 01:34:23,300
To approve the GSC, as it stands,

2371
01:34:23,300 --> 01:34:26,133
is to trod upon the work of all who came before you,

2372
01:34:26,133 --> 01:34:28,200
who studied and let the data show

2373
01:34:28,200 --> 01:34:30,667
what was needed to maintain a resilient,

2374
01:34:30,667 --> 01:34:32,767
prosperous, and vital Blacksburg.

2375
01:34:32,767 --> 01:34:35,533
They chose zoning carefully and purposefully to prevent

2376
01:34:35,533 --> 01:34:39,733
the very miscarriage of rampant overbuild proposed here.

2377
01:34:39,733 --> 01:34:43,667
Do those plans of those people mean nothing?

2378
01:34:43,667 --> 01:34:45,933
Our zoning doesn't matter.

2379
01:34:45,933 --> 01:34:48,700
And to use the words of the applicant,

2380
01:34:48,700 --> 01:34:52,167
if you are not going to hold to

2381
01:34:52,167 --> 01:34:57,567
the standards set by your predecessors now then when?

2382
01:34:58,267 --> 01:35:00,433
I'm not a scientist or environmentalist,

2383
01:35:00,433 --> 01:35:02,767
expert like some of my neighbors but I

2384
01:35:02,767 --> 01:35:05,333
don't need to be to see that if you approve GSC,

2385
01:35:05,333 --> 01:35:07,200
you will have been shown to have weighed and valued

2386
01:35:07,200 --> 01:35:09,667
money and expediency over the environment,

2387
01:35:09,667 --> 01:35:11,267
the safety of your employers,

2388
01:35:11,267 --> 01:35:13,333
which is us and

2389
01:35:13,333 --> 01:35:14,967
the children who will live in a subdivision

2390
01:35:14,967 --> 01:35:16,233
burdened with variances,

2391
01:35:16,233 --> 01:35:17,600
none of which were designed

2392
01:35:17,600 --> 01:35:19,900
for their safety or prosperity.

2393
01:35:19,900 --> 01:35:21,167
If this comes to pass,

2394
01:35:21,167 --> 01:35:23,933
the fallout will not be expunged with a simple expedient.

2395
01:35:23,933 --> 01:35:26,433
You now have before you a vote.

2396
01:35:26,433 --> 01:35:27,800
You can choose to vote no,

2397
01:35:27,800 --> 01:35:30,500
to preemptively save the natural beauty and ecosystem

2398
01:35:30,500 --> 01:35:33,633
of Tom's Creek and other more permanent damage.

2399
01:35:33,633 --> 01:35:35,367
The Planning Commission understood this.

2400
01:35:35,367 --> 01:35:37,867
The scientific community understands this.

2401
01:35:37,867 --> 01:35:39,900
We, the citizens, understand it.

2402
01:35:39,900 --> 01:35:42,670
The GSC shortfalls, failures,

2403
01:35:42,670 --> 01:35:45,800
and risks far outweigh its opportunities. Thank you.

2404
01:35:45,800 --> 01:35:47,800
>> Thank you.

2405
01:35:55,000 --> 01:35:57,433
>> Hi, everyone. My name is Gloria Schoen Holt,

2406
01:35:57,433 --> 01:36:00,670
and I live at 1201 Glen Cove Lane.

2407
01:36:00,670 --> 01:36:01,500
I'm here tonight to ask you to

2408
01:36:01,500 --> 01:36:03,567
vote no on this application,

2409
01:36:03,567 --> 01:36:06,367
because I believe that the GSC property itself

2410
01:36:06,367 --> 01:36:10,233
is unsuitable for all that is being asked of it.

2411
01:36:10,233 --> 01:36:12,933
I realize that a yes vote will allow you to check

2412
01:36:12,933 --> 01:36:16,700
the box on two important issues facing Blacksburg,

2413
01:36:16,700 --> 01:36:18,533
the need for affordable housing and the

2414
01:36:18,533 --> 01:36:21,233
need for a regional stormwater facility.

2415
01:36:21,233 --> 01:36:23,500
I understand those motivating factors

2416
01:36:23,500 --> 01:36:26,200
and I want to address both of them.

2417
01:36:26,200 --> 01:36:28,767
With regard to stormwater, as you know,

2418
01:36:28,767 --> 01:36:30,433
I'm a citizen who will directly

2419
01:36:30,433 --> 01:36:33,333
benefit from the proposed stormwater ponds.

2420
01:36:33,333 --> 01:36:35,330
Because my home is downstream of

2421
01:36:35,330 --> 01:36:37,433
town and from the GSC property,

2422
01:36:37,433 --> 01:36:38,933
I've experienced the impact of

2423
01:36:38,933 --> 01:36:41,000
stormwater flooding for years.

2424
01:36:41,000 --> 01:36:43,767
I do hope for a real solution,

2425
01:36:43,767 --> 01:36:46,100
but I'm wary in the- if

2426
01:36:46,100 --> 01:36:48,533
the proposed ponds being built will build along with

2427
01:36:48,533 --> 01:36:51,133
the- if the-if the proposed ponds were

2428
01:36:51,133 --> 01:36:54,233
being built along with a smaller development,

2429
01:36:54,233 --> 01:36:56,467
I'd have more confidence in the size

2430
01:36:56,467 --> 01:36:59,267
and number of ponds that are being proposed.

2431
01:36:59,267 --> 01:37:01,867
But it seems to me that the ponds will not be enough to

2432
01:37:01,867 --> 01:37:05,000
contain both the existing storm water flows and

2433
01:37:05,000 --> 01:37:06,867
the new flows that will come from

2434
01:37:06,867 --> 01:37:09,867
176 new houses and new streets.

2435
01:37:11,433 --> 01:37:15,233
On this issue, my neighbors and I are left worried and

2436
01:37:15,233 --> 01:37:20,330
vulnerable to the impacts of this new development.

2437
01:37:20,330 --> 01:37:22,967
Reducing the density and the number of new houses at

2438
01:37:22,967 --> 01:37:24,900
GSC would give us

2439
01:37:24,900 --> 01:37:28,000
some reassurance that we are being heard.

2440
01:37:28,000 --> 01:37:30,533
In terms of the proposed affordable housing,

2441
01:37:30,533 --> 01:37:32,670
the GSC property is

2442
01:37:32,670 --> 01:37:35,167
unsuitable for the impact of this high density,

2443
01:37:35,167 --> 01:37:37,233
low cost housing project.

2444
01:37:37,233 --> 01:37:40,400
Although there are technically 44 acres on the site,

2445
01:37:40,400 --> 01:37:42,433
only a portion of that is buildable.

2446
01:37:42,433 --> 01:37:43,933
And even at that, the site will

2447
01:37:43,933 --> 01:37:46,500
require heavy grading and infill.

2448
01:37:46,500 --> 01:37:49,167
The upfront infrastructure costs on a site

2449
01:37:49,167 --> 01:37:51,900
like this will be very expensive and

2450
01:37:51,900 --> 01:37:54,133
that is leading to the developer's demand to

2451
01:37:54,133 --> 01:37:58,167
maximize the density in order to cover his investment.

2452
01:37:58,167 --> 01:38:00,433
If getting 24 affordable homes and

2453
01:38:00,433 --> 01:38:03,400
stormwater ponds is your only concern,

2454
01:38:03,400 --> 01:38:05,400
then I can see that the density issue

2455
01:38:05,400 --> 01:38:07,633
is a-is probably mute.

2456
01:38:07,633 --> 01:38:08,833
But for the neighbors of

2457
01:38:08,833 --> 01:38:11,633
this property and for its future residents,

2458
01:38:11,633 --> 01:38:14,967
the density issue is the issue.

2459
01:38:14,967 --> 01:38:18,300
It means more cars associated with more houses.

2460
01:38:18,300 --> 01:38:20,767
It will mean more traffic on Glade Road,

2461
01:38:20,767 --> 01:38:24,600
it will mean more concrete and asphalt instead of lawns,

2462
01:38:24,600 --> 01:38:26,333
which will generate more stormwater

2463
01:38:26,333 --> 01:38:28,300
and cause more pollution.

2464
01:38:28,300 --> 01:38:30,367
It will mean that the residents who use so

2465
01:38:30,367 --> 01:38:32,733
generously propose to help with

2466
01:38:32,733 --> 01:38:34,800
their mortgages will be living in

2467
01:38:34,800 --> 01:38:38,767
attached homes in essentially a concrete jungle without

2468
01:38:38,767 --> 01:38:41,633
garages for their vehicles and bicycles and without

2469
01:38:41,633 --> 01:38:43,600
natural places for their kids

2470
01:38:43,600 --> 01:38:46,133
to play in their own backyards.

2471
01:38:46,133 --> 01:38:48,167
The demand for maximum density at

2472
01:38:48,167 --> 01:38:51,167
GSC is shortsighted and disturbing.

2473
01:38:51,300 --> 01:38:54,533
It will lower the quality of life for future residents.

2474
01:38:54,533 --> 01:38:56,567
Please respect their dignity by

2475
01:38:56,567 --> 01:38:58,330
building comfortable homes that

2476
01:38:58,330 --> 01:38:59,833
they will be proud to own.

2477
01:38:59,833 --> 01:39:03,433
Please reduce the density on this site. Thank you.

2478
01:39:03,433 --> 01:39:05,433
>> Thank you.

2479
01:39:13,833 --> 01:39:16,733
>> Hello. My name is Joseph Baker and I live at

2480
01:39:16,733 --> 01:39:20,600
1515 Poplar Ridge Circle in the village at Tom's Creek.

2481
01:39:20,600 --> 01:39:22,167
In 2008 when my wife

2482
01:39:22,167 --> 01:39:24,700
Priscilla and I moved our family to Blacksburg,

2483
01:39:24,700 --> 01:39:25,900
we fully understood from

2484
01:39:25,900 --> 01:39:27,800
discussions with our realtor that

2485
01:39:27,800 --> 01:39:29,670
something was eventually going to be

2486
01:39:29,670 --> 01:39:31,800
developed on the parcel next to our neighborhood.

2487
01:39:31,800 --> 01:39:34,200
And we accepted that, it's progress,

2488
01:39:34,200 --> 01:39:37,667
towns grow and empty spaces get filled.

2489
01:39:37,667 --> 01:39:39,667
Fast forward to 2015,

2490
01:39:39,700 --> 01:39:41,433
and some of you will remember a proposal

2491
01:39:41,433 --> 01:39:43,567
to build student housing on that property.

2492
01:39:43,567 --> 01:39:45,467
It was called the retreat.

2493
01:39:45,467 --> 01:39:46,633
There was a bit of a hubbub,

2494
01:39:46,633 --> 01:39:48,967
but thankfully sanity prevailed.

2495
01:39:48,967 --> 01:39:50,500
Developer withdrew their proposal

2496
01:39:50,500 --> 01:39:51,967
and the retreat was eventually

2497
01:39:51,967 --> 01:39:56,267
built at a more appropriate location on Prices Fork Road.

2498
01:39:56,267 --> 01:39:58,500
Fast forward again to last fall,

2499
01:39:58,500 --> 01:40:00,670
when I first became aware of

2500
01:40:00,670 --> 01:40:02,367
the Glad Springs Crossing proposal,

2501
01:40:02,367 --> 01:40:03,667
my first reaction was,

2502
01:40:03,667 --> 01:40:05,330
yeah, I always knew it was coming.

2503
01:40:05,330 --> 01:40:07,000
A bunch of family homes will be built

2504
01:40:07,000 --> 01:40:09,967
back there, could be worse.

2505
01:40:09,967 --> 01:40:12,333
However, over the past few weeks,

2506
01:40:12,333 --> 01:40:15,500
I've gradually come to and- and it literally is weeks.

2507
01:40:15,500 --> 01:40:18,367
I've gradually come to realize that this proposal is

2508
01:40:18,367 --> 01:40:19,833
an extreme deviation from

2509
01:40:19,833 --> 01:40:21,633
the town's long term vision of

2510
01:40:21,633 --> 01:40:24,400
how the site would most likely be developed.

2511
01:40:24,400 --> 01:40:27,367
And so here I'm before you today to

2512
01:40:27,367 --> 01:40:28,867
voice my profound concern

2513
01:40:28,867 --> 01:40:31,167
for the fatal flaws in this proposal,

2514
01:40:31,167 --> 01:40:32,233
but also the manner in which

2515
01:40:32,233 --> 01:40:33,933
the approvo-approval process has

2516
01:40:33,933 --> 01:40:35,300
been playing out and some people

2517
01:40:35,300 --> 01:40:38,000
have alluded to this already.

2518
01:40:38,000 --> 01:40:40,167
Back in 2015 I wrote several emails

2519
01:40:40,167 --> 01:40:42,367
to town council members and some of you are still

2520
01:40:42,367 --> 01:40:45,167
here explaining my concerns about

2521
01:40:45,167 --> 01:40:46,933
the retreat proposal and

2522
01:40:46,933 --> 01:40:50,167
asking for answers to very specific questions.

2523
01:40:50,167 --> 01:40:51,967
In all cases I received

2524
01:40:51,967 --> 01:40:55,600
thoughtful and courteous responses that reassured me that

2525
01:40:55,600 --> 01:40:58,467
my elected representatives on town council were

2526
01:40:58,467 --> 01:41:00,670
open minded and measured

2527
01:41:00,670 --> 01:41:03,330
in their consideration of the proposal.

2528
01:41:03,330 --> 01:41:04,800
I was therefore extremely disappointed

2529
01:41:04,800 --> 01:41:07,167
to learn recently from my neighbors

2530
01:41:07,167 --> 01:41:09,600
that similar efforts in over

2531
01:41:09,600 --> 01:41:12,267
a period of months to get answers to

2532
01:41:12,267 --> 01:41:14,433
extremely important questions about

2533
01:41:14,433 --> 01:41:15,567
the numerous flaws in

2534
01:41:15,567 --> 01:41:18,833
this proposal are simply being ignored.

2535
01:41:18,833 --> 01:41:21,900
That doesn't seem like healthy democracy to me.

2536
01:41:21,900 --> 01:41:25,600
It really makes me wonder what's changed,

2537
01:41:25,600 --> 01:41:28,567
and so I have a few questions on my own now.

2538
01:41:28,567 --> 01:41:30,633
Why is this proposal even being considered by

2539
01:41:30,633 --> 01:41:32,133
town council when it was previously

2540
01:41:32,133 --> 01:41:34,267
voted down by the planning commission?

2541
01:41:34,267 --> 01:41:38,967
Shouldn't it be sent back? What's the rush?

2542
01:41:38,967 --> 01:41:41,000
How appealing would this proposal be if it

2543
01:41:41,000 --> 01:41:44,333
didn't have an affordable housing component?

2544
01:41:44,333 --> 01:41:47,333
And you separate that objectively.

2545
01:41:47,767 --> 01:41:51,100
How much of the affordability in it is for the developer?

2546
01:41:51,100 --> 01:41:55,900
i.e profit versus affordability for future buyers.

2547
01:41:56,670 --> 01:41:58,567
Should long held codified standards pertaining to

2548
01:41:58,567 --> 01:42:01,733
important issues such as public safety,

2549
01:42:01,733 --> 01:42:05,533
quality of life, and environmental stewardship be simply

2550
01:42:05,533 --> 01:42:08,967
ignored to facilitate a relatively modest increase

2551
01:42:08,967 --> 01:42:11,233
in the affordable housing.

2552
01:42:11,233 --> 01:42:13,967
And finally, what is the threshold number of

2553
01:42:13,967 --> 01:42:15,500
requested variances that should

2554
01:42:15,500 --> 01:42:18,167
trigger automatic rejection of a proposal?

2555
01:42:18,167 --> 01:42:20,100
Because clearly it's inherently

2556
01:42:20,100 --> 01:42:23,967
flawed and simply bad for the town.

2557
01:42:23,967 --> 01:42:25,433
Before you vote, please

2558
01:42:25,433 --> 01:42:27,300
consider the long lasting consequences of

2559
01:42:27,300 --> 01:42:30,900
approving this dangerously flawed proposal. Thank you.

2560
01:42:30,900 --> 01:42:32,900
>> Thank you.

2561
01:42:37,467 --> 01:42:39,867
>> Who we got next.

2562
01:42:46,400 --> 01:42:48,800
>> All my husband. I'm Priscilla Baker at

2563
01:42:48,800 --> 01:42:50,800
1515 Poplar Ridge Circle.

2564
01:42:51,733 --> 01:42:53,333
I just had a few questions,

2565
01:42:53,333 --> 01:42:55,200
ah, not a long statement.

2566
01:42:55,200 --> 01:42:56,633
I just had a few questions about

2567
01:42:56,633 --> 01:42:59,000
street safety as someone who's out on

2568
01:42:59,000 --> 01:43:00,500
the streets a lot- a lot

2569
01:43:00,500 --> 01:43:03,367
with young kids when I have them and now my dog.

2570
01:43:03,367 --> 01:43:07,670
Um, these are of concern to me.

2571
01:43:07,670 --> 01:43:09,967
On the South side where will emergency vehicles,

2572
01:43:09,967 --> 01:43:13,567
service vans, or delivery trucks park?

2573
01:43:13,933 --> 01:43:15,767
Will semi moving trucks block

2574
01:43:15,767 --> 01:43:20,367
numerous driveways when loading in and out of homes?

2575
01:43:20,367 --> 01:43:21,800
How will town garbage

2576
01:43:21,800 --> 01:43:24,167
trucks maneuver car lined streets with

2577
01:43:24,167 --> 01:43:28,367
no clear location to place 260 garbage cans?

2578
01:43:29,600 --> 01:43:30,900
Will the town be able to

2579
01:43:30,900 --> 01:43:35,100
plow all of these snow covered roads?

2580
01:43:35,600 --> 01:43:37,467
How will town police enforce

2581
01:43:37,467 --> 01:43:41,667
the proffered 15 mile per hour speed limit?

2582
01:43:42,100 --> 01:43:43,900
Is it safe for kids to ride

2583
01:43:43,900 --> 01:43:45,800
bikes down car lines, streets,

2584
01:43:45,800 --> 01:43:48,367
or play on "sidewalks" that are

2585
01:43:48,367 --> 01:43:51,967
simply an extension of modified driveways?

2586
01:43:52,700 --> 01:43:55,000
How will bikes traverse the development with

2587
01:43:55,000 --> 01:43:58,600
limited sidewalks and no paved trails?

2588
01:43:59,100 --> 01:44:00,833
And on Gla-Glade Road,

2589
01:44:00,833 --> 01:44:02,700
how will cyclists navigate

2590
01:44:02,700 --> 01:44:05,100
the street A intersection given

2591
01:44:05,100 --> 01:44:08,833
that the dedicated bike lane will be removed?

2592
01:44:08,833 --> 01:44:11,267
Those are my questions about safety. Thanks.

2593
01:44:11,267 --> 01:44:13,267
>> Thank you.

2594
01:44:19,367 --> 01:44:21,833
>> Fine. I'm at 1208 Village Way South,

2595
01:44:21,833 --> 01:44:24,330
I just had questions related

2596
01:44:24,330 --> 01:44:27,233
to parking on the South side.

2597
01:44:27,233 --> 01:44:29,233
Uh, when it comes to

2598
01:44:29,233 --> 01:44:32,400
houses that maybe have more cars than two,

2599
01:44:32,400 --> 01:44:36,000
you know when- when it's only allotted two parking spots,

2600
01:44:36,000 --> 01:44:38,767
where will the overflow parking be?

2601
01:44:38,767 --> 01:44:40,300
I think there's questions related

2602
01:44:40,300 --> 01:44:41,933
to when family comes into town,

2603
01:44:41,933 --> 01:44:43,733
when friends come into town,

2604
01:44:43,733 --> 01:44:46,667
if people want to invite people to their home,

2605
01:44:46,667 --> 01:44:47,867
where are they going to be parked?

2606
01:44:47,867 --> 01:44:49,667
Is it in front of other houses?

2607
01:44:49,667 --> 01:44:53,330
How far down the road will they potentially park?

2608
01:44:53,330 --> 01:44:56,300
So there's a lot of questions related to

2609
01:44:56,300 --> 01:44:58,233
what does that overflow parking

2610
01:44:58,233 --> 01:45:00,633
really look like. Thank you.

2611
01:45:00,633 --> 01:45:02,633
>> Thank you.

2612
01:45:09,700 --> 01:45:12,700
>> Good evening. My name is John Dickinson and I live at

2613
01:45:12,700 --> 01:45:17,867
1503 Popular Ridge Circle in the village at Tom's Creek.

2614
01:45:17,867 --> 01:45:23,100
And I have several questions that relate to the wet pond.

2615
01:45:23,100 --> 01:45:28,400
Why does applicant insist the wet pond is recreational?

2616
01:45:28,400 --> 01:45:30,767
Why isn't pond safety a priority

2617
01:45:30,767 --> 01:45:33,767
within a family friendly neighborhood?

2618
01:45:34,900 --> 01:45:40,300
Is wet pond DEQ compliant per November 2022 design guide?

2619
01:45:43,100 --> 01:45:45,000
How can applicant claim

2620
01:45:45,000 --> 01:45:50,330
a six foot deep pond will lower water temperatures?,

2621
01:45:50,330 --> 01:45:54,833
but town engineers says there is no proof?

2622
01:45:55,133 --> 01:45:59,333
Why isn't GSC following science clearly demonstrating

2623
01:45:59,933 --> 01:46:02,200
a substantial tree canopy

2624
01:46:02,200 --> 01:46:05,200
mitigates pond and runoff temperatures?

2625
01:46:06,800 --> 01:46:11,733
Why are DEQ stressors not taken more seriously and yet

2626
01:46:11,733 --> 01:46:14,733
the bare minimum is considered good enough for

2627
01:46:14,733 --> 01:46:18,333
a new town Stormwater management facility?

2628
01:46:19,767 --> 01:46:22,600
If rezoning passes, will the town of

2629
01:46:22,600 --> 01:46:26,133
Blacksburg maintain their tree city status?

2630
01:46:26,133 --> 01:46:28,467
Thank you so much for your time.

2631
01:46:28,467 --> 01:46:30,467
>> Thank you.

2632
01:46:34,400 --> 01:46:36,867
>> Good evening. Uh, my name is Lucy Touchtone.

2633
01:46:36,867 --> 01:46:40,333
I live at 1213 Village Way South,

2634
01:46:40,333 --> 01:46:43,670
right adjacent to the new development.

2635
01:46:43,670 --> 01:46:45,330
And I want to start out,

2636
01:46:45,330 --> 01:46:46,100
um, with something positive.

2637
01:46:46,100 --> 01:46:48,467
I wanted to thank you for listening

2638
01:46:48,467 --> 01:46:50,867
to our concerns about the safety,

2639
01:46:50,867 --> 01:46:52,833
regarding the connection to our neighborhood,

2640
01:46:52,833 --> 01:46:56,167
and we really do appreciate that you listen to

2641
01:46:56,167 --> 01:46:59,733
our concerns and- and remove that part of the proposal.

2642
01:46:59,733 --> 01:47:01,733
Um, with that being said,

2643
01:47:01,733 --> 01:47:04,433
I think we all still have a lot of concerns and

2644
01:47:04,433 --> 01:47:08,133
I want to continue the list of questions.

2645
01:47:08,133 --> 01:47:10,833
Um, what protection is in place guaranteeing

2646
01:47:10,833 --> 01:47:15,933
the 24 affordable home lots are not the least desirable?

2647
01:47:15,933 --> 01:47:18,200
How is the saving from the removed connector at

2648
01:47:18,200 --> 01:47:22,833
Village Way South being reinvested back into the project?

2649
01:47:22,833 --> 01:47:25,500
How does the town justify approving cost saving

2650
01:47:25,500 --> 01:47:28,500
variances financially benefiting the developer?

2651
01:47:30,600 --> 01:47:33,233
How does expediting the town's review process to

2652
01:47:33,233 --> 01:47:36,233
15 days impact other town projects

2653
01:47:36,333 --> 01:47:38,500
and will town staff be able to handle

2654
01:47:38,500 --> 01:47:39,933
the lofty timelines and

2655
01:47:39,933 --> 01:47:43,533
continue to service other town projects?

2656
01:47:43,633 --> 01:47:45,933
As a town council member, ask yourself,

2657
01:47:45,933 --> 01:47:48,100
would you approve this rezoning

2658
01:47:48,100 --> 01:47:51,633
without the affordable housing part? Thank you.

2659
01:47:51,633 --> 01:47:53,633
>> Thank you.

2660
01:47:57,833 --> 01:48:00,833
>> Aicy, uh, 1221 Village Way South.

2661
01:48:01,000 --> 01:48:03,800
Um, the Glade Springs application states

2662
01:48:03,800 --> 01:48:05,333
equity inclu- inclusion are

2663
01:48:05,333 --> 01:48:07,300
important values in the community.

2664
01:48:07,300 --> 01:48:08,567
This development will provide

2665
01:48:08,567 --> 01:48:10,567
opportunities for all income levels

2666
01:48:10,567 --> 01:48:11,900
within Blacksburg to obtain

2667
01:48:11,900 --> 01:48:14,567
home ownership within the same development.

2668
01:48:14,567 --> 01:48:17,733
Furthermore, the project plans to intermingle

2669
01:48:17,733 --> 01:48:19,200
income qualifying homes with

2670
01:48:19,200 --> 01:48:21,933
market rate homes with seamless architecture,

2671
01:48:21,933 --> 01:48:24,467
eliminating visual barriers to equity.

2672
01:48:24,467 --> 01:48:26,900
Social interactions and community engagement

2673
01:48:26,900 --> 01:48:28,600
of diverse incomes and backgrounds will be

2674
01:48:28,600 --> 01:48:30,933
encouraged in development open spaces

2675
01:48:30,933 --> 01:48:32,167
centered between the south and

2676
01:48:32,167 --> 01:48:33,967
north areas of the property,

2677
01:48:33,967 --> 01:48:35,167
the development will increase

2678
01:48:35,167 --> 01:48:36,933
the affordability of living in town.

2679
01:48:36,933 --> 01:48:38,100
Once again, eliminating

2680
01:48:38,100 --> 01:48:40,633
community wide barriers to equity.

2681
01:48:40,633 --> 01:48:42,833
My questions are the following.

2682
01:48:42,833 --> 01:48:45,267
If the north and south sections are so different,

2683
01:48:45,267 --> 01:48:48,833
how does that qualify as intermingling?

2684
01:48:48,833 --> 01:48:50,400
How are social interactions and

2685
01:48:50,400 --> 01:48:53,330
community engagement of diverse incomes encouraged

2686
01:48:53,330 --> 01:48:55,000
when the bulk of the open spaces are filled

2687
01:48:55,000 --> 01:48:57,400
with multiple stormwater structures,

2688
01:48:57,533 --> 01:49:01,100
a pump station, and access road?

2689
01:49:01,100 --> 01:49:03,833
There are two small recreational areas shown.

2690
01:49:03,833 --> 01:49:05,600
They appear to be in the floodplain.

2691
01:49:05,600 --> 01:49:06,800
They are also both on

2692
01:49:06,800 --> 01:49:09,167
the larger house side of the development.

2693
01:49:09,167 --> 01:49:11,333
How is this equitable?

2694
01:49:11,333 --> 01:49:13,000
Besides the 10 affordable homes

2695
01:49:13,000 --> 01:49:15,330
meeting the true definition

2696
01:49:15,330 --> 01:49:16,600
and the 14 additional units

2697
01:49:16,600 --> 01:49:19,330
taken in by the community housing partners,

2698
01:49:19,330 --> 01:49:23,900
the remaining 152 units will all be sold at market value.

2699
01:49:23,900 --> 01:49:26,200
Based on similar sized homes in Blacksburg,

2700
01:49:26,200 --> 01:49:29,533
the smaller units will sell for over $300,000.

2701
01:49:29,533 --> 01:49:31,933
For comparison, 608 Rose Drive

2702
01:49:32,433 --> 01:49:33,967
and 1820 square foot

2703
01:49:33,967 --> 01:49:35,833
home with three bedrooms and two baths,

2704
01:49:35,833 --> 01:49:40,330
built in 1960 and for sale currently for 355,000.

2705
01:49:41,867 --> 01:49:44,867
How is- how is, sorry,

2706
01:49:45,867 --> 01:49:48,700
how is a $300,000 town home with no yard,

2707
01:49:48,700 --> 01:49:50,433
no guest parking, and few amenities,

2708
01:49:50,433 --> 01:49:52,833
going to fill a void in the housing market?

2709
01:49:52,833 --> 01:49:54,300
Yes, it will be the only option,

2710
01:49:54,300 --> 01:49:58,267
but by definition a substandard one at best.

2711
01:49:58,267 --> 01:50:00,200
Many of the less expensive housing

2712
01:50:00,200 --> 01:50:01,733
in Blacksburg is snatched up by

2713
01:50:01,733 --> 01:50:04,533
outer town buyers to be used as second homes or

2714
01:50:04,533 --> 01:50:05,900
homes for their children

2715
01:50:05,900 --> 01:50:07,767
while they are students in Blacksburg.

2716
01:50:07,767 --> 01:50:09,233
There is nothing in the proffers

2717
01:50:09,233 --> 01:50:10,933
that can stop this from happening.

2718
01:50:10,933 --> 01:50:13,800
This will become a student housing development.

2719
01:50:13,800 --> 01:50:15,267
Nothing in the proffers prevents

2720
01:50:15,267 --> 01:50:17,767
the rental of a bedroom to a roommate.

2721
01:50:17,767 --> 01:50:20,733
Nothing prevents the HOA from changing the rules.

2722
01:50:20,733 --> 01:50:23,167
The words in the application do not match reality.

2723
01:50:23,167 --> 01:50:26,167
Please vote no. Thank you.

2724
01:50:29,433 --> 01:50:31,433
>> Anybody else?

2725
01:50:35,767 --> 01:50:38,167
>> Good evening. My name is Mike Clapp Roth,

2726
01:50:38,167 --> 01:50:41,267
and I live at 1210 Village Way South.

2727
01:50:41,267 --> 01:50:43,333
Uh, my comments will be a little bit different,

2728
01:50:43,333 --> 01:50:45,367
uh, based on basically,

2729
01:50:45,367 --> 01:50:46,733
uh my- our experience living in

2730
01:50:46,733 --> 01:50:48,800
a neighborhood that may be similar to what,

2731
01:50:48,800 --> 01:50:52,330
uh, this development may look like when it's completed.

2732
01:50:52,330 --> 01:50:54,867
Uh, before we moved into the village of Tom's Creek,

2733
01:50:54,867 --> 01:50:57,833
uh, we lived, you know, basically,

2734
01:50:57,833 --> 01:50:59,267
almost a brand new, uh,

2735
01:50:59,267 --> 01:51:01,167
a townhouse development in Christiansburg,

2736
01:51:01,167 --> 01:51:03,200
um, that shares some of

2737
01:51:03,200 --> 01:51:06,433
the same features as- as the proposed development.

2738
01:51:06,433 --> 01:51:09,333
Including small lots, town homes with,

2739
01:51:09,333 --> 01:51:11,333
uh, interior units,

2740
01:51:11,667 --> 01:51:13,667
uh, limited, uh,

2741
01:51:14,100 --> 01:51:19,133
on street parking, and also parking on a steep slope.

2742
01:51:19,133 --> 01:51:22,330
I'd like to highlight how-

2743
01:51:22,330 --> 01:51:23,467
how some of those issues- how we dealt with

2744
01:51:23,467 --> 01:51:25,670
some of those issues when we lived there,

2745
01:51:25,670 --> 01:51:29,667
uh, and some of the impact they had on the community.

2746
01:51:29,667 --> 01:51:32,433
No surprise. One key issue is parking.

2747
01:51:32,433 --> 01:51:34,833
Particularly on street parking,

2748
01:51:35,330 --> 01:51:39,133
many of the units had two allowed parking spots,

2749
01:51:39,133 --> 01:51:40,500
uh, similar to what's being

2750
01:51:40,500 --> 01:51:42,533
proposed for the development.

2751
01:51:42,533 --> 01:51:44,567
However, more often than not,

2752
01:51:44,567 --> 01:51:45,967
our residents preferred to park

2753
01:51:45,967 --> 01:51:48,900
one car in the Rowan vehicle in the street.

2754
01:51:48,900 --> 01:51:52,900
Uh, so they could avoid the, uh, uh,

2755
01:51:52,900 --> 01:51:54,767
having to shuffle vehicles in and

2756
01:51:54,767 --> 01:51:57,300
out of a long linear driveway,

2757
01:51:57,300 --> 01:51:58,800
uh, when one of them needed to leave.

2758
01:51:58,800 --> 01:52:03,800
Uh, or they would prefer to park their larger vehicles,

2759
01:52:03,800 --> 01:52:08,500
trucks, SUVs, on the street instead of in the driveway.

2760
01:52:08,500 --> 01:52:09,700
And even though there was more on

2761
01:52:09,700 --> 01:52:11,300
street parking in that development than

2762
01:52:11,300 --> 01:52:14,633
there is being proposed for- for Clade, um,

2763
01:52:14,633 --> 01:52:16,967
parking was still an issue,

2764
01:52:16,967 --> 01:52:19,833
especially on nights and weekends or when,

2765
01:52:19,833 --> 01:52:22,633
uh, the residents had gas.

2766
01:52:22,633 --> 01:52:24,600
As a result, it was a challenge sometimes for

2767
01:52:24,600 --> 01:52:27,670
us just even back out of our driveway,

2768
01:52:27,670 --> 01:52:28,700
because we had large vehicles

2769
01:52:28,700 --> 01:52:30,867
parked on the street on either side of the driveway,

2770
01:52:30,867 --> 01:52:34,433
and it was, you know, a very difficult.

2771
01:52:34,433 --> 01:52:36,233
We had limited vision,

2772
01:52:36,233 --> 01:52:38,633
um, of backing out.

2773
01:52:38,733 --> 01:52:40,670
Add to that all the trucks,

2774
01:52:40,670 --> 01:52:41,667
delivery trucks, and so on and on,

2775
01:52:41,667 --> 01:52:42,767
on the street, and

2776
01:52:42,767 --> 01:52:45,733
occasionally could get quite congested.

2777
01:52:45,733 --> 01:52:47,233
As a result, guests sometimes had

2778
01:52:47,233 --> 01:52:50,433
difficulty finding a parking area nearby.

2779
01:52:50,433 --> 01:52:53,833
And, uh, some residents became, shall I say,

2780
01:52:53,833 --> 01:52:56,233
rather protective of the, uh,

2781
01:52:56,233 --> 01:52:58,567
street parking that was near their unit,

2782
01:52:58,567 --> 01:53:02,333
even though they didn't own that- the land.

2783
01:53:02,333 --> 01:53:03,733
Also, some of the parking

2784
01:53:03,733 --> 01:53:06,167
was on fairly steep slopes, uh,

2785
01:53:06,167 --> 01:53:08,100
as will be the case, uh,

2786
01:53:08,100 --> 01:53:10,767
in Glade Springs, particularly, um,

2787
01:53:10,767 --> 01:53:13,767
the accessory, if you will,

2788
01:53:13,833 --> 01:53:15,233
on street parking,

2789
01:53:15,233 --> 01:53:20,330
uh, because of the slope of the parking,

2790
01:53:20,533 --> 01:53:22,300
particularly parallel parking on

2791
01:53:22,300 --> 01:53:23,633
that section of road was very

2792
01:53:23,633 --> 01:53:25,800
difficult, particularly in bad weather.

2793
01:53:25,800 --> 01:53:27,133
And also, it made it difficult for

2794
01:53:27,133 --> 01:53:29,233
young parents to unload their kids and

2795
01:53:29,233 --> 01:53:31,133
strollers or for seniors to unload

2796
01:53:31,133 --> 01:53:36,200
groceries and- and take them up at their house.

2797
01:53:36,200 --> 01:53:39,267
Actually, another issue maybe a little more surprising,

2798
01:53:39,267 --> 01:53:42,200
was trash and recycling bins.

2799
01:53:42,200 --> 01:53:44,333
Uh, the HOA required the bins to be out of

2800
01:53:44,333 --> 01:53:47,100
sight except on pick up days.

2801
01:53:47,100 --> 01:53:49,600
And so then- often involved in bringing them out

2802
01:53:49,600 --> 01:53:52,933
from behind the units and putting them out on the street.

2803
01:53:52,933 --> 01:53:55,833
But when street parking was limited,

2804
01:53:55,833 --> 01:53:57,670
that often meant that- that

2805
01:53:57,670 --> 01:53:59,933
the bins had to go up at the end of the driveway,

2806
01:53:59,933 --> 01:54:02,833
which meant anyone entering or leaving that driveway had

2807
01:54:02,833 --> 01:54:07,767
to move those bins in order to get out.

2808
01:54:07,767 --> 01:54:09,967
[ Overlapping speakers ] So I see my time is up.

2809
01:54:09,967 --> 01:54:11,767
I appreciate your consideration.

2810
01:54:11,767 --> 01:54:14,267
>> All right. Thank you- thank you.

2811
01:54:14,267 --> 01:54:16,333
What is that neighborhood? I'm curious.

2812
01:54:16,333 --> 01:54:18,433
>> I'm sorry. >> What is that neighborhood in Christiansburg?

2813
01:54:18,433 --> 01:54:20,433
>> It's Clifton.

2814
01:54:21,333 --> 01:54:23,333
>> Thank you.

2815
01:54:28,467 --> 01:54:30,200
>> Hello. I'm Alan Raffle.

2816
01:54:30,200 --> 01:54:33,267
I live at 1751 Ginger Lane, Blacksburg.

2817
01:54:33,267 --> 01:54:35,300
For 23 years, I have been

2818
01:54:35,300 --> 01:54:37,867
a member of an HOA much of that time,

2819
01:54:37,867 --> 01:54:39,767
much of my effort has been spent in trying

2820
01:54:39,767 --> 01:54:42,433
to restore our disturbed lands

2821
01:54:42,433 --> 01:54:44,633
to some kind of natural succession

2822
01:54:44,633 --> 01:54:45,900
with the environmental services

2823
01:54:45,900 --> 01:54:47,467
that we'd like to see from that.

2824
01:54:47,467 --> 01:54:48,533
So from that experience,

2825
01:54:48,533 --> 01:54:50,000
I can say that asking

2826
01:54:50,000 --> 01:54:52,400
HOA volunteers to manage

2827
01:54:52,733 --> 01:54:54,733
that kind of process over time would be,

2828
01:54:54,733 --> 01:54:56,600
to put it mildly, a big lift.

2829
01:54:56,600 --> 01:54:58,600
Thank you.

2830
01:54:58,733 --> 01:55:00,733
>> Thank you.

2831
01:55:14,700 --> 01:55:17,700
>> Jim Whitener, 1513 Poplar Ridge Circle.

2832
01:55:18,600 --> 01:55:20,700
In deference to the Mayor,

2833
01:55:20,700 --> 01:55:23,467
I've exercised quite a bit of my statement tonight.

2834
01:55:23,467 --> 01:55:25,167
If my email was abusive,

2835
01:55:25,167 --> 01:55:29,200
this would have been down right, incendiary.

2836
01:55:29,200 --> 01:55:34,000
We all know you're going to pass this.

2837
01:55:34,567 --> 01:55:36,133
You're quadrupling the density,

2838
01:55:36,133 --> 01:55:39,133
subsidizing the proposal with $2.8 million.

2839
01:55:40,000 --> 01:55:42,200
Disregarding federal and state guidelines

2840
01:55:42,200 --> 01:55:44,200
on affordable housing.

2841
01:55:44,200 --> 01:55:47,133
Expediting the prices to the benefit of no one but

2842
01:55:47,133 --> 01:55:50,133
the applicant, ignoring environmental concerns.

2843
01:55:51,600 --> 01:55:54,600
The list is too long

2844
01:55:55,400 --> 01:55:57,133
and the way that you've handled

2845
01:55:57,133 --> 01:56:00,670
development in the last few years,

2846
01:56:00,670 --> 01:56:01,167
it's, kind of, like, you've handled

2847
01:56:01,167 --> 01:56:04,167
the Center Street debarcle, poorly.

2848
01:56:05,300 --> 01:56:07,300
But I digress.

2849
01:56:07,800 --> 01:56:09,900
After 28 years of conducting

2850
01:56:09,900 --> 01:56:12,300
criminal and counter intelligence operations,

2851
01:56:12,300 --> 01:56:13,667
one of the first things I learned

2852
01:56:13,667 --> 01:56:16,667
was after a big project,

2853
01:56:17,500 --> 01:56:19,500
do an after action.

2854
01:56:19,500 --> 01:56:21,500
Lessons learned.

2855
01:56:22,667 --> 01:56:25,670
So in as much as you're going to pass this anyway,

2856
01:56:25,670 --> 01:56:28,670
let's just go to that.

2857
01:56:28,800 --> 01:56:30,933
And following in the footsteps of the legacy,

2858
01:56:30,933 --> 01:56:34,133
the Midtown project, the Farm of Blacksburg,

2859
01:56:34,133 --> 01:56:36,000
and the huge density increases for

2860
01:56:36,000 --> 01:56:38,233
all the numerous student housing projects

2861
01:56:38,233 --> 01:56:39,933
in the last few years,

2862
01:56:39,933 --> 01:56:43,333
there are lessons to be learned.

2863
01:56:43,333 --> 01:56:45,433
First of all, you

2864
01:56:45,433 --> 01:56:49,167
really need to get the Planning Commission in line.

2865
01:56:49,167 --> 01:56:51,600
They asked way too many questions.

2866
01:56:51,600 --> 01:56:54,000
They listened too well.

2867
01:56:54,167 --> 01:56:56,967
They asked questions of the applicant.

2868
01:56:56,967 --> 01:56:59,367
They granted variances, but

2869
01:56:59,700 --> 01:57:05,100
then they had the unmitigated gall to recommend denial.

2870
01:57:05,167 --> 01:57:07,433
But then it went on to

2871
01:57:07,433 --> 01:57:12,233
the power uh- to the uh Town council.

2872
01:57:13,133 --> 01:57:14,900
They need to be reindoctrinated

2873
01:57:14,900 --> 01:57:16,900
, the Planning Commission.

2874
01:57:17,600 --> 01:57:20,400
And some members of staff really

2875
01:57:20,400 --> 01:57:23,400
need some remedial math skills.

2876
01:57:26,670 --> 01:57:28,767
One of my questions was,

2877
01:57:28,767 --> 01:57:30,967
why aren't you- why aren't you including

2878
01:57:30,967 --> 01:57:33,367
utilities in the calculations?

2879
01:57:36,867 --> 01:57:39,767
I was told it was too difficult.

2880
01:57:39,767 --> 01:57:43,300
I Googled average monthly electrical bill

2881
01:57:43,300 --> 01:57:44,833
in Blacksburg and the first thing

2882
01:57:44,833 --> 01:57:49,633
that came up was $169 a month of math.

2883
01:57:51,900 --> 01:57:54,300
You are adding 15,000-29,000

2884
01:57:55,000 --> 01:57:58,933
for affordable homes by not including it.

2885
01:57:58,933 --> 01:58:01,133
You want to make these affordable homes,

2886
01:58:01,133 --> 01:58:06,533
you just don't want to make them too affordable.

2887
01:58:06,733 --> 01:58:10,670
And now you're turning around and essentially giving them

2888
01:58:10,670 --> 01:58:12,670
a hidden 400,000-$700,000,

2889
01:58:13,967 --> 01:58:17,867
additional subsidy by not including the utilities.

2890
01:58:17,867 --> 01:58:19,833
All the federal and state guidelines,

2891
01:58:19,833 --> 01:58:23,333
and I've sent every one of you the links to

2892
01:58:23,333 --> 01:58:28,133
where they are include utilities but you don't.

2893
01:58:28,867 --> 01:58:32,467
And it started with the RFP,

2894
01:58:33,700 --> 01:58:35,533
so this was the town's idea.

2895
01:58:35,533 --> 01:58:36,400
>> Thank you.

2896
01:58:36,400 --> 01:58:38,400
>> Thank you.

2897
01:58:41,767 --> 01:58:43,767
>> Anybody else?

2898
01:58:46,300 --> 01:58:48,300
>> Good evening.

2899
01:58:48,767 --> 01:58:51,767
I'm Amy Burton, 1005 Glade Road.

2900
01:58:53,467 --> 01:58:55,133
I'm going to try not to repeat

2901
01:58:55,133 --> 01:58:56,867
what most folks have said this evening,

2902
01:58:56,867 --> 01:59:00,467
um, to have the V, okay.

2903
01:59:00,967 --> 01:59:04,667
And the reason that this site is good for

2904
01:59:04,667 --> 01:59:07,670
the industrial facility that the town

2905
01:59:07,670 --> 01:59:10,000
needs to process Stormwater is because of the slope,

2906
01:59:10,000 --> 01:59:13,000
and literally the stormwater facility

2907
01:59:13,533 --> 01:59:16,200
doesn't belong with family housing.

2908
01:59:16,200 --> 01:59:18,600
And so putting the two slopes together,

2909
01:59:18,600 --> 01:59:22,000
that drops down into the pond to- basically

2910
01:59:22,000 --> 01:59:26,000
it's oil and water or electricity and gas with sparks.

2911
01:59:26,000 --> 01:59:29,167
It looks good, but literally it's

2912
01:59:29,167 --> 01:59:32,733
down to a pit that is there to process stormwater.

2913
01:59:32,733 --> 01:59:36,333
They don't go together in anyone's

2914
01:59:36,467 --> 01:59:38,500
look other than making it work for

2915
01:59:38,500 --> 01:59:41,900
the sake of it fits and checks the boxes.

2916
01:59:41,900 --> 01:59:43,933
It's very much a case of the haves and have

2917
01:59:43,933 --> 01:59:47,670
nots with South side, North side.

2918
01:59:47,670 --> 01:59:50,533
The zoning amendment to make it PRD,

2919
01:59:50,533 --> 01:59:51,933
which is comparable to

2920
01:59:51,933 --> 01:59:57,933
the RR4 density is using road design standards from R1.

2921
01:59:58,467 --> 02:00:00,533
I don't know how that's legal, but apparently it is.

2922
02:00:00,533 --> 02:00:04,133
So the standards of road development is set

2923
02:00:04,133 --> 02:00:07,733
for less density. It's just not.

2924
02:00:08,867 --> 02:00:12,133
It's not comparable with something that can be done.

2925
02:00:12,133 --> 02:00:14,200
So that I don't understand

2926
02:00:14,200 --> 02:00:17,267
the length of streets to family parking.

2927
02:00:17,267 --> 02:00:20,333
That's where they're supposed to have on street parking.

2928
02:00:20,333 --> 02:00:22,733
The construction disparity where

2929
02:00:23,733 --> 02:00:25,000
it's mentioned over and

2930
02:00:25,000 --> 02:00:27,867
over won't go through Village Way South.

2931
02:00:27,867 --> 02:00:30,967
All the kids live on Glade Road, up in that area.

2932
02:00:30,967 --> 02:00:33,467
Six years of construction trucks,

2933
02:00:33,467 --> 02:00:36,867
they're going to move over eight feet to where?

2934
02:00:36,867 --> 02:00:39,267
Barreling down the hill.

2935
02:00:40,133 --> 02:00:42,333
It's just- if you look at the actuality

2936
02:00:42,333 --> 02:00:44,900
and there's no- it's- yeah.

2937
02:00:44,900 --> 02:00:49,133
So it's not fair to the people who are on

2938
02:00:49,133 --> 02:00:52,670
fixed income to put them in a scenario which is

2939
02:00:52,670 --> 02:00:55,600
basically a Stormwater processing facility to go down.

2940
02:00:55,600 --> 02:00:59,600
And finally, with the little stories of I live here,

2941
02:00:59,600 --> 02:01:01,367
I'm actually a divorce teacher,

2942
02:01:01,367 --> 02:01:03,300
2.5 years ago, not three.

2943
02:01:03,300 --> 02:01:07,533
Part of my agreement was to get my house on Glade Road.

2944
02:01:07,533 --> 02:01:09,433
And I said, all right, I'm going to go back then to

2945
02:01:09,433 --> 02:01:11,833
Blacksburg, it's Tree Street.

2946
02:01:12,567 --> 02:01:13,800
I did graduate here in '93,

2947
02:01:13,800 --> 02:01:16,700
so just to literally move

2948
02:01:16,700 --> 02:01:18,267
in and then the

2949
02:01:18,267 --> 02:01:20,467
folks that are on fixed income, they're being helped.

2950
02:01:20,467 --> 02:01:23,267
I'm going to have to get a mortgage,

2951
02:01:23,267 --> 02:01:28,000
whatever loan to try to get my house not to be impacted.

2952
02:01:28,000 --> 02:01:30,330
It's just fairness and

2953
02:01:30,330 --> 02:01:33,167
equity is the best product for everyone.

2954
02:01:33,167 --> 02:01:34,800
Urban sprawl would be using

2955
02:01:34,800 --> 02:01:37,167
existing housing to help folks.

2956
02:01:37,167 --> 02:01:41,000
It doesn't have to be the V in the middle where

2957
02:01:41,000 --> 02:01:45,967
the kids can't play because the water is being processed.

2958
02:01:45,967 --> 02:01:47,967
But thank you.

2959
02:01:48,467 --> 02:01:50,467
>> Thank you.

2960
02:01:55,567 --> 02:01:57,900
>> Hello. It's nice to see you guys.

2961
02:01:57,900 --> 02:01:59,767
I'm sure y'all are

2962
02:01:59,767 --> 02:02:00,900
anxious for this night to

2963
02:02:00,900 --> 02:02:02,233
come to an end as much as we are.

2964
02:02:02,233 --> 02:02:04,533
So thank you for

2965
02:02:04,533 --> 02:02:06,633
your patience and listening and engaging.

2966
02:02:06,633 --> 02:02:08,800
It's very much appreciated.

2967
02:02:08,800 --> 02:02:11,367
If you would- my name is Tracy Sterling,

2968
02:02:11,367 --> 02:02:12,667
1211 Village Way South.

2969
02:02:12,667 --> 02:02:14,467
And if you guys would humor me for just a minute,

2970
02:02:14,467 --> 02:02:16,600
we're going to take a stroll down memory line.

2971
02:02:16,600 --> 02:02:18,600
Um, specifically, May 12,

2972
02:02:19,670 --> 02:02:21,670
2020 town council meeting

2973
02:02:21,533 --> 02:02:24,733
was considering the rezoning for the farm.

2974
02:02:24,733 --> 02:02:25,900
Several of you guys had

2975
02:02:25,900 --> 02:02:28,200
reservations and I would like to just remind you,

2976
02:02:28,200 --> 02:02:30,900
starting with Miss Anderson, um,

2977
02:02:30,900 --> 02:02:34,100
I quote, "The problem for me is location.

2978
02:02:34,100 --> 02:02:36,133
If the farm was developed and the land

2979
02:02:36,133 --> 02:02:38,533
next to it stayed zoned as is,

2980
02:02:38,533 --> 02:02:40,133
I might feel differently,

2981
02:02:40,133 --> 02:02:42,633
we should not review the farm in isolation,

2982
02:02:42,633 --> 02:02:46,000
but instead of look at the entire undeveloped area,

2983
02:02:46,000 --> 02:02:48,400
including the adjacent property."

2984
02:02:48,733 --> 02:02:51,330
Mr. Bush, and I quote,

2985
02:02:51,330 --> 02:02:54,467
"My fear is once we start the snowball rolling,

2986
02:02:54,467 --> 02:02:56,900
by allowing this kind of density on this side

2987
02:02:56,900 --> 02:02:59,433
of 460 it will be easier and

2988
02:02:59,433 --> 02:03:01,900
easier for us and future council to

2989
02:03:01,900 --> 02:03:05,100
permit more and more of that kind of development.

2990
02:03:05,100 --> 02:03:07,200
There are some pastoral qualities

2991
02:03:07,200 --> 02:03:11,330
about Tom's Creek Basin that should remain as is."

2992
02:03:11,330 --> 02:03:13,100
Mr. Ford, "I've never

2993
02:03:13,100 --> 02:03:16,670
believed that RR4 is appropriate there,

2994
02:03:16,670 --> 02:03:17,467
and the comp plan needs to be

2995
02:03:17,467 --> 02:03:21,433
updated and I was hoping that density would come down.

2996
02:03:21,433 --> 02:03:23,167
I agree with Michael, Susan,

2997
02:03:23,167 --> 02:03:25,833
and John about Tom's Creek Basin.

2998
02:03:25,833 --> 02:03:29,433
I don't feel that voting for this in any way lends

2999
02:03:29,433 --> 02:03:31,300
itself towards future projects of

3000
02:03:31,300 --> 02:03:34,330
higher density on that site.

3001
02:03:34,330 --> 02:03:36,667
I'm committed, as counsels of the past have been

3002
02:03:36,667 --> 02:03:38,267
committed to protecting

3003
02:03:38,267 --> 02:03:41,233
the housing stock in that part of town."

3004
02:03:41,233 --> 02:03:42,800
And I only bring this up because

3005
02:03:42,800 --> 02:03:44,433
I believe the farm is relevant,

3006
02:03:44,433 --> 02:03:46,433
and I believe that's why we're all here now,

3007
02:03:46,433 --> 02:03:49,533
is because of the density increase.

3008
02:03:49,533 --> 02:03:52,433
If we could go forward to April 6, 2021,

3009
02:03:52,433 --> 02:03:53,833
the Planning Commission meeting was

3010
02:03:53,833 --> 02:03:56,767
looking to amend the comp plan.

3011
02:03:56,767 --> 02:03:59,133
Town staff recommended denial and

3012
02:03:59,133 --> 02:04:01,330
the applicant rebuttal statement

3013
02:04:01,330 --> 02:04:03,333
said that they didn't want to feel

3014
02:04:03,333 --> 02:04:05,300
limited in only developing

3015
02:04:05,300 --> 02:04:08,100
this pa- this parcel by right because they would

3016
02:04:08,100 --> 02:04:10,100
be limited to $700,000

3017
02:04:11,330 --> 02:04:12,967
houses and they wanted

3018
02:04:12,967 --> 02:04:15,100
to be creative and have mixed income.

3019
02:04:15,100 --> 02:04:17,500
And that was approved.

3020
02:04:17,567 --> 02:04:20,567
April 13, 2021, Town Council. Same thing.

3021
02:04:21,500 --> 02:04:23,600
This parcel became infill

3022
02:04:23,600 --> 02:04:25,467
with the development of the farm,

3023
02:04:25,467 --> 02:04:28,267
and the applicant asked for a density increase to four.

3024
02:04:28,267 --> 02:04:31,633
And I quote, "We're asking for a density of four.

3025
02:04:31,633 --> 02:04:33,767
Not saying we will do four,

3026
02:04:33,767 --> 02:04:35,433
not saying we will do one,

3027
02:04:35,433 --> 02:04:37,300
but somewhere in that range."

3028
02:04:37,300 --> 02:04:39,567
Again, it was approved.

3029
02:04:39,567 --> 02:04:41,567
Then here we are considering

3030
02:04:41,567 --> 02:04:44,100
the rezoning for Glade Springs Crossing.

3031
02:04:44,100 --> 02:04:47,100
February 2023, Planning Commission recommended denial.

3032
02:04:49,000 --> 02:04:51,500
Then you lovely people have the opportunity

3033
02:04:51,500 --> 02:04:55,300
to make the decision based on the rezoning.

3034
02:04:55,300 --> 02:04:56,833
Where we are is that

3035
02:04:56,833 --> 02:05:01,330
this proposal does include mixed income housing,

3036
02:05:01,100 --> 02:05:04,200
which we all agree is needed and desired

3037
02:05:04,200 --> 02:05:07,933
in this- in our neighborhood and in our community.

3038
02:05:07,933 --> 02:05:10,767
And that's positive. The irony is,

3039
02:05:10,767 --> 02:05:13,167
It also includes the 44 $700,000,

3040
02:05:14,700 --> 02:05:18,233
bigger houses that they could have developed by right.

3041
02:05:18,233 --> 02:05:20,233
That's a win.

3042
02:05:20,400 --> 02:05:25,867
What it doesn't include is the density range of 1-4.

3043
02:05:25,867 --> 02:05:27,200
I'm bringing this up because

3044
02:05:27,200 --> 02:05:29,900
Glade Springs Crossing is driven by density,

3045
02:05:29,900 --> 02:05:33,300
intense density and I'm hoping that you guys will

3046
02:05:33,300 --> 02:05:35,567
consider at one time density

3047
02:05:35,567 --> 02:05:37,833
gave you guys reason to pause.

3048
02:05:37,833 --> 02:05:40,833
So please vote No to deny and thank you all.

3049
02:05:40,833 --> 02:05:42,833
>> Thank you.

3050
02:05:45,533 --> 02:05:47,933
>> Last but not least.

3051
02:05:49,330 --> 02:05:50,367
>> I don't know about that.

3052
02:05:50,367 --> 02:05:52,367
>> [inaudible]

3053
02:05:53,367 --> 02:05:55,300
>> The next way. Mayor, uh,

3054
02:05:55,300 --> 02:05:56,600
council members, uh,

3055
02:05:56,600 --> 02:05:58,333
my name's John Stemen.

3056
02:05:58,333 --> 02:06:01,933
I live at 2112 Reagan Road since 1998.

3057
02:06:02,000 --> 02:06:04,800
I'm one of the few that don't surround live here,

3058
02:06:04,800 --> 02:06:05,967
that have spoken, that don't

3059
02:06:05,967 --> 02:06:08,600
surround- surround the area directly.

3060
02:06:08,600 --> 02:06:11,100
I don't have that same feeling.

3061
02:06:11,100 --> 02:06:12,567
I would like to say since this is

3062
02:06:12,567 --> 02:06:14,933
an ordinance rezoning, um,

3063
02:06:14,933 --> 02:06:19,100
from rural residential to planned residential zoning,

3064
02:06:19,100 --> 02:06:21,367
it- it makes sense to me.

3065
02:06:21,367 --> 02:06:23,330
I- I had sent you all a letter and I really

3066
02:06:23,330 --> 02:06:26,330
appreciate y'all responding to me,

3067
02:06:26,100 --> 02:06:28,833
but, um, how else are you going to get

3068
02:06:28,833 --> 02:06:31,767
affordable housing than- than work on density?

3069
02:06:31,767 --> 02:06:35,100
To be quite honest with you and with the value of land,

3070
02:06:35,100 --> 02:06:39,600
and I think this land trust is a win-win situation

3071
02:06:39,600 --> 02:06:41,833
for the town and- and for the people

3072
02:06:41,833 --> 02:06:44,833
that will be moving into some of these houses.

3073
02:06:44,833 --> 02:06:46,867
And I know it- it rubs against the green,

3074
02:06:46,867 --> 02:06:49,167
I probably need to look behind me a little closer,

3075
02:06:49,167 --> 02:06:51,567
but, uh, I- I do- I do, uh,

3076
02:06:51,567 --> 02:06:53,100
appreciate the work that you all are

3077
02:06:53,100 --> 02:06:54,933
doing and the thought you're putting into

3078
02:06:54,933 --> 02:06:56,733
this and I wouldn't

3079
02:06:56,733 --> 02:06:58,467
want to be in your position right now,

3080
02:06:58,467 --> 02:07:00,433
but, uh, I really support this

3081
02:07:00,433 --> 02:07:04,300
myself for those reasons and thank you again.

3082
02:07:04,300 --> 02:07:05,833
>> I ho- I hope you, in particular,

3083
02:07:05,833 --> 02:07:08,670
will get one of those books because,

3084
02:07:08,670 --> 02:07:11,670
uh, Arlene is your neighbor.

3085
02:07:18,267 --> 02:07:21,867
>> Hello- hello. Here we are again.

3086
02:07:22,400 --> 02:07:25,400
Get the phone up here.

3087
02:07:28,267 --> 02:07:30,200
All set. Um,

3088
02:07:30,200 --> 02:07:32,433
Honorable Mayor and town council, I am Gais,

3089
02:07:32,433 --> 02:07:36,267
I live at 1221 Village Way South and so here we are,

3090
02:07:36,267 --> 02:07:38,167
at long last, after

3091
02:07:38,167 --> 02:07:40,667
a final evening of impassioned speeches,

3092
02:07:40,667 --> 02:07:42,333
it comes down to this.

3093
02:07:42,333 --> 02:07:45,670
We understand that you're tired of hearing the drone of

3094
02:07:45,670 --> 02:07:47,467
somewhat repetitious three-minute commentaries

3095
02:07:48,233 --> 02:07:49,633
and reading hundreds,

3096
02:07:49,633 --> 02:07:52,800
if not thousands of pages of citizens comments.

3097
02:07:52,800 --> 02:07:56,167
We appreciate the town staff, the planning commission,

3098
02:07:56,167 --> 02:07:58,670
and the town council's time and effort in

3099
02:07:58,670 --> 02:08:00,333
responding and consuming this material.

3100
02:08:00,333 --> 02:08:03,133
And if it makes anyone feel remotely better,

3101
02:08:03,133 --> 02:08:04,733
we're equally exhausted from

3102
02:08:04,733 --> 02:08:07,000
planning and writing these messages.

3103
02:08:07,000 --> 02:08:09,567
But before we collectively pat ourselves on the back,

3104
02:08:09,567 --> 02:08:11,633
please consider why we've made

3105
02:08:11,633 --> 02:08:14,900
this much effort around a simple rezoning, proposal.

3106
02:08:14,900 --> 02:08:16,867
Everyone here has jobs, families,

3107
02:08:16,867 --> 02:08:20,133
etc and while it may be surprising to some,

3108
02:08:20,133 --> 02:08:21,733
very few in the audience are

3109
02:08:21,733 --> 02:08:24,733
fundamentally interested in zoning processes.

3110
02:08:25,733 --> 02:08:28,400
It's because we're citizens of Blacksburg and we do

3111
02:08:28,400 --> 02:08:31,133
care about what happens in our town, our community,

3112
02:08:31,133 --> 02:08:32,367
and our neighborhoods and we're

3113
02:08:32,367 --> 02:08:34,567
trying to make a clear statement of what

3114
02:08:34,567 --> 02:08:35,967
can be done to enable

3115
02:08:35,967 --> 02:08:38,633
the positive development of this land.

3116
02:08:38,633 --> 02:08:39,733
As we said from the start,

3117
02:08:39,733 --> 02:08:41,633
we expect the land to be developed,

3118
02:08:41,633 --> 02:08:44,330
and Mr. Hopper clearly has

3119
02:08:44,330 --> 02:08:46,667
the ability to develop under existing by-right zoning.

3120
02:08:46,667 --> 02:08:48,567
We welcome affordable housing

3121
02:08:48,567 --> 02:08:50,933
in the town of Blacksburg and on this parcel,

3122
02:08:50,933 --> 02:08:53,800
we just don't believe this density fits on this site,

3123
02:08:53,800 --> 02:08:56,633
or there are far too many compromises required,

3124
02:08:56,633 --> 02:09:00,833
given the top- topography and existing watersheds.

3125
02:09:00,933 --> 02:09:02,367
The number of variances required,

3126
02:09:02,367 --> 02:09:05,733
the need to think differently about affordable zoning,

3127
02:09:05,733 --> 02:09:07,767
and the requirements of $2 million of

3128
02:09:07,767 --> 02:09:10,767
public funds for 10 affordable units.

3129
02:09:10,933 --> 02:09:13,633
This should clarify the obvious in

3130
02:09:13,633 --> 02:09:17,000
an eight unsuitability of this proposal.

3131
02:09:17,000 --> 02:09:18,400
If you permit this PRD,

3132
02:09:18,400 --> 02:09:20,800
there's no turning back.

3133
02:09:20,867 --> 02:09:22,333
There- there is no redo

3134
02:09:22,333 --> 02:09:24,400
based on some improved future plan.

3135
02:09:24,400 --> 02:09:26,933
The town will be stuck with the various issues,

3136
02:09:26,933 --> 02:09:28,433
so eloquently described by

3137
02:09:28,433 --> 02:09:31,433
my compatriots for several decades.

3138
02:09:32,800 --> 02:09:34,000
We aren't adversaries,

3139
02:09:34,000 --> 02:09:35,567
we're citizens and neighbors and

3140
02:09:35,567 --> 02:09:37,267
we want to see a development that's safe,

3141
02:09:37,267 --> 02:09:39,533
environmentally sensitive, and provides

3142
02:09:39,533 --> 02:09:42,100
needed low-cost housing above 10 units,

3143
02:09:42,100 --> 02:09:44,330
just like the developers.

3144
02:09:44,330 --> 02:09:46,100
We can reasonably disagree about what

3145
02:09:46,100 --> 02:09:48,300
is the best course of action for the parcel and

3146
02:09:48,300 --> 02:09:51,467
it seems like the town has a singular plan for

3147
02:09:51,467 --> 02:09:53,233
10 affordable housing units on

3148
02:09:53,233 --> 02:09:55,933
a clock with a $2million windfall,

3149
02:09:55,933 --> 02:09:58,767
and all other logic and reason about what could be

3150
02:09:58,767 --> 02:10:02,300
done is simply ignored and or overwritten.

3151
02:10:02,300 --> 02:10:04,670
Please- please don't waste

3152
02:10:04,670 --> 02:10:07,330
this opportunity on an ill-advised plan.

3153
02:10:07,330 --> 02:10:09,533
But now it's time to vote and make a decision.

3154
02:10:09,533 --> 02:10:12,267
We urge you to deny the application or at least return

3155
02:10:12,267 --> 02:10:13,600
it back to the planning commission

3156
02:10:13,600 --> 02:10:16,670
for further revision and review.

3157
02:10:16,670 --> 02:10:18,300
The transient lore of a limited number of

3158
02:10:18,300 --> 02:10:21,500
affordable units shouldn't modify the obvious concerns

3159
02:10:21,500 --> 02:10:23,233
about the proposal and make

3160
02:10:23,233 --> 02:10:24,667
a permanent mistake that will be

3161
02:10:24,667 --> 02:10:27,533
a blight on the community for decades.

3162
02:10:27,533 --> 02:10:30,967
I'll leave you with a quote from Alan Leopold,

3163
02:10:30,967 --> 02:10:33,300
"We abuse land because we regard it

3164
02:10:33,300 --> 02:10:36,233
as a commodity belonging to someone.

3165
02:10:36,233 --> 02:10:40,367
When we see land as a community to which we all belong,

3166
02:10:40,367 --> 02:10:43,367
we may begin to use it with love and respect."

3167
02:10:43,367 --> 02:10:45,633
Good luck with your deliberations

3168
02:10:45,633 --> 02:10:48,330
and thanks for your time and considerations.

3169
02:10:48,330 --> 02:10:50,330
>> Thank you.

3170
02:10:59,670 --> 02:11:02,367
>> Good evening. I'm Charles Shade and I

3171
02:11:02,367 --> 02:11:05,967
live at 401 Clairmont Drive in Blacksburg.

3172
02:11:06,733 --> 02:11:08,767
I am very sympathetic

3173
02:11:08,767 --> 02:11:11,330
with the neighbors of Glade Spring Crossing,

3174
02:11:11,330 --> 02:11:13,867
who are concerned about this project.

3175
02:11:13,867 --> 02:11:15,767
I'm facing similar changes in

3176
02:11:15,767 --> 02:11:19,330
my neighborhood with a large apartment complex

3177
02:11:19,330 --> 02:11:20,433
going up across the street.

3178
02:11:20,433 --> 02:11:23,200
I don't like it much and I hope that

3179
02:11:23,200 --> 02:11:26,800
mitigation of adverse consequences is successful.

3180
02:11:28,000 --> 02:11:30,500
Worried and vulnerable characterizes me

3181
02:11:30,500 --> 02:11:34,100
too but I also recognize that

3182
02:11:34,600 --> 02:11:38,200
building out within town borders is inevitable if we

3183
02:11:38,200 --> 02:11:43,000
want to maintain the town's growth without sprawl.

3184
02:11:43,000 --> 02:11:44,733
And that we really do need housing,

3185
02:11:44,733 --> 02:11:48,933
especially affordable housing, which this project offers.

3186
02:11:49,333 --> 02:11:51,267
If this project goes forward,

3187
02:11:51,267 --> 02:11:53,667
you who oppose it,

3188
02:11:53,733 --> 02:11:59,500
and I will be in the same boat hoping- hoping that

3189
02:11:59,500 --> 02:12:01,700
promised benefits town-wide exceed

3190
02:12:01,700 --> 02:12:07,267
the harm that we may perceive in front of our eyes.

3191
02:12:07,267 --> 02:12:10,200
I've reviewed the project's documentation and I am

3192
02:12:10,200 --> 02:12:13,100
persuaded there's ben- those benefits

3193
02:12:13,100 --> 02:12:15,500
do outweigh its downsides.

3194
02:12:15,567 --> 02:12:16,767
In written testimony,

3195
02:12:16,767 --> 02:12:18,800
I've expressed concerns about two issues,

3196
02:12:18,800 --> 02:12:21,533
which I only have time to mention here.

3197
02:12:21,533 --> 02:12:24,500
First is the natural landscaping.

3198
02:12:24,500 --> 02:12:25,633
The town must have

3199
02:12:25,633 --> 02:12:28,567
ironclad assurance, preferably an ordinance,

3200
02:12:28,567 --> 02:12:30,330
but the yet-to-be-created

3201
02:12:30,330 --> 02:12:31,833
homeowners association will meet

3202
02:12:31,833 --> 02:12:33,900
its obligations with a ready avenue

3203
02:12:33,900 --> 02:12:36,900
to compel compliance if needed.

3204
02:12:37,567 --> 02:12:39,233
Second, is the exception from

3205
02:12:39,233 --> 02:12:42,200
the 900-foot limit on cul-de-sacs.

3206
02:12:42,200 --> 02:12:45,670
That limit is in the code for a reason and I've not seen

3207
02:12:45,670 --> 02:12:48,667
a compelling argument for providing an exception.

3208
02:12:48,667 --> 02:12:51,100
For safety and connectedness Street Day

3209
02:12:51,100 --> 02:12:54,400
should have an outlet to the adjacent neighborhood.

3210
02:12:54,400 --> 02:12:55,800
I know that's going to get

3211
02:12:55,800 --> 02:12:59,900
me arrows and I'm sorry to have- have to offend you all,

3212
02:12:59,900 --> 02:13:02,967
but I really think that's the case.

3213
02:13:02,967 --> 02:13:05,367
Um, but I understand

3214
02:13:05,833 --> 02:13:09,300
the difficulty you're having as a council believe me,

3215
02:13:09,300 --> 02:13:13,600
I understand where you all are coming from.

3216
02:13:13,600 --> 02:13:16,400
I would feel the same way.

3217
02:13:16,400 --> 02:13:20,000
Thank you for hearing my testimony.

3218
02:13:20,100 --> 02:13:22,100
>> Thank you.

3219
02:13:26,167 --> 02:13:31,867
>> I think I'll get to be the last one, perhaps.

3220
02:13:31,867 --> 02:13:35,330
Um, much like John before me,

3221
02:13:35,330 --> 02:13:37,733
um, my friend, I do not live in the neighborhood.

3222
02:13:37,733 --> 02:13:39,967
I'm at 115 Kinloch Drive.

3223
02:13:39,967 --> 02:13:42,267
Um, one thing I do know is when we were talking

3224
02:13:42,267 --> 02:13:45,767
about as we heard issues of motivation, uh,

3225
02:13:45,767 --> 02:13:47,833
having been aware of the idea

3226
02:13:47,833 --> 02:13:50,900
and the genesis of the project,

3227
02:13:50,900 --> 02:13:54,000
I can assure you that the motivation is not bottom line,

3228
02:13:54,000 --> 02:13:56,100
the motivation has been,

3229
02:13:56,100 --> 02:13:59,200
continues to be something that makes the town

3230
02:13:59,200 --> 02:14:01,467
better- better for our- community

3231
02:14:01,467 --> 02:14:02,867
better for our residents.

3232
02:14:02,867 --> 02:14:05,767
I appreciate everything that everyone has said because

3233
02:14:05,767 --> 02:14:06,967
every neighborhood I've lived in

3234
02:14:06,967 --> 02:14:09,367
Blacksburg over three decades,

3235
02:14:09,500 --> 02:14:11,967
um, has ended up with the same issues.

3236
02:14:11,967 --> 02:14:13,700
We weren't supposed to have street parking,

3237
02:14:13,700 --> 02:14:15,233
people park on the street.

3238
02:14:15,233 --> 02:14:17,567
We weren't supposed to have people renting houses,

3239
02:14:17,567 --> 02:14:19,633
they rent houses, there are parties.

3240
02:14:19,633 --> 02:14:21,200
There are lots of things we have to deal with.

3241
02:14:21,200 --> 02:14:23,367
There is no perfect,

3242
02:14:23,367 --> 02:14:26,100
but somebody has to take a first step

3243
02:14:26,100 --> 02:14:27,667
and there have been other steps but

3244
02:14:27,667 --> 02:14:29,333
this is a good step and I

3245
02:14:29,333 --> 02:14:30,867
think that- that working

3246
02:14:30,867 --> 02:14:33,300
together and some amazing research

3247
02:14:33,300 --> 02:14:35,133
the- these folks have done

3248
02:14:35,133 --> 02:14:38,133
helps bring a lot of things to light,

3249
02:14:38,133 --> 02:14:39,600
but the developers are

3250
02:14:39,600 --> 02:14:41,833
willing as yffou are- as you have been,

3251
02:14:41,833 --> 02:14:43,933
to consider all that and come together

3252
02:14:43,933 --> 02:14:46,500
so we do something that makes the town better.

3253
02:14:46,500 --> 02:14:49,670
The people have been working for me for three decades.

3254
02:14:49,670 --> 02:14:50,533
I'm a business person here in town.

3255
02:14:50,533 --> 02:14:52,600
I want to live here.

3256
02:14:52,600 --> 02:14:53,900
I want to be able to live here,

3257
02:14:53,900 --> 02:14:57,733
we want the town to be inclusive, and,

3258
02:14:57,733 --> 02:15:01,233
uh, anything we can do to take a step forward,

3259
02:15:01,233 --> 02:15:03,767
uh, had- gets us in that direction.

3260
02:15:03,767 --> 02:15:05,733
And- and well, I said- as I said before,

3261
02:15:05,733 --> 02:15:08,433
there is no perfect, we'd like to wait on that.

3262
02:15:08,433 --> 02:15:10,600
I don't think we can wait long enough for that so I-

3263
02:15:10,600 --> 02:15:13,567
I believe in the developers,

3264
02:15:13,567 --> 02:15:17,330
I believe in the idea and the genesis of this,

3265
02:15:17,330 --> 02:15:18,567
and, uh,

3266
02:15:18,567 --> 02:15:21,267
for those reasons, I support the idea and thank

3267
02:15:21,267 --> 02:15:22,300
you for all of your work

3268
02:15:22,300 --> 02:15:24,833
and for all of your help. Thank you.

3269
02:15:24,833 --> 02:15:26,833
>> Thank you.

3270
02:15:32,400 --> 02:15:33,733
>> Hello. I'm Kimberly Homer.

3271
02:15:33,733 --> 02:15:37,700
I live at 222 Price Street and first, let me say, uh,

3272
02:15:37,700 --> 02:15:39,200
I tried to get my daughter Guene

3273
02:15:39,200 --> 02:15:40,967
to run for town council because I think

3274
02:15:40,967 --> 02:15:44,500
she would be a great council person and she said,

3275
02:15:44,500 --> 02:15:47,133
how long would my sentence be?

3276
02:15:47,133 --> 02:15:50,533
So I just want to say it must be dreadful and,

3277
02:15:50,533 --> 02:15:53,767
um, I do appreciate your service.

3278
02:15:53,767 --> 02:15:57,367
Um, this particular project seems like

3279
02:15:58,533 --> 02:16:00,633
the only good thing about it is that it might

3280
02:16:00,633 --> 02:16:03,633
provide upwards of 40 affordable housing.

3281
02:16:04,800 --> 02:16:07,400
It's already zoned rural residential.

3282
02:16:07,400 --> 02:16:10,333
You could put 40 manufactured homes in there,

3283
02:16:10,333 --> 02:16:11,900
not cut any of the trees down,

3284
02:16:11,900 --> 02:16:14,667
and there would be your affordable housing.

3285
02:16:14,667 --> 02:16:16,300
So I'm sorry, I'm not

3286
02:16:16,300 --> 02:16:17,967
really buying the argument that we have to

3287
02:16:17,967 --> 02:16:19,567
do this because that's the only way

3288
02:16:19,567 --> 02:16:21,900
to create affordable housing.

3289
02:16:21,900 --> 02:16:24,100
I live near the old high school,

3290
02:16:24,100 --> 02:16:27,533
we begged them to put some kind of affordable housing,

3291
02:16:27,533 --> 02:16:29,767
it's a much more appropriate location,

3292
02:16:29,767 --> 02:16:32,333
we are on a bus line, they're recreation fields.

3293
02:16:32,333 --> 02:16:34,200
It's a great neighborhood.

3294
02:16:34,200 --> 02:16:36,633
I would love to have more people living there,

3295
02:16:36,633 --> 02:16:37,867
I don't object to that.

3296
02:16:37,867 --> 02:16:39,670
These houses are going to be

3297
02:16:39,670 --> 02:16:40,433
over half a million dollars a

3298
02:16:40,433 --> 02:16:42,100
piece and they're going to be townhouses

3299
02:16:42,100 --> 02:16:44,867
and it's because it needs to be affordable

3300
02:16:44,867 --> 02:16:47,267
for the developer and

3301
02:16:47,733 --> 02:16:50,667
that's what affordable seems to mean and

3302
02:16:50,667 --> 02:16:52,267
that makes me sad because

3303
02:16:52,267 --> 02:16:53,667
I think this is a wonderful town,

3304
02:16:53,667 --> 02:16:56,367
and I can see why people want to live here.

3305
02:16:56,367 --> 02:16:58,400
Again, thank you for your service.

3306
02:16:58,400 --> 02:17:01,400
>> Thank you. Is there anyone

3307
02:17:03,900 --> 02:17:06,433
else who would like to speak during

3308
02:17:06,433 --> 02:17:10,330
the public portion of this ordinance?

3309
02:17:12,867 --> 02:17:18,267
Okay. We will move on to the applicant rebuttal.

3310
02:17:23,700 --> 02:17:25,867
>> I think Karen needs a break,

3311
02:17:25,867 --> 02:17:28,267
so you get me now.

3312
02:17:28,267 --> 02:17:29,800
Um, I want to thank you again for

3313
02:17:29,800 --> 02:17:32,000
giving us this opportunity,

3314
02:17:32,000 --> 02:17:36,800
um, to create a quality, not substandard neighborhood.

3315
02:17:38,670 --> 02:17:43,100
Um, the houses on both sides are going to be the same.

3316
02:17:43,100 --> 02:17:44,700
The exteriors are going to be the same,

3317
02:17:44,700 --> 02:17:46,767
all the materials are going to be the same,

3318
02:17:46,767 --> 02:17:49,000
the difference is going to be size.

3319
02:17:49,000 --> 02:17:51,333
Um, we thought that

3320
02:17:51,333 --> 02:17:53,500
the neighboring community would

3321
02:17:53,500 --> 02:17:56,300
like that to have like by like.

3322
02:17:56,300 --> 02:17:58,933
And we thought we were doing a good thing by trying to

3323
02:17:58,933 --> 02:18:02,533
accommodate the affordable part and the workforce part

3324
02:18:02,533 --> 02:18:05,233
and market rate houses and- and keep

3325
02:18:05,233 --> 02:18:09,433
a seamless community in the physical appearance,

3326
02:18:09,833 --> 02:18:12,200
but the size certainly will be difference will- will

3327
02:18:12,200 --> 02:18:15,133
be- allow us for the affordable part.

3328
02:18:15,133 --> 02:18:16,400
Um, I really,

3329
02:18:16,400 --> 02:18:17,933
really want to thank staff.

3330
02:18:17,933 --> 02:18:19,400
All you guys have been super

3331
02:18:19,400 --> 02:18:22,133
amazing for your guidance and expertise.

3332
02:18:22,133 --> 02:18:23,567
It's been invaluable and it's

3333
02:18:23,567 --> 02:18:25,733
a better project because of everything that they've done.

3334
02:18:25,733 --> 02:18:27,333
So, thank them.

3335
02:18:27,333 --> 02:18:30,367
So you've got great people working at staff.

3336
02:18:30,367 --> 02:18:32,330
Um, just keep- I

3337
02:18:32,330 --> 02:18:34,433
can't comment on all the things

3338
02:18:34,433 --> 02:18:35,833
that everybody has commented on here.

3339
02:18:35,833 --> 02:18:37,167
That would be impossible.

3340
02:18:37,167 --> 02:18:38,367
But I just want to ask you to

3341
02:18:38,367 --> 02:18:40,933
keep the big picture in mind.

3342
02:18:40,933 --> 02:18:45,767
Um, we can't answer all the questions before reasoning.

3343
02:18:45,767 --> 02:18:48,433
We've worked for two years on this, um,

3344
02:18:48,433 --> 02:18:50,633
I know that- I hope you know that

3345
02:18:50,633 --> 02:18:53,533
we have this very deep commitment to

3346
02:18:53,533 --> 02:18:55,933
provide workforce housing and

3347
02:18:56,733 --> 02:19:00,600
allow our workforce to live in our town.

3348
02:19:00,600 --> 02:19:05,400
Um, density is needed because we can't, um,

3349
02:19:06,400 --> 02:19:08,700
we can put 42 houses and

3350
02:19:08,700 --> 02:19:10,833
all the infrastructure and all of that

3351
02:19:10,833 --> 02:19:13,700
on- on this size land and keep the houses affordable.

3352
02:19:13,700 --> 02:19:15,300
It's not possible.

3353
02:19:15,300 --> 02:19:18,433
So the density allows the affordability.

3354
02:19:18,433 --> 02:19:20,833
The developer is donating

3355
02:19:21,300 --> 02:19:24,967
all of the lots for the 42 affordable houses,

3356
02:19:24,967 --> 02:19:27,667
um, the 109 other market, um,

3357
02:19:27,667 --> 02:19:31,533
mixed-income houses would be sold below market value.

3358
02:19:31,533 --> 02:19:35,300
There is lots and lots going back into the development.

3359
02:19:35,300 --> 02:19:37,700
It isn't about profit,

3360
02:19:38,200 --> 02:19:40,800
some people want to understand that, but it's not.

3361
02:19:40,800 --> 02:19:42,330
It is very much about

3362
02:19:42,330 --> 02:19:44,000
trying to do something for Blacksburg,

3363
02:19:44,000 --> 02:19:45,300
that the town wants,

3364
02:19:45,300 --> 02:19:47,633
that you guys want, that we really want.

3365
02:19:47,633 --> 02:19:49,100
I think it'll be a benefit,

3366
02:19:49,100 --> 02:19:50,467
the Grey Spring community will be

3367
02:19:50,467 --> 02:19:53,000
a benefit to Blacksburg for many decades.

3368
02:19:53,000 --> 02:19:56,400
Um, if we get it passed it'll be a legacy

3369
02:19:56,400 --> 02:19:57,667
that all of us can be really proud

3370
02:19:57,667 --> 02:20:00,670
of tonight. So thank you.

3371
02:20:00,670 --> 02:20:02,467
>> Thank you. That is

3372
02:20:05,133 --> 02:20:09,233
the entirety of the- Okay. Thank you.

3373
02:20:09,233 --> 02:20:14,330
Okay. Um, so now we've come to action.

3374
02:20:16,670 --> 02:20:18,330
And if we get a motion,

3375
02:20:18,330 --> 02:20:21,330
then we can entertain discussion.

3376
02:20:21,433 --> 02:20:23,333
When does- does Michael ever come back?

3377
02:20:23,333 --> 02:20:25,733
>> No, Mike's at home.

3378
02:20:27,867 --> 02:20:28,433
>> Taken off.

3379
02:20:28,433 --> 02:20:29,500
>> Like that.

3380
02:20:29,500 --> 02:20:30,500
>> Okay.

3381
02:20:30,500 --> 02:20:31,767
>> I'll be home having pizza by now.

3382
02:20:31,767 --> 02:20:36,600
>> Yeah. Okay. I guess I need a- a motion.

3383
02:20:36,600 --> 02:20:40,300
What is Counsel's pleasure to do with Ordinance 2007?

3384
02:20:40,300 --> 02:20:43,300
>> I move approval of Ordinance 2007.

3385
02:20:43,333 --> 02:20:44,433
>> Second.

3386
02:20:44,433 --> 02:20:47,833
>> We have a motion and a second, and,

3387
02:20:47,833 --> 02:20:52,330
um, now we can have a discussion.

3388
02:20:52,330 --> 02:20:53,433
So who would like

3389
02:20:53,433 --> 02:20:58,233
to- who would like to debut their comments.

3390
02:20:58,433 --> 02:21:01,533
>> Do we have to line up at the back of the room?

3391
02:21:01,533 --> 02:21:03,733
>> I'll let you just stay seated.

3392
02:21:03,733 --> 02:21:06,333
>> Thank you. I'll go first.

3393
02:21:06,333 --> 02:21:11,633
I guess since I'm not seeing anybody else jumping in.

3394
02:21:11,633 --> 02:21:14,000
Uh, if you'll indulge me for just a minute.

3395
02:21:14,000 --> 02:21:17,700
I've lived in this town now for 39 years,

3396
02:21:17,700 --> 02:21:20,933
and two years prior to 1984 when I moved here,

3397
02:21:20,933 --> 02:21:24,100
I moved my mother here in 1982.

3398
02:21:24,100 --> 02:21:25,900
So I've had a relationship with the town for

3399
02:21:25,900 --> 02:21:27,900
over 40 years, um,

3400
02:21:28,233 --> 02:21:30,167
and a good friend of the family moved here in

3401
02:21:30,167 --> 02:21:31,367
the mid-'70s to become

3402
02:21:31,367 --> 02:21:34,233
the Dean of the Liberal Arts and Sciences,

3403
02:21:34,233 --> 02:21:37,167
who my mom ended up marrying in the mid of '80s.

3404
02:21:37,167 --> 02:21:39,567
Um, development is difficult.

3405
02:21:41,467 --> 02:21:43,267
It's difficult for everybody.

3406
02:21:43,267 --> 02:21:46,267
We like things to remain the same.

3407
02:21:46,267 --> 02:21:48,867
This is complex, and it's complex for

3408
02:21:48,867 --> 02:21:51,867
people to- to think about,

3409
02:21:52,500 --> 02:21:54,500
including myself, um,

3410
02:21:54,800 --> 02:21:59,000
and to talk about as a community.

3411
02:21:59,733 --> 02:22:01,533
There are a couple of things I want to respond to.

3412
02:22:01,533 --> 02:22:04,833
In all the email con- conversation that has been sent,

3413
02:22:04,833 --> 02:22:06,700
I didn't reply to every single one,

3414
02:22:06,700 --> 02:22:10,300
but I read every single one and I applied to quite a few.

3415
02:22:10,300 --> 02:22:11,933
Um, some people think that

3416
02:22:11,933 --> 02:22:15,233
the town has a specific agenda,

3417
02:22:15,233 --> 02:22:18,133
that we're in cahoots with Virginia Tech,

3418
02:22:18,133 --> 02:22:20,833
or that we do certain things,

3419
02:22:20,833 --> 02:22:24,433
you know, not open and transparent.

3420
02:22:24,767 --> 02:22:28,233
Um, and I- I think I know why some people think that,

3421
02:22:28,233 --> 02:22:31,700
but I can assure you that that is not what happens.

3422
02:22:31,700 --> 02:22:34,000
Let's just take Virginia Tech for one second.

3423
02:22:34,000 --> 02:22:36,400
Um, they're huge employer.

3424
02:22:38,333 --> 02:22:40,433
The president, Sands, announced he was going to

3425
02:22:40,433 --> 02:22:43,000
grow 5,000 students a few years ago.

3426
02:22:43,000 --> 02:22:44,767
He did not consult with us,

3427
02:22:44,767 --> 02:22:46,767
he didn't consult with our planners,

3428
02:22:46,767 --> 02:22:48,200
he didn't consult with the town manager,

3429
02:22:48,200 --> 02:22:50,967
he didn't consult with the mayor.

3430
02:22:50,967 --> 02:22:52,733
We just learned, just like you did,

3431
02:22:52,733 --> 02:22:55,133
that the Tech was going to grow 5,000 students to-

3432
02:22:55,133 --> 02:22:58,100
to basically a 30,000 undergraduate campus.

3433
02:22:58,100 --> 02:23:00,330
Also include 7,000 graduates.

3434
02:23:00,330 --> 02:23:02,567
And they're now growing at a 1-2% every year.

3435
02:23:02,567 --> 02:23:07,367
They're going to be a 40,000-person campus shortly.

3436
02:23:07,600 --> 02:23:10,267
Um, we're in a reactive mode to that.

3437
02:23:10,267 --> 02:23:13,300
We have to be because we're not part of how

3438
02:23:13,300 --> 02:23:15,433
Virginia Tech plans and the board of visitors

3439
02:23:15,433 --> 02:23:18,500
makes decisions in the top administration.

3440
02:23:18,500 --> 02:23:20,900
Um, we responded to that at

3441
02:23:20,900 --> 02:23:24,533
the time by going to the apartment complexes in town,

3442
02:23:24,533 --> 02:23:27,667
the big ones, and ask them to consider

3443
02:23:27,667 --> 02:23:31,200
redevelopment on their site to higher densities.

3444
02:23:31,200 --> 02:23:33,600
A lot of- a lot of the buildings, if you recall,

3445
02:23:33,600 --> 02:23:36,333
and I'm sure you do, were one-and-a-half,

3446
02:23:36,333 --> 02:23:38,733
two-story, two-and-a-half story buildings.

3447
02:23:38,967 --> 02:23:42,000
And um, some of them took us up on that.

3448
02:23:42,000 --> 02:23:43,500
Sturbridge did, for example,

3449
02:23:43,500 --> 02:23:45,233
at what used to be Terrace Viewed.

3450
02:23:45,233 --> 02:23:46,367
And I'm sure there are

3451
02:23:46,367 --> 02:23:47,733
others that I can't think of right now,

3452
02:23:47,733 --> 02:23:49,100
but the whole reason for that was

3453
02:23:49,100 --> 02:23:50,867
we knew students were coming,

3454
02:23:50,867 --> 02:23:52,533
the infrastructure was already there,

3455
02:23:52,533 --> 02:23:54,300
the bus lines were there,

3456
02:23:54,300 --> 02:23:57,500
the people were there, the shopping centers were there,

3457
02:23:57,500 --> 02:23:59,533
the road development and all of that was already

3458
02:23:59,533 --> 02:24:02,000
there as opposed to going out and redevelopment,

3459
02:24:02,000 --> 02:24:05,000
you know, new green area.

3460
02:24:05,670 --> 02:24:06,867
So I thought that was pretty forward

3461
02:24:06,867 --> 02:24:09,233
thinking of the town to try to do that,

3462
02:24:09,233 --> 02:24:11,600
especially the Town Manager's office and-

3463
02:24:11,600 --> 02:24:14,867
and- and the staff that- that does that.

3464
02:24:14,867 --> 02:24:17,267
So we've responded to

3465
02:24:17,733 --> 02:24:19,800
Tech's growth and all sorts

3466
02:24:19,800 --> 02:24:22,633
of ways that we've had to respond to that.

3467
02:24:22,633 --> 02:24:25,367
Um, people are here, okay.

3468
02:24:25,367 --> 02:24:28,000
They're already here in this town in one form or another,

3469
02:24:28,000 --> 02:24:29,233
they're either commuting in

3470
02:24:29,233 --> 02:24:31,300
or they're already living here.

3471
02:24:31,300 --> 02:24:34,300
I work as a licensed architect in the Commonwealth,

3472
02:24:34,300 --> 02:24:38,867
so I'm very aware of design, construction, development,

3473
02:24:38,867 --> 02:24:40,567
ah, planning,

3474
02:24:40,567 --> 02:24:42,833
and these are- these are- these are

3475
02:24:42,833 --> 02:24:46,433
vocational and aspirational interest of mine.

3476
02:24:46,467 --> 02:24:48,633
So I've been following these issues for some time.

3477
02:24:48,633 --> 02:24:50,000
For the past 20 years,

3478
02:24:50,000 --> 02:24:52,133
at least Virginia Tech

3479
02:24:52,133 --> 02:24:54,333
in the town of Blacksburg has been growing.

3480
02:24:54,333 --> 02:24:55,733
The region has been growing,

3481
02:24:55,733 --> 02:24:57,567
the county has been growing.

3482
02:24:57,567 --> 02:24:59,200
And my guess is that will happen,

3483
02:24:59,200 --> 02:25:01,400
for at least at this rate that we're going

3484
02:25:01,400 --> 02:25:04,400
right now for another 20 years.

3485
02:25:04,900 --> 02:25:07,900
So we have to respond to that.

3486
02:25:07,900 --> 02:25:09,867
We- it would be derelict of us to

3487
02:25:09,867 --> 02:25:12,233
just- to pretend like we couldn't really do that.

3488
02:25:12,233 --> 02:25:14,533
So some of the ways that we have

3489
02:25:14,533 --> 02:25:17,300
responded to the fact that not just affordable housing,

3490
02:25:17,300 --> 02:25:21,100
but housing in general is the number 1 issue in our town.

3491
02:25:21,100 --> 02:25:22,867
It wasn't always this way,

3492
02:25:22,867 --> 02:25:24,100
10 years ago, I don't think

3493
02:25:24,100 --> 02:25:26,233
most people would have said that.

3494
02:25:26,233 --> 02:25:27,700
A couple- couple of things happened.

3495
02:25:27,700 --> 02:25:29,533
Right? I live just about a half mile from

3496
02:25:29,533 --> 02:25:32,670
here in what's called the Old 16 Squares,

3497
02:25:32,670 --> 02:25:36,600
we have very modest homes and very modest yards.

3498
02:25:36,600 --> 02:25:40,233
It's not floor by any means and most of you know it,

3499
02:25:40,233 --> 02:25:42,233
there's no housing for sale.

3500
02:25:42,233 --> 02:25:45,167
A- a- a lady came up the last time,

3501
02:25:45,167 --> 02:25:47,667
we talked about this in a public- public meeting.

3502
02:25:47,667 --> 02:25:49,300
And she spoke and I can't remember her name,

3503
02:25:49,300 --> 02:25:51,167
but she put- she put

3504
02:25:51,167 --> 02:25:54,200
the right words together for what the phenomena is.

3505
02:25:54,200 --> 02:25:56,167
All the starter homes that people would

3506
02:25:56,167 --> 02:25:59,733
buy to be their first home, as a young couple,

3507
02:25:59,733 --> 02:26:03,000
like Elizabeth and I did in 1988 when I was 25 years old,

3508
02:26:03,000 --> 02:26:05,000
and getting ready to start architecture school at Cargo.

3509
02:26:05,000 --> 02:26:07,000
Um-

3510
02:26:07,900 --> 02:26:09,767
>> There's no opportunities there.

3511
02:26:09,767 --> 02:26:11,670
You can't buy a house in

3512
02:26:11,670 --> 02:26:13,433
this town for a small amount of money,

3513
02:26:13,433 --> 02:26:16,200
which we were able to do at that time.

3514
02:26:16,200 --> 02:26:21,330
That time is long gone and I- I feel badly about that.

3515
02:26:21,330 --> 02:26:22,833
I feel fortunate in some ways.

3516
02:26:22,833 --> 02:26:24,367
But I also have to recognize that

3517
02:26:24,367 --> 02:26:27,367
these issues don't stop just

3518
02:26:27,500 --> 02:26:30,167
because maybe you think you've

3519
02:26:30,167 --> 02:26:33,167
reached the way you think it should be.

3520
02:26:33,167 --> 02:26:34,967
The balance between the university and

3521
02:26:34,967 --> 02:26:37,467
the town has changed over the years.

3522
02:26:37,467 --> 02:26:39,467
It's changed dramatically in some ways.

3523
02:26:39,467 --> 02:26:41,533
I think in the last 10 to 20 years,

3524
02:26:41,533 --> 02:26:43,400
there's more construction going on right now in

3525
02:26:43,400 --> 02:26:45,467
this town and on the campus of

3526
02:26:45,467 --> 02:26:47,500
Virginia Tech than I've ever seen in

3527
02:26:47,500 --> 02:26:50,900
my 40 plus years living in town.

3528
02:26:50,900 --> 02:26:52,433
So what does that mean?

3529
02:26:52,433 --> 02:26:53,933
That means there's more money coming in.

3530
02:26:53,933 --> 02:26:55,867
There's more people that want to come

3531
02:26:55,867 --> 02:26:58,933
in for staff or for faculty.

3532
02:26:58,933 --> 02:27:02,700
They want to have their kids in Blacksburg Schools.

3533
02:27:02,700 --> 02:27:04,500
They want to live here.

3534
02:27:04,500 --> 02:27:08,700
Some of those folks have modest incomes.

3535
02:27:09,133 --> 02:27:11,233
So affordable housing has

3536
02:27:11,233 --> 02:27:14,670
to be something that we talk and think about.

3537
02:27:14,670 --> 02:27:15,733
Um, I love neighborhoods.

3538
02:27:15,733 --> 02:27:17,533
One of my hometowns is Louisville, Kentucky,

3539
02:27:17,533 --> 02:27:19,667
and it's basically a city of

3540
02:27:19,667 --> 02:27:21,600
really nice neighborhoods and

3541
02:27:21,600 --> 02:27:23,200
they're of all kinds, right?

3542
02:27:23,200 --> 02:27:26,333
You've got really nice big houses and big yards,

3543
02:27:26,333 --> 02:27:28,700
and extremely fine houses.

3544
02:27:28,700 --> 02:27:31,670
And you've got some houses closer to the downtown that

3545
02:27:31,670 --> 02:27:33,433
are on small lots - smaller houses,

3546
02:27:33,433 --> 02:27:35,633
one and half-two storey houses.

3547
02:27:35,633 --> 02:27:38,567
What we might think of as workforce housing of that time.

3548
02:27:38,567 --> 02:27:40,167
People learn to live with

3549
02:27:40,167 --> 02:27:42,933
these different types of housing types.

3550
02:27:42,933 --> 02:27:44,600
They raise families. They have kids.

3551
02:27:44,600 --> 02:27:45,900
Kids go to school, they start

3552
02:27:45,900 --> 02:27:47,467
businesses or whatever they do.

3553
02:27:47,467 --> 02:27:49,233
But you have to have the housing to

3554
02:27:49,233 --> 02:27:50,533
accommodate whatever the vision

3555
02:27:50,533 --> 02:27:53,400
is for the folks that are living there.

3556
02:27:53,400 --> 02:27:55,733
I serve on the Housing Advisory Board,

3557
02:27:55,733 --> 02:27:59,967
and so I know that that feels like to some of you perhaps

3558
02:27:59,967 --> 02:28:02,100
as a conflict of interest or the fact that

3559
02:28:02,100 --> 02:28:04,367
, who is the town.

3560
02:28:04,367 --> 02:28:05,567
The town is made of people,

3561
02:28:05,567 --> 02:28:07,467
it's made of public employees,

3562
02:28:07,467 --> 02:28:08,800
is made up of public servants

3563
02:28:08,800 --> 02:28:10,833
like I served with on this council

3564
02:28:10,833 --> 02:28:12,967
and those are the folks that are trying

3565
02:28:12,967 --> 02:28:15,600
to talk about and think about what these issues are.

3566
02:28:15,600 --> 02:28:17,670
That Housing Advisory Board for

3567
02:28:17,670 --> 02:28:19,167
the past three or four years we've been

3568
02:28:19,167 --> 02:28:21,500
charged with and the staff,

3569
02:28:21,500 --> 02:28:24,467
particularly the staff that- that mans

3570
02:28:24,467 --> 02:28:28,670
them is the personnel in that office.

3571
02:28:28,670 --> 02:28:29,833
They've been charged with helping us develop

3572
02:28:29,833 --> 02:28:31,600
what's known as a Housing Trust Fund and

3573
02:28:31,600 --> 02:28:33,633
a Land Trust and we've been able

3574
02:28:33,633 --> 02:28:36,167
to do that just in the last couple of years.

3575
02:28:36,167 --> 02:28:37,700
And this is really significant for

3576
02:28:37,700 --> 02:28:41,233
the town because I sit on that board.

3577
02:28:41,233 --> 02:28:43,900
I have to think about the issues we

3578
02:28:43,900 --> 02:28:46,733
had a prior project six months ago,

3579
02:28:46,733 --> 02:28:50,533
whenever that was, another one talked about by

3580
02:28:50,533 --> 02:28:52,333
Community Housing Partners and folks are going to help

3581
02:28:52,333 --> 02:28:54,567
us administer the Housing Trust and Land Trusts.

3582
02:28:54,567 --> 02:28:56,167
I voted against that project.

3583
02:28:56,167 --> 02:28:58,233
For me, that was a land use issue.

3584
02:28:58,233 --> 02:29:00,330
If you- if you follow my record,

3585
02:29:00,330 --> 02:29:03,330
I've been as tough probably as

3586
02:29:03,330 --> 02:29:06,633
anyone on housing and development issues.

3587
02:29:06,667 --> 02:29:09,167
I try to think about this very carefully.

3588
02:29:09,167 --> 02:29:11,567
I don't believe this is a substandard.

3589
02:29:11,567 --> 02:29:13,670
I believe that you have to have

3590
02:29:13,670 --> 02:29:15,767
partnerships in order to provide affordable housing.

3591
02:29:15,767 --> 02:29:16,833
It doesn't just happen.

3592
02:29:16,833 --> 02:29:18,200
Developers aren't going to do that,

3593
02:29:18,200 --> 02:29:20,667
particularly on their own, you know.

3594
02:29:20,667 --> 02:29:22,767
Who's going to do that? You have to subsidize it.

3595
02:29:22,767 --> 02:29:25,333
We're fortunate enough to get some of those ARPA funds,

3596
02:29:25,333 --> 02:29:27,167
and we're taking some of those ARPA funds and we're

3597
02:29:27,167 --> 02:29:30,800
investing them in the Housing Trust and the Land Trust.

3598
02:29:30,800 --> 02:29:32,167
Is it a drop in the bucket?

3599
02:29:32,167 --> 02:29:34,900
Maybe that's one way to look at it, but it's something.

3600
02:29:34,900 --> 02:29:36,133
And we have other drops in

3601
02:29:36,133 --> 02:29:38,200
the buckets that we're pursuing.

3602
02:29:38,200 --> 02:29:40,233
Homeownership is really important.

3603
02:29:40,233 --> 02:29:41,400
It's important to me still,

3604
02:29:41,400 --> 02:29:43,670
I may be one of the last few people that think

3605
02:29:43,670 --> 02:29:44,867
that that's a really important thing in a way to

3606
02:29:44,867 --> 02:29:49,267
build capital and to- to be in a community.

3607
02:29:49,267 --> 02:29:51,000
I'm thrilled that this development

3608
02:29:51,000 --> 02:29:53,267
is about home ownership.

3609
02:29:53,267 --> 02:29:57,533
I don't see any differential between larger developments,

3610
02:29:57,533 --> 02:30:00,933
say up on the village of Tom's Creek side,

3611
02:30:00,933 --> 02:30:05,567
or the smaller size houses and lots on the other side.

3612
02:30:05,567 --> 02:30:07,000
We took the connector out because

3613
02:30:07,000 --> 02:30:08,733
that's what people said they wanted.

3614
02:30:08,733 --> 02:30:10,133
Is that the right thing to do?

3615
02:30:10,133 --> 02:30:11,700
I'm not so sure anymore.

3616
02:30:11,700 --> 02:30:13,433
I'm not sure about that.

3617
02:30:13,433 --> 02:30:15,633
Because if you do something

3618
02:30:15,633 --> 02:30:17,833
that is maybe going to help people out,

3619
02:30:17,833 --> 02:30:20,533
I thought maybe they'd bring more people on board to say,

3620
02:30:20,533 --> 02:30:22,000
"Okay, we're in favor of this,

3621
02:30:22,000 --> 02:30:23,633
we can work with you on this.

3622
02:30:23,633 --> 02:30:25,633
We can be in favor of that."

3623
02:30:25,633 --> 02:30:28,533
I got maybe three or four different people telling me,

3624
02:30:28,533 --> 02:30:32,500
but most people have been against the project.

3625
02:30:32,500 --> 02:30:34,670
What is the town doing in terms of

3626
02:30:34,670 --> 02:30:36,400
the fact that we have to have more density?

3627
02:30:36,400 --> 02:30:38,400
That's the only way you solve the problems.

3628
02:30:38,400 --> 02:30:39,567
Jim Whitener and other folks

3629
02:30:39,567 --> 02:30:40,767
are complaining about the fact that

3630
02:30:40,767 --> 02:30:43,767
there's density in this project.

3631
02:30:43,800 --> 02:30:45,233
But that's the only way you're going to

3632
02:30:45,233 --> 02:30:46,767
be able to solve and begin to

3633
02:30:46,767 --> 02:30:50,367
actually make a difference in homeownership,

3634
02:30:50,800 --> 02:30:53,133
in affordable housing, and in building

3635
02:30:53,133 --> 02:30:57,330
a Land Trust and a Housing Trust.

3636
02:30:57,330 --> 02:30:58,600
It isn't going to happen any other way.

3637
02:30:58,600 --> 02:31:00,330
R 4 basically is

3638
02:31:00,330 --> 02:31:01,733
anachronistic type of zoning

3639
02:31:01,733 --> 02:31:03,167
in a town that's growing by leaps

3640
02:31:03,167 --> 02:31:05,467
and bounds and is going to continue to grow by leaps and

3641
02:31:05,467 --> 02:31:08,100
bounds for at least another 20 years.

3642
02:31:08,100 --> 02:31:09,800
So one thing that we've done as a town,

3643
02:31:09,800 --> 02:31:11,367
is we've expanded our parks.

3644
02:31:11,367 --> 02:31:13,533
We have parks up on Brush Mountain,

3645
02:31:13,533 --> 02:31:14,600
we have a heritage park.

3646
02:31:14,600 --> 02:31:16,400
We have a Huckleberry Trail.

3647
02:31:16,400 --> 02:31:18,300
We have all these different things that we're trying

3648
02:31:18,300 --> 02:31:20,600
to do to get people basically,

3649
02:31:20,600 --> 02:31:23,467
we know they're going to be denser environment,

3650
02:31:23,467 --> 02:31:24,667
in denser community, whether it's

3651
02:31:24,667 --> 02:31:27,400
downtown or in other neighborhoods.

3652
02:31:27,400 --> 02:31:28,967
So the park systems are things that we've

3653
02:31:28,967 --> 02:31:31,267
invested money in and we planned for that.

3654
02:31:31,267 --> 02:31:33,667
These are good things that the town is doing.

3655
02:31:33,667 --> 02:31:39,670
And um, with regards to perfection, it's not perfect.

3656
02:31:39,133 --> 02:31:41,233
These are complex issues. I understand that.

3657
02:31:41,233 --> 02:31:42,633
I wanted to assure you, Robyn

3658
02:31:42,633 --> 02:31:43,867
and everybody else that comes here,

3659
02:31:43,867 --> 02:31:46,333
that I have listened to, every single person.

3660
02:31:46,333 --> 02:31:48,400
I've read every single email

3661
02:31:48,400 --> 02:31:51,433
and I identify with some of these issues.

3662
02:31:51,433 --> 02:31:52,900
I've pledged as a council member

3663
02:31:52,900 --> 02:31:54,333
to support real people living in

3664
02:31:54,333 --> 02:31:55,867
real neighborhoods in this town

3665
02:31:55,867 --> 02:31:57,633
because they're the folks that make up the town.

3666
02:31:57,633 --> 02:32:00,300
A lot of folks I think will take

3667
02:32:00,300 --> 02:32:02,200
advantage of this new project

3668
02:32:02,200 --> 02:32:04,100
and development if it passes.

3669
02:32:04,100 --> 02:32:06,933
I think that both people that are already here and future

3670
02:32:06,933 --> 02:32:08,567
residents and neighbors that will move to

3671
02:32:08,567 --> 02:32:11,433
the town or could utilize the housing.

3672
02:32:11,433 --> 02:32:13,533
And so you know, it perfect?

3673
02:32:13,533 --> 02:32:14,967
It's probably not perfect.

3674
02:32:14,967 --> 02:32:16,333
But I agree with Dr. Harold,

3675
02:32:16,333 --> 02:32:18,330
we can't wait on perfection.

3676
02:32:18,330 --> 02:32:19,833
Uh, we can't let,

3677
02:32:19,833 --> 02:32:21,400
as the old saying goes,

3678
02:32:21,400 --> 02:32:22,933
perfect, be the enemy of the good.

3679
02:32:22,933 --> 02:32:24,100
I think this is a good thing.

3680
02:32:24,100 --> 02:32:27,100
I will be supporting it.

3681
02:32:28,333 --> 02:32:29,400
>> I don't think anybody wants

3682
02:32:29,400 --> 02:32:32,667
to follow you John right now.

3683
02:32:32,667 --> 02:32:36,733
>> Does that mean I can go home and watch Celtics?

3684
02:32:36,733 --> 02:32:41,133
>> If you must. Um, who wants to go next?

3685
02:32:41,133 --> 02:32:43,433
>> I'll just add, it's not only

3686
02:32:43,433 --> 02:32:47,330
the housing costs for buying homes.

3687
02:32:47,670 --> 02:32:49,267
The rental market is through the roof.

3688
02:32:49,267 --> 02:32:50,533
I was researching this morning that

3689
02:32:50,533 --> 02:32:52,933
a three bedroom apartment in Blacksburg,

3690
02:32:52,933 --> 02:32:55,333
the average cost is $1,800.

3691
02:32:55,700 --> 02:32:57,900
To have- that'd be 30% of your income.

3692
02:32:57,900 --> 02:32:59,267
That means you have to have a net take

3693
02:32:59,267 --> 02:33:01,733
home pay of $5,400 a month.

3694
02:33:01,733 --> 02:33:04,733
That equates to a $92,000 salary.

3695
02:33:05,333 --> 02:33:08,670
I don't- that blows my mind.

3696
02:33:08,670 --> 02:33:11,100
How many people that - blocks

3697
02:33:11,100 --> 02:33:12,767
out of our community that can't even

3698
02:33:12,767 --> 02:33:14,800
rent an apartment in our town.

3699
02:33:14,800 --> 02:33:18,200
So the idea that we have an opportunity to support

3700
02:33:18,200 --> 02:33:19,900
affordable housing and workforce

3701
02:33:19,900 --> 02:33:22,100
housing is- is huge for me.

3702
02:33:22,100 --> 02:33:26,900
I want to thank all of you all for the emails and

3703
02:33:26,900 --> 02:33:28,867
the meetings and coming to all of

3704
02:33:28,867 --> 02:33:32,133
these work sessions and public hearings and all of this,

3705
02:33:32,133 --> 02:33:34,670
is- it's a lot of time and you've spent

3706
02:33:34,670 --> 02:33:36,467
a lot of effort learning the process.

3707
02:33:36,467 --> 02:33:39,900
This is a much more extended process and we typically do.

3708
02:33:39,900 --> 02:33:41,200
I know you feel like it's rushed,

3709
02:33:41,200 --> 02:33:43,400
but this is honestly one of

3710
02:33:43,400 --> 02:33:47,133
the two longest processes that I've been involved in.

3711
02:33:47,133 --> 02:33:50,000
The other one being Midtown.

3712
02:33:50,000 --> 02:33:56,000
This is my second term since I was on in 2018.

3713
02:33:56,100 --> 02:33:59,900
One of the first things that we talked about was, um,

3714
02:33:59,900 --> 02:34:03,300
that the PRD, the Planned Residential Zone,

3715
02:34:03,300 --> 02:34:05,500
is a catch all.

3716
02:34:05,500 --> 02:34:08,333
That we really need to have a, um,

3717
02:34:08,333 --> 02:34:11,333
a much better, more defined

3718
02:34:12,330 --> 02:34:13,967
zoning ordinances so that we can

3719
02:34:13,967 --> 02:34:16,267
accommodate for these things.

3720
02:34:16,267 --> 02:34:19,233
And so I'm excited to hear

3721
02:34:19,233 --> 02:34:23,167
how we develop the small lot development zoning.

3722
02:34:23,167 --> 02:34:26,767
So many of these variances for this project would

3723
02:34:26,767 --> 02:34:33,967
not be an issue if we had a small lot development zone.

3724
02:34:34,800 --> 02:34:37,800
This is basically R 4 development,

3725
02:34:40,670 --> 02:34:42,670
3.9 houses per acre,

3726
02:34:42,800 --> 02:34:44,933
um, which is low density.

3727
02:34:44,933 --> 02:34:47,167
And if you look at, the- there was a map that had

3728
02:34:47,167 --> 02:34:50,567
yellow and that was low density in that area.

3729
02:34:50,567 --> 02:34:53,700
Which to me R 4 is low density.

3730
02:34:53,700 --> 02:34:57,300
I think that's how it's defined.

3731
02:34:57,967 --> 02:34:59,433
Beyond the affordable housing,

3732
02:34:59,433 --> 02:35:00,900
I see multiple positive.

3733
02:35:00,900 --> 02:35:03,300
I see major investments

3734
02:35:03,967 --> 02:35:06,767
in our sewer system and a new pump station,

3735
02:35:06,767 --> 02:35:08,467
the Stormwater Management, that will

3736
02:35:08,467 --> 02:35:12,670
remediate issues that go back decades.

3737
02:35:12,367 --> 02:35:15,367
The equitable and mixed income affordable housing.

3738
02:35:15,367 --> 02:35:16,867
Because of all those things and because of

3739
02:35:16,867 --> 02:35:18,900
everything that John went into so eloquently,

3740
02:35:18,900 --> 02:35:21,300
I'm supporting this project.

3741
02:35:21,300 --> 02:35:23,700
>> I'll just jump in.

3742
02:35:24,600 --> 02:35:26,533
Doing some research on affordable housing.

3743
02:35:26,533 --> 02:35:28,333
It's not just a Blacksburg problem,

3744
02:35:28,333 --> 02:35:31,100
it's a nation problem, it's a world problem.

3745
02:35:31,100 --> 02:35:32,267
When you do some research on it,

3746
02:35:32,267 --> 02:35:34,167
you find that they say clearly,

3747
02:35:34,167 --> 02:35:37,000
if it were easy to build better,

3748
02:35:37,000 --> 02:35:40,000
more equitable, low income housing,

3749
02:35:40,400 --> 02:35:41,900
it would have been done already.

3750
02:35:41,900 --> 02:35:45,233
Um, there's a lot of strategies they recommend,

3751
02:35:45,233 --> 02:35:47,367
and here are some of the ones that are in place here.

3752
02:35:47,367 --> 02:35:49,567
Building more housing, and building denser and

3753
02:35:49,567 --> 02:35:52,267
close proximity to existing infrastructure.

3754
02:35:52,267 --> 02:35:53,867
Incentivizing developers to build

3755
02:35:53,867 --> 02:35:55,700
more moderately priced homes.

3756
02:35:55,700 --> 02:35:58,330
Providing a mechanism for

3757
02:35:58,330 --> 02:36:01,330
financing and removing regulatory barriers.

3758
02:36:01,767 --> 02:36:04,933
John mentioned that R 4 Housing is an anachronism.

3759
02:36:04,933 --> 02:36:07,333
Minneapolis, Arlington County have

3760
02:36:08,400 --> 02:36:10,800
abolished all R 4 Housing.

3761
02:36:10,833 --> 02:36:13,900
We're not the only people who are struggling with ways to

3762
02:36:13,900 --> 02:36:18,667
house our people in a way that is reasonably affordable.

3763
02:36:18,667 --> 02:36:20,667
This is a complex development.

3764
02:36:20,667 --> 02:36:23,000
It's really different, and I can understand

3765
02:36:23,000 --> 02:36:26,133
why the neighbors are concerned about it.

3766
02:36:26,133 --> 02:36:28,533
Um, the only comparable

3767
02:36:28,933 --> 02:36:30,167
neighborhood I can think about it

3768
02:36:30,167 --> 02:36:31,533
is the Tom's Creek Village.

3769
02:36:31,533 --> 02:36:34,100
When that was developed over 20 years ago,

3770
02:36:34,100 --> 02:36:36,300
it was unlike any housing form,

3771
02:36:36,300 --> 02:36:37,567
the cluster housing form didn't

3772
02:36:37,567 --> 02:36:40,567
exist and it was controversial.

3773
02:36:41,500 --> 02:36:43,367
The town even had to develop

3774
02:36:43,367 --> 02:36:45,167
a novel sewer system

3775
02:36:45,167 --> 02:36:47,367
to accommodate its development. And you know what?

3776
02:36:47,367 --> 02:36:49,000
I think it was a really successful

3777
02:36:49,000 --> 02:36:50,767
neighborhood and I'm really

3778
02:36:50,767 --> 02:36:54,833
glad that previous town councils voted in favor of it,

3779
02:36:54,833 --> 02:36:57,167
and I'm hoping that we have the same kind success here.

3780
02:36:57,167 --> 02:37:01,967
So I'm also planning on voting yes tonight.

3781
02:37:03,800 --> 02:37:07,400
>> We're down to three. I'll- I'll go ahead.

3782
02:37:07,400 --> 02:37:09,800
Um, as people up here have said,

3783
02:37:09,800 --> 02:37:11,800
and as the audience has said tonight,

3784
02:37:11,800 --> 02:37:13,733
we are all knowing that we're in

3785
02:37:13,733 --> 02:37:16,000
desperate need of affordable housing.

3786
02:37:16,000 --> 02:37:18,767
We're in desperate need of senior housing,

3787
02:37:18,767 --> 02:37:20,833
workforce housing, non-student housing.

3788
02:37:20,833 --> 02:37:22,433
We all know that and- and again,

3789
02:37:22,433 --> 02:37:24,833
John did a- a great job of talking about that.

3790
02:37:24,833 --> 02:37:28,433
And so that's what we're working on here tonight.

3791
02:37:28,433 --> 02:37:30,233
I have to say, I appreciate,

3792
02:37:30,233 --> 02:37:32,267
I know somebody kind of poked fun at

3793
02:37:32,267 --> 02:37:34,500
all the emails and all the time reading or whatever,

3794
02:37:34,500 --> 02:37:37,900
but I really appreciate everybody's input.

3795
02:37:37,900 --> 02:37:39,100
It shows our community

3796
02:37:39,100 --> 02:37:42,867
cares and it shows that whether or not,

3797
02:37:42,867 --> 02:37:44,767
uh, people agree with how this vote turns out

3798
02:37:44,767 --> 02:37:46,700
tonight that we care about our community.

3799
02:37:46,700 --> 02:37:48,167
And I hope everybody keeps

3800
02:37:48,167 --> 02:37:49,833
actively involved in the community.

3801
02:37:49,833 --> 02:37:51,733
This is a hard decision.

3802
02:37:51,733 --> 02:37:53,800
There are a lot of moving parts to it.

3803
02:37:53,800 --> 02:37:57,367
We've worked as a town with, um, non-profits.

3804
02:37:57,367 --> 02:37:59,367
We've worked with community housing partners

3805
02:37:59,367 --> 02:38:01,633
to field a- to build affordable housing,

3806
02:38:01,633 --> 02:38:03,000
we've worked with Habitat for

3807
02:38:03,000 --> 02:38:05,467
Humanity to build affordable housing.

3808
02:38:05,467 --> 02:38:07,267
And I think people have a tendency to

3809
02:38:07,267 --> 02:38:09,867
trust non-profits a little more, right?

3810
02:38:09,867 --> 02:38:11,567
They're not out to make money.

3811
02:38:11,567 --> 02:38:13,833
Um, this is the first time we've worked with

3812
02:38:13,833 --> 02:38:17,167
a for-profit group and so it's messier,

3813
02:38:17,167 --> 02:38:18,500
you know, it's new to us.

3814
02:38:18,500 --> 02:38:22,133
Our staff has spent a long time working, um,

3815
02:38:22,133 --> 02:38:24,500
their staff has spent a long time working on this,

3816
02:38:24,500 --> 02:38:25,900
trying to find common ground,

3817
02:38:25,900 --> 02:38:27,670
what can work, what can't,

3818
02:38:27,670 --> 02:38:29,233
what's affordable, what's not.

3819
02:38:29,233 --> 02:38:30,867
Where do- where can you cut corners?

3820
02:38:30,867 --> 02:38:32,000
Does this need a variance?

3821
02:38:32,000 --> 02:38:33,267
Are things still safe?

3822
02:38:33,267 --> 02:38:34,667
I mean there are all those kinds of things.

3823
02:38:34,667 --> 02:38:36,267
And again, it's messy because this

3824
02:38:36,267 --> 02:38:38,670
is the first time I think we've done it.

3825
02:38:38,670 --> 02:38:40,167
In the future, it might feel a

3826
02:38:40,167 --> 02:38:42,533
little easier but right now,

3827
02:38:42,533 --> 02:38:43,700
I think for all of us,

3828
02:38:43,700 --> 02:38:46,667
it's been complex and it's been confusing.

3829
02:38:46,667 --> 02:38:49,600
Um, what we're gonna do about this,

3830
02:38:49,600 --> 02:38:51,500
well, smaller lots is helpful.

3831
02:38:51,500 --> 02:38:54,330
People have been talking about smaller lots,

3832
02:38:54,330 --> 02:38:56,330
means smaller homes,

3833
02:38:56,670 --> 02:38:58,670
means more affordable homes.

3834
02:38:58,670 --> 02:39:00,900
And affordability in our town

3835
02:39:00,900 --> 02:39:03,467
is something that- that we are desperate for.

3836
02:39:03,467 --> 02:39:04,933
We want people who want to

3837
02:39:04,933 --> 02:39:07,400
live here to be able to live here.

3838
02:39:07,400 --> 02:39:08,900
I think this concept of

3839
02:39:08,900 --> 02:39:11,900
mixed housing is incredibly wonderful.

3840
02:39:12,600 --> 02:39:14,900
We have people who are gonna, uh,

3841
02:39:14,900 --> 02:39:16,500
be able to have bigger homes,

3842
02:39:16,500 --> 02:39:18,000
we're gonna have workforce homes.

3843
02:39:18,000 --> 02:39:19,367
If we all vote for this tonight,

3844
02:39:19,367 --> 02:39:21,100
we're going to have affordable homes.

3845
02:39:21,100 --> 02:39:24,267
Some people have said only 10 affordable homes and I

3846
02:39:24,267 --> 02:39:25,967
hope people realize that-

3847
02:39:25,967 --> 02:39:27,567
that that's just not true at all.

3848
02:39:27,567 --> 02:39:31,500
We've got 10 at a certain LMI level, right?

3849
02:39:31,500 --> 02:39:33,433
Up to 80%, 10 more,

3850
02:39:33,433 --> 02:39:34,600
up to 100%,

3851
02:39:34,600 --> 02:39:36,600
four more, 120 LMI.

3852
02:39:37,600 --> 02:39:41,533
And that's just what we're calling affordable.

3853
02:39:41,533 --> 02:39:43,333
The other homes in that side,

3854
02:39:43,333 --> 02:39:45,330
the South side,

3855
02:39:45,330 --> 02:39:46,700
um, of the tracks you might say, right?

3856
02:39:46,700 --> 02:39:49,330
The South side of the wet pond, um,

3857
02:39:49,330 --> 02:39:50,733
are also gonna be more

3858
02:39:50,733 --> 02:39:54,333
affordable than most homes in Blacksburg,

3859
02:39:54,367 --> 02:39:56,167
and that says a lot for people to be

3860
02:39:56,167 --> 02:39:58,367
able to- to live here, you know.

3861
02:39:58,367 --> 02:40:00,367
Somebody mentioned $300,000,

3862
02:40:00,867 --> 02:40:02,933
that's incredible to me for starting out.

3863
02:40:02,933 --> 02:40:04,933
My home cost $93,500

3864
02:40:06,300 --> 02:40:09,600
when we bought it in 1990 on Preston Avenue.

3865
02:40:09,600 --> 02:40:11,733
You know, that- that's a thing of the past,

3866
02:40:11,733 --> 02:40:14,433
we want people like me, young- young couples,

3867
02:40:14,433 --> 02:40:16,900
to be able to live here and right now,

3868
02:40:16,900 --> 02:40:18,533
they can't they- like you were saying,

3869
02:40:18,533 --> 02:40:21,233
they can't even afford to rent here, many of them.

3870
02:40:21,233 --> 02:40:23,667
So this is an important project and-

3871
02:40:23,667 --> 02:40:26,333
and it comes with some risk, right?

3872
02:40:26,333 --> 02:40:27,700
And it comes with

3873
02:40:27,700 --> 02:40:30,333
a little bit of hope and a whole lot of planning.

3874
02:40:30,333 --> 02:40:32,633
But I think the planning's good.

3875
02:40:32,633 --> 02:40:34,100
And, um,

3876
02:40:34,100 --> 02:40:35,633
I think I agree with something

3877
02:40:35,633 --> 02:40:37,767
somebody said over that way.

3878
02:40:37,767 --> 02:40:39,867
Is it the best proposal that

3879
02:40:39,867 --> 02:40:42,733
could possibly happen on that property?

3880
02:40:42,733 --> 02:40:44,233
I certainly think not.

3881
02:40:44,233 --> 02:40:46,533
But is it a proposal that people

3882
02:40:46,533 --> 02:40:50,133
could have a positive living experience there,

3883
02:40:50,133 --> 02:40:51,900
look out on their patio,

3884
02:40:51,900 --> 02:40:54,100
or- or sit on their picnic table?

3885
02:40:54,100 --> 02:40:55,567
Maybe it'll have a little bit of

3886
02:40:55,567 --> 02:40:57,333
lean because the slope's steep,

3887
02:40:57,333 --> 02:40:59,300
but you can prop that table up

3888
02:40:59,300 --> 02:41:01,333
but sit on your- at your picnic table

3889
02:41:01,333 --> 02:41:05,467
and sip your Shirley Temple and enjoy the sunset,

3890
02:41:05,467 --> 02:41:08,000
and be happy that you're a homeowner and you're

3891
02:41:08,000 --> 02:41:11,600
close to Kroger, the post office.

3892
02:41:11,800 --> 02:41:13,967
Um, I think that it is walkable.

3893
02:41:13,967 --> 02:41:17,400
I walk a lot around town and I'm 65 years old.

3894
02:41:17,400 --> 02:41:18,600
Um, I think it is

3895
02:41:18,600 --> 02:41:20,333
a walkable community and

3896
02:41:20,333 --> 02:41:22,167
I think it's walkable to services,

3897
02:41:22,167 --> 02:41:23,700
and retail, and restaurants.

3898
02:41:23,700 --> 02:41:26,600
I think people who choose to buy there,

3899
02:41:26,600 --> 02:41:29,100
will know that and will know the slopes are steep,

3900
02:41:29,100 --> 02:41:32,670
and know where the playgrounds are and if

3901
02:41:32,670 --> 02:41:35,500
it's affordable for them and if they like that situation,

3902
02:41:35,500 --> 02:41:36,767
I think they could be really,

3903
02:41:36,767 --> 02:41:40,433
really happy there and so I'm gonna vote for it.

3904
02:41:40,433 --> 02:41:42,433
>>Thank you.

3905
02:41:42,533 --> 02:41:47,533
>> It's me? >> Well, you- you can go or I can go, either one.

3906
02:41:47,533 --> 02:41:48,600
>> As most of you know, I serve

3907
02:41:48,600 --> 02:41:49,867
on the Planning Commission.

3908
02:41:49,867 --> 02:41:54,333
So this has been a long extended process at both levels.

3909
02:41:54,333 --> 02:41:57,400
Um, and um, as most of the citizens out here know, um,

3910
02:41:57,400 --> 02:41:59,267
we've walked the walk together since we

3911
02:41:59,267 --> 02:42:01,733
went through it with the Planning Commission and now.

3912
02:42:01,733 --> 02:42:03,767
And um, I do want to thank everyone for

3913
02:42:03,767 --> 02:42:07,900
their positive and respectful engagement in the process.

3914
02:42:07,900 --> 02:42:10,900
And dare I say, your grit and your stick-to-itiveness,

3915
02:42:10,900 --> 02:42:12,433
that you've- you've been involved this

3916
02:42:12,433 --> 02:42:15,433
entire time, it's- it's admirable.

3917
02:42:16,500 --> 02:42:17,933
The proposal has many pros and

3918
02:42:17,933 --> 02:42:20,500
cons as my colleagues have stated,

3919
02:42:20,500 --> 02:42:22,330
and um, and that makes

3920
02:42:22,330 --> 02:42:23,767
these decisions difficult, you know.

3921
02:42:23,767 --> 02:42:28,767
Uh, as I stated at the Planning Commission, um,

3922
02:42:28,767 --> 02:42:33,300
some of the- one of the primary positives to me is

3923
02:42:33,300 --> 02:42:34,900
the fact that- that

3924
02:42:34,900 --> 02:42:38,133
the applicant went through the comprehensive plan,

3925
02:42:38,133 --> 02:42:42,433
future land use amendment process several years ago,

3926
02:42:42,433 --> 02:42:44,333
um, to- to talk

3927
02:42:44,333 --> 02:42:47,767
about the future density of this- this lot.

3928
02:42:47,767 --> 02:42:49,667
Um, and that's- that's important to me

3929
02:42:49,667 --> 02:42:52,467
because that- that creates an initial community,

3930
02:42:52,467 --> 02:42:55,167
uh, conversation about the future of the parcel.

3931
02:42:55,167 --> 02:42:57,500
Um, we rarely get that, um,

3932
02:42:57,500 --> 02:42:58,933
time is of the essence for

3933
02:42:58,933 --> 02:43:00,933
most development proposals and

3934
02:43:00,933 --> 02:43:02,967
they don't have the time to do that.

3935
02:43:02,967 --> 02:43:04,500
And so for me, it's really important

3936
02:43:04,500 --> 02:43:06,267
because that allows the community

3937
02:43:06,267 --> 02:43:10,670
to have- have an initial engagement and involvement.

3938
02:43:10,670 --> 02:43:11,567
And then of course, now we're going

3939
02:43:11,567 --> 02:43:13,967
through this rezoning part,

3940
02:43:14,400 --> 02:43:16,670
um, and that- that you know that continues

3941
02:43:16,670 --> 02:43:18,467
that process, uh, together.

3942
02:43:20,567 --> 02:43:23,533
My colleagues, the affordable housing is nice for me.

3943
02:43:23,533 --> 02:43:25,733
Also, I believe these, um,

3944
02:43:25,733 --> 02:43:28,200
just work for smaller homes and smaller lots,

3945
02:43:28,200 --> 02:43:29,900
everything we've talked about is- is

3946
02:43:29,900 --> 02:43:33,200
a great step towards the future.

3947
02:43:33,200 --> 02:43:35,670
Um, some of you know,

3948
02:43:35,670 --> 02:43:38,333
I recently concluded a 31-plus-year career

3949
02:43:38,333 --> 02:43:41,100
in environmental protection and enforcement.

3950
02:43:41,100 --> 02:43:44,100
Um, I don't normally call that out in public,

3951
02:43:44,100 --> 02:43:45,200
but, um,

3952
02:43:45,200 --> 02:43:46,800
I do pay extra attention to

3953
02:43:46,800 --> 02:43:48,367
the environmental impacts of

3954
02:43:48,367 --> 02:43:51,967
development and- and the conversations around that.

3955
02:43:51,967 --> 02:43:53,467
Um, this is- this is

3956
02:43:53,467 --> 02:43:55,700
the first proposal in my memory that-

3957
02:43:55,700 --> 02:43:57,167
that will actually treat

3958
02:43:57,167 --> 02:43:59,767
the stormwater generated by- by the,

3959
02:43:59,767 --> 02:44:01,767
uh, construction 100% onsite.

3960
02:44:03,367 --> 02:44:05,767
Um, and what that means is it'll deal with

3961
02:44:05,767 --> 02:44:07,500
the volume and velocity of

3962
02:44:07,500 --> 02:44:09,900
what's created as- because of the development,

3963
02:44:09,900 --> 02:44:11,833
but it'll also deal with the quality or

3964
02:44:11,833 --> 02:44:14,867
the pollutants that are generated from the development.

3965
02:44:14,867 --> 02:44:18,100
Um, we don't see that, um,

3966
02:44:18,100 --> 02:44:19,667
this is a rule and a law

3967
02:44:19,667 --> 02:44:21,700
that- that's really a state law,

3968
02:44:21,700 --> 02:44:23,433
that- that the locality,

3969
02:44:23,433 --> 02:44:26,167
the town of Blacksburg, gets to, uh, implement.

3970
02:44:26,167 --> 02:44:29,233
Um, and the state law allows people to, you know,

3971
02:44:29,233 --> 02:44:31,433
obviously do it at 100% but

3972
02:44:31,433 --> 02:44:33,633
it also allows them to buy credits, um,

3973
02:44:33,633 --> 02:44:35,670
where they will, um,

3974
02:44:35,670 --> 02:44:37,700
more or less not be able to do quite- quite the best

3975
02:44:37,700 --> 02:44:39,367
possible in one place

3976
02:44:39,367 --> 02:44:41,133
but they'll conserve something somewhere else.

3977
02:44:41,133 --> 02:44:44,867
And my colleagues in- in multiple other re-zonings have

3978
02:44:44,867 --> 02:44:46,900
talked about how we would really prefer to

3979
02:44:46,900 --> 02:44:48,900
see 100% treatment here.

3980
02:44:49,633 --> 02:44:51,733
Um and- so I think that's- that's huge.

3981
02:44:51,733 --> 02:44:54,330
But actually, it's not 100% treatment,

3982
02:44:54,330 --> 02:44:55,567
it's more than 100% because we

3983
02:44:55,567 --> 02:44:58,400
have a legacy stormwater issue,

3984
02:44:58,400 --> 02:45:01,400
um, that's occurring, um, downstream.

3985
02:45:01,433 --> 02:45:03,100
The volume, uh,

3986
02:45:03,100 --> 02:45:05,367
of the water when we have these storms and

3987
02:45:05,367 --> 02:45:08,000
with- with what appears to be climate change,

3988
02:45:08,000 --> 02:45:10,000
uh, we're gonna have more of that.

3989
02:45:10,000 --> 02:45:11,600
And so it's important to me

3990
02:45:11,600 --> 02:45:13,667
that- that- that not just- not

3991
02:45:13,667 --> 02:45:15,333
just that it deals with what

3992
02:45:15,333 --> 02:45:17,533
would be generated from this new development,

3993
02:45:17,533 --> 02:45:19,700
but it's gonna really help us deal with

3994
02:45:19,700 --> 02:45:23,633
these legacy issues from development that occurred 30,

3995
02:45:23,633 --> 02:45:26,300
40, 50 years ago when we really didn't

3996
02:45:26,300 --> 02:45:28,333
have any regulations to

3997
02:45:28,333 --> 02:45:31,333
deal with stormwater of substance.

3998
02:45:31,733 --> 02:45:33,200
The initial number of variances and

3999
02:45:33,200 --> 02:45:34,833
modifications concern me,

4000
02:45:34,833 --> 02:45:39,367
um, but I do think the revised proposal um,

4001
02:45:39,367 --> 02:45:41,200
you know, is- is

4002
02:45:41,200 --> 02:45:43,300
a better proposal and I think it's a better proposal,

4003
02:45:43,300 --> 02:45:47,500
not just because of the input that- that we have pushed.

4004
02:45:47,500 --> 02:45:49,300
I think it's better proposal because of

4005
02:45:49,300 --> 02:45:51,600
everything we've received from the, uh, public.

4006
02:45:51,600 --> 02:45:53,467
Um, I always think it's my job

4007
02:45:53,467 --> 02:45:55,667
to try to voice your concerns,

4008
02:45:55,667 --> 02:45:57,300
um, and I think all of us do.

4009
02:45:57,300 --> 02:46:00,400
And I think we have pushed hard,

4010
02:46:00,400 --> 02:46:04,433
um, to try to get answers and improvements where we can.

4011
02:46:04,433 --> 02:46:05,767
Um, at the end of the day,

4012
02:46:05,767 --> 02:46:08,733
I don't think these variances and modifications will

4013
02:46:08,733 --> 02:46:10,000
impact the character of

4014
02:46:10,000 --> 02:46:13,467
this neighborhood or the livability of this neighborhood.

4015
02:46:13,467 --> 02:46:14,667
Um, and finally,

4016
02:46:14,667 --> 02:46:17,833
I- the primary reason I did not support this at-

4017
02:46:17,833 --> 02:46:21,933
at- at Planning Commission was the connectivity road.

4018
02:46:21,933 --> 02:46:24,967
Um, on a flat piece of paper, it made sense,

4019
02:46:24,967 --> 02:46:28,567
um, real-world application, not so much.

4020
02:46:28,867 --> 02:46:32,233
Um, the impact it would have to the neighborhood,

4021
02:46:32,233 --> 02:46:34,700
uh, I believe is substantial.

4022
02:46:34,700 --> 02:46:36,767
And I'm glad that we

4023
02:46:36,767 --> 02:46:39,000
do not have that full vehicular connection,

4024
02:46:39,000 --> 02:46:41,100
but we still have a connection to honor

4025
02:46:41,100 --> 02:46:43,767
the comprehensive plan as far as walkability,

4026
02:46:43,767 --> 02:46:46,167
biking, and emergency access.

4027
02:46:46,600 --> 02:46:47,833
With that being removed,

4028
02:46:47,833 --> 02:46:50,833
I'm comfortable supporting this rezoning.

4029
02:46:52,500 --> 02:46:53,833
>> Okay. Well, I don't have

4030
02:46:53,833 --> 02:46:56,600
the eloquence of any one of my colleagues.

4031
02:46:56,600 --> 02:46:59,000
So I have some comments and I will go through

4032
02:46:59,000 --> 02:47:01,800
them and then I'll move to action.

4033
02:47:01,800 --> 02:47:06,700
Um, it is the human condition to resist change.

4034
02:47:06,700 --> 02:47:08,967
All of us have a tendency towards it,

4035
02:47:08,967 --> 02:47:12,567
what researchers call status quo bias.

4036
02:47:12,700 --> 02:47:14,433
And so when presented with change,

4037
02:47:14,433 --> 02:47:16,567
we experience it as loss,

4038
02:47:16,567 --> 02:47:19,800
whether the circumstances weren't that or not.

4039
02:47:19,800 --> 02:47:22,500
The Glade Spring Crossing proposal, for example,

4040
02:47:22,500 --> 02:47:25,567
looks like it will improve flooding and add

4041
02:47:25,567 --> 02:47:29,167
stormwater facilities and increase sewer capacity.

4042
02:47:29,367 --> 02:47:31,000
It would also add three kinds of

4043
02:47:31,000 --> 02:47:34,700
much needed housing within walking distance of campus.

4044
02:47:34,700 --> 02:47:36,200
Town Council members are not

4045
02:47:36,200 --> 02:47:38,633
immune to the feelings of sadness,

4046
02:47:38,633 --> 02:47:40,633
excitement, agitation,

4047
02:47:40,800 --> 02:47:42,700
and anger that our neighbors

4048
02:47:42,700 --> 02:47:44,967
and friends are experiencing.

4049
02:47:44,967 --> 02:47:47,800
At the same time, it is our obligation to evaluate

4050
02:47:47,800 --> 02:47:49,900
each development proposal that comes before

4051
02:47:49,900 --> 02:47:52,900
us with respect and curiosity.

4052
02:47:53,467 --> 02:47:56,367
Many people have noted that traffic is getting worse.

4053
02:47:56,367 --> 02:47:57,833
They want to know why we keep

4054
02:47:57,833 --> 02:47:59,367
letting people move into town,

4055
02:47:59,367 --> 02:48:01,700
and they're not wrong about traffic,

4056
02:48:01,700 --> 02:48:05,933
but keeping others out is not an option legally,

4057
02:48:05,933 --> 02:48:08,533
nor would it improve traffic.

4058
02:48:08,533 --> 02:48:10,633
The county approved 600 homes in

4059
02:48:10,633 --> 02:48:13,367
two large subdivisions on Prices Fork Road,

4060
02:48:13,367 --> 02:48:16,367
and those residents are not walking to work.

4061
02:48:16,367 --> 02:48:19,300
Seventy percent of the people who work in Blacksburg live

4062
02:48:19,300 --> 02:48:22,867
outside of town and they commute in to,

4063
02:48:22,867 --> 02:48:24,667
uh, work at Virginia Tech,

4064
02:48:24,667 --> 02:48:26,900
the region's largest employer.

4065
02:48:26,900 --> 02:48:29,300
That's 17,000 trips a day.

4066
02:48:29,533 --> 02:48:31,200
So making room for them within

4067
02:48:31,200 --> 02:48:34,433
town borders is not only the enlightened thing to do,

4068
02:48:34,433 --> 02:48:37,670
but it's the self-interest in remedy.

4069
02:48:37,670 --> 02:48:40,500
When taxpaying citizens live within town limits,

4070
02:48:40,500 --> 02:48:43,833
we can contemplate more investment in public transit,

4071
02:48:43,833 --> 02:48:48,330
bike and pedestrian facilities, roads, and recreation.

4072
02:48:48,400 --> 02:48:50,600
>> Here's another change taking place.

4073
02:48:50,600 --> 02:48:52,867
University and community college enrollment

4074
02:48:52,867 --> 02:48:55,433
is waning across the country.

4075
02:48:55,433 --> 02:48:57,333
Nearly every trend is working

4076
02:48:57,333 --> 02:49:00,100
against higher education in this moment.

4077
02:49:00,100 --> 02:49:02,433
The day may come when Virginia Tech

4078
02:49:02,433 --> 02:49:05,800
doesn't exercise the influence that it does now.

4079
02:49:05,800 --> 02:49:08,333
Climate change, however, will almost certainly

4080
02:49:08,333 --> 02:49:11,933
drive many more people to southwest Virginia,

4081
02:49:11,933 --> 02:49:14,100
where we have plentiful clean water

4082
02:49:14,100 --> 02:49:15,933
at the top of a watershed,

4083
02:49:15,933 --> 02:49:20,733
mild seasons, and- and we are safe from sea level rise.

4084
02:49:20,733 --> 02:49:23,400
There are solar farms in our future too.

4085
02:49:23,400 --> 02:49:25,330
Virginia is a top ranking state

4086
02:49:25,330 --> 02:49:26,633
for solar energy generation

4087
02:49:26,633 --> 02:49:28,267
and there's been a solar farm proposal in

4088
02:49:28,267 --> 02:49:30,900
the eastern part of our own county.

4089
02:49:30,900 --> 02:49:34,433
Many of our businesses are also enjoying notable success,

4090
02:49:34,433 --> 02:49:36,433
including Torque, Modia,

4091
02:49:36,600 --> 02:49:39,000
The 1901 Group, Inorganic Ventures,

4092
02:49:39,700 --> 02:49:43,900
Qualtrax, Intuitive Surgical Operations Inc, and Wing.

4093
02:49:44,600 --> 02:49:47,767
We will not prosper if we do not

4094
02:49:47,767 --> 02:49:49,100
aspire to being more than

4095
02:49:49,100 --> 02:49:52,100
overflow parking and faculty housing.

4096
02:49:52,133 --> 02:49:53,900
We must actively prepare for

4097
02:49:53,900 --> 02:49:56,100
families of all descriptions,

4098
02:49:56,100 --> 02:49:59,100
young professionals, mid career workers,

4099
02:49:59,200 --> 02:50:00,533
and we will benefit as well

4100
02:50:00,533 --> 02:50:03,000
by making room for senior housing.

4101
02:50:03,000 --> 02:50:04,833
Here's my broader point.

4102
02:50:04,833 --> 02:50:08,433
We can't hold growth by just saying no.

4103
02:50:08,433 --> 02:50:11,500
Most of the Tom's Creek basin is privately owned

4104
02:50:11,500 --> 02:50:15,633
and ownership confers certain by right land uses.

4105
02:50:15,633 --> 02:50:17,533
What we can do is to make

4106
02:50:17,533 --> 02:50:19,467
strategic choices about where we can

4107
02:50:19,467 --> 02:50:21,833
accommodate growth and how to preserve

4108
02:50:21,833 --> 02:50:25,267
the things we value most about Blacksburg.

4109
02:50:25,267 --> 02:50:27,233
Accommodating growth in this location will

4110
02:50:27,233 --> 02:50:29,767
partially address our town's need for housing,

4111
02:50:29,767 --> 02:50:32,467
which was well documented in the housing chapter of

4112
02:50:32,467 --> 02:50:35,670
the town's recently updated comprehensive plan

4113
02:50:35,670 --> 02:50:37,467
and town staff's January 13,

4114
02:50:37,700 --> 02:50:39,567
2023 report that reviewed

4115
02:50:39,567 --> 02:50:42,767
Glade Spring Crossing affordable housing plan.

4116
02:50:42,767 --> 02:50:45,167
The comprehensive plan states that as an area of

4117
02:50:45,167 --> 02:50:47,833
opportunity and an employment center for the region,

4118
02:50:47,833 --> 02:50:49,500
Blacksburg has a responsibility to

4119
02:50:49,500 --> 02:50:52,100
provide its share of affordable housing.

4120
02:50:52,100 --> 02:50:54,333
The comprehensive plan also recognizes that

4121
02:50:54,333 --> 02:50:57,667
the town cannot meet this housing need alone.

4122
02:50:57,667 --> 02:51:00,467
Coordination with other entities in

4123
02:51:00,467 --> 02:51:04,667
the manner Glade Spring Crossing proposes here,

4124
02:51:05,100 --> 02:51:07,400
and with the help of the new River Land Trust is

4125
02:51:07,400 --> 02:51:10,400
necessary to realize these aspirations.

4126
02:51:10,800 --> 02:51:12,633
Developments like this help persons who

4127
02:51:12,633 --> 02:51:15,100
work in the town to live in the town,

4128
02:51:15,100 --> 02:51:16,933
and housing that is not oriented to

4129
02:51:16,933 --> 02:51:20,433
students is a much needed use in the town.

4130
02:51:20,433 --> 02:51:22,233
Glade Spring Crossing has proffered

4131
02:51:22,233 --> 02:51:24,500
meaningful rental restrictions to

4132
02:51:24,500 --> 02:51:26,833
keep the development owner occupied.

4133
02:51:26,833 --> 02:51:29,533
There are bicycle and pedestrian connectivity features

4134
02:51:29,533 --> 02:51:30,767
as well as structures and

4135
02:51:30,767 --> 02:51:33,767
infrastructure that honor the rural character

4136
02:51:33,767 --> 02:51:37,133
of the Thomas Creek Basin in this location.

4137
02:51:37,133 --> 02:51:38,967
If approved, the proposed

4138
02:51:38,967 --> 02:51:41,300
Glade Spring Crossing development through

4139
02:51:41,300 --> 02:51:42,900
the regional stormwater facility

4140
02:51:42,900 --> 02:51:44,300
will be a vehicle to address

4141
02:51:44,300 --> 02:51:47,833
long running flooding problems in the Thomas Creek Basin,

4142
02:51:47,833 --> 02:51:51,500
as you call them legacy, storm water problems.

4143
02:51:51,500 --> 02:51:54,233
It will maintain a significant amount of open space.

4144
02:51:54,233 --> 02:51:55,567
It is consistent with the recent

4145
02:51:55,567 --> 02:51:58,133
comprehensive plan amendment for this property,

4146
02:51:58,133 --> 02:52:01,500
and the site is adjacent to existing utilities.

4147
02:52:01,500 --> 02:52:04,167
In contrast, by right development

4148
02:52:04,167 --> 02:52:06,533
could realistically cover the entire basin with

4149
02:52:06,533 --> 02:52:08,900
single family homes without

4150
02:52:08,900 --> 02:52:11,900
interruption that spoil the water,

4151
02:52:12,100 --> 02:52:14,933
the soil, and the views.

4152
02:52:14,933 --> 02:52:16,467
One way or another, Blacksburg

4153
02:52:16,467 --> 02:52:18,467
will not stay the way it is now.

4154
02:52:18,467 --> 02:52:20,200
Glade Spring Crossing as proposed,

4155
02:52:20,200 --> 02:52:23,667
is an example of what the alternative could look like.

4156
02:52:23,667 --> 02:52:25,100
A friend of mine, someone who grew

4157
02:52:25,100 --> 02:52:27,000
up in town, once equipped,

4158
02:52:27,000 --> 02:52:31,933
Blacksburg is not like it used to be, it never was.

4159
02:52:31,933 --> 02:52:34,167
So in summary, council has heard

4160
02:52:34,167 --> 02:52:37,467
much about the number of variances in this proposal.

4161
02:52:37,467 --> 02:52:39,267
It is the council's responsibility to

4162
02:52:39,267 --> 02:52:42,333
assess the project through a much broader lens.

4163
02:52:42,333 --> 02:52:43,400
The point of a planned

4164
02:52:43,400 --> 02:52:46,300
residential proposal like this one,

4165
02:52:46,300 --> 02:52:49,867
is that we are being invited to contemplate a new set of

4166
02:52:49,867 --> 02:52:52,100
standards to build a neighborhood

4167
02:52:52,100 --> 02:52:54,200
of a particular character.

4168
02:52:54,200 --> 02:52:57,467
This proposal is not like any others we have reviewed.

4169
02:52:57,467 --> 02:52:59,800
It is a vision for something we haven't seen since

4170
02:52:59,800 --> 02:53:04,000
the 1970s when Heath Wood was proposed.

4171
02:53:04,533 --> 02:53:07,933
At that time, a quarter of the town's land mass was

4172
02:53:07,933 --> 02:53:10,300
developed into mixed income housing

4173
02:53:10,300 --> 02:53:12,233
with recreational facilities,

4174
02:53:12,233 --> 02:53:15,133
and amenities like retail and office space.

4175
02:53:15,133 --> 02:53:18,767
It was bleeding edge progressive for the time,

4176
02:53:18,767 --> 02:53:22,600
and it's still an asset to this community 50 years later.

4177
02:53:22,600 --> 02:53:24,600
Similarly, the Spring Valley Proposal

4178
02:53:24,600 --> 02:53:26,600
was approved in 1995.

4179
02:53:26,600 --> 02:53:28,600
Not without controversy as

4180
02:53:28,600 --> 02:53:32,330
a planned residential development just like this one.

4181
02:53:32,330 --> 02:53:33,600
And that was at the same time that

4182
02:53:33,600 --> 02:53:35,567
town staff were contemplating

4183
02:53:35,567 --> 02:53:37,967
changes to our zoning ordinance.

4184
02:53:37,967 --> 02:53:41,200
A new RR-1 zoning type was not

4185
02:53:41,200 --> 02:53:45,667
adopted until a year after that subdivision was approved.

4186
02:53:45,667 --> 02:53:49,467
And Spring Valley was ultimately built out as

4187
02:53:49,467 --> 02:53:54,367
the village that Tom's Creek on a former golf course.

4188
02:53:54,367 --> 02:53:57,233
And if residents now find it a desirable neighborhood,

4189
02:53:57,233 --> 02:53:59,100
it was because town council

4190
02:53:59,100 --> 02:54:01,967
was willing to consider new ideas,

4191
02:54:01,967 --> 02:54:04,333
multi use zoning, higher density,

4192
02:54:04,333 --> 02:54:08,670
and a mix of housing types with accessible public spaces.

4193
02:54:08,670 --> 02:54:09,400
For all of these reasons,

4194
02:54:09,400 --> 02:54:12,670
I find that this proposed re zoning is supported by

4195
02:54:12,670 --> 02:54:13,933
the comprehensive plan and that

4196
02:54:13,933 --> 02:54:16,367
the rezoning will benefit the entire community,

4197
02:54:16,367 --> 02:54:21,767
which is why I will also vote for Ordinance 2007.

4198
02:54:23,670 --> 02:54:24,900
So we have a motion in a second.

4199
02:54:24,900 --> 02:54:27,267
Will the clerk please call the roll?

4200
02:54:27,267 --> 02:54:28,467
>> Smith?

4201
02:54:28,467 --> 02:54:29,700
>> Aye.

4202
02:54:29,700 --> 02:54:30,367
>> Mattingly?

4203
02:54:30,367 --> 02:54:31,733
>> Aye.

4204
02:54:31,733 --> 02:54:32,233
>> Anderson?

4205
02:54:32,233 --> 02:54:32,933
>> Aye.

4206
02:54:32,933 --> 02:54:33,367
>> Bush?

4207
02:54:33,367 --> 02:54:34,330
>> Aye.

4208
02:54:34,330 --> 02:54:34,600
>> Colliver.

4209
02:54:34,600 --> 02:54:35,233
>> Aye.

4210
02:54:35,233 --> 02:54:35,633
>> Ford.

4211
02:54:35,633 --> 02:54:37,633
>> Aye.

4212
02:54:40,200 --> 02:54:43,367
>> There's more but wait, there's more.

4213
02:54:43,367 --> 02:54:46,367
Um, now in related actions,

4214
02:54:48,000 --> 02:54:51,600
the Glade Spring Crossing development agreement.

4215
02:54:53,767 --> 02:54:54,867
>> Attorney Larry Spencer has

4216
02:54:54,867 --> 02:54:58,467
a staff report on that item.

4217
02:55:03,267 --> 02:55:05,600
>> Please take books as you wish.

4218
02:55:05,600 --> 02:55:07,667
Uh, there's a box of them on a table

4219
02:55:07,667 --> 02:55:13,670
outside and you are very welcome to have them.

4220
02:55:22,000 --> 02:55:24,400
>> Already in the way.

4221
02:55:54,133 --> 02:55:56,167
>> Well I'll have some brief uh,

4222
02:55:56,167 --> 02:55:59,667
remarks or- or really just a summary of this.

4223
02:55:59,667 --> 02:56:01,267
Um, so the proposed development

4224
02:56:01,267 --> 02:56:03,330
agreement between the town and

4225
02:56:03,330 --> 02:56:06,933
Glade Spring Crossing LLC will provide $2 million in

4226
02:56:06,933 --> 02:56:10,433
American Recovery Act funds to fund- to partially fund

4227
02:56:10,433 --> 02:56:11,800
24 affordable homes in

4228
02:56:11,800 --> 02:56:14,800
the Glade Spring Development-Crossing Development.

4229
02:56:15,467 --> 02:56:17,633
The fundamentals of this agreement have been discussed in

4230
02:56:17,633 --> 02:56:19,933
previous work sessions and

4231
02:56:19,933 --> 02:56:22,133
counsel walked through this- the details of

4232
02:56:22,133 --> 02:56:26,667
the text of the agreement on May 2nd.

4233
02:56:26,667 --> 02:56:28,933
Key point, the first 10 homes must be built by

4234
02:56:28,933 --> 02:56:30,933
December 31st, 2026.

4235
02:56:32,567 --> 02:56:35,400
In the agreement, the town has agreed to expedite

4236
02:56:35,400 --> 02:56:37,700
its development review process

4237
02:56:37,700 --> 02:56:40,000
to help meet that deadline.

4238
02:56:40,000 --> 02:56:43,133
Um, it also has provisions that determine what

4239
02:56:43,133 --> 02:56:44,667
the maximum selling price of

4240
02:56:44,667 --> 02:56:48,433
the affordable homes will be through a formula.

4241
02:56:48,433 --> 02:56:50,833
The development involves the New River Home Trust,

4242
02:56:50,833 --> 02:56:52,267
which will own the lots in which

4243
02:56:52,267 --> 02:56:55,100
the affordable house- homes will be built.

4244
02:56:55,100 --> 02:56:56,733
The Home Trust will also have a role in

4245
02:56:56,733 --> 02:56:58,767
marketing the affordable units,

4246
02:56:58,767 --> 02:57:00,567
so it's an important partner.

4247
02:57:00,567 --> 02:57:02,733
And finally the development agreement

4248
02:57:02,733 --> 02:57:04,000
has protections in case

4249
02:57:04,000 --> 02:57:05,667
the deadline cannot be met

4250
02:57:05,667 --> 02:57:09,267
or other contractual issues that arise.

4251
02:57:10,367 --> 02:57:16,367
And that's all I have. So your motion would be

4252
02:57:18,670 --> 02:57:21,330
is- if you would be is there a motion to

4253
02:57:21,330 --> 02:57:23,633
approve the development agreement and

4254
02:57:23,633 --> 02:57:24,900
authorize the town manager

4255
02:57:24,900 --> 02:57:27,633
to sign the development agreement?

4256
02:57:27,633 --> 02:57:28,567
>> Is there?

4257
02:57:28,567 --> 02:57:31,300
>> I move that we, um,

4258
02:57:31,300 --> 02:57:33,333
approve the development agreement and

4259
02:57:33,333 --> 02:57:37,600
authorize the town manager to sign the agreement.

4260
02:57:37,600 --> 02:57:38,700
>> Second.

4261
02:57:38,700 --> 02:57:39,867
>> Okay. We have a motion and a second.

4262
02:57:39,867 --> 02:57:41,867
Will the clerk please call the roll?

4263
02:57:41,867 --> 02:57:42,267
>> Smith.

4264
02:57:42,267 --> 02:57:43,670
>> Aye.

4265
02:57:43,670 --> 02:57:43,867
>> Anderson.

4266
02:57:43,867 --> 02:57:44,667
>> Aye.

4267
02:57:44,667 --> 02:57:46,333
>> Bush. >> Aye.

4268
02:57:46,333 --> 02:57:47,100
>> Colliver.

4269
02:57:47,100 --> 02:57:47,633
>> Aye.

4270
02:57:47,633 --> 02:57:48,167
>> Sutphin.

4271
02:57:48,167 --> 02:57:50,167
>> Aye.

4272
02:57:53,300 --> 02:57:54,833
>> Moving on to citizen comments.

4273
02:57:54,833 --> 02:57:57,233
Are there any remaining?

4274
02:57:59,400 --> 02:58:01,500
Seeing none, we have an appointment to make,

4275
02:58:01,500 --> 02:58:02,867
two appointments to make.

4276
02:58:02,867 --> 02:58:04,000
We will reappoint

4277
02:58:04,000 --> 02:58:06,300
Deputy Town Manager Christopher Lawrence

4278
02:58:06,300 --> 02:58:09,867
to the onward new River Valley Executive Committee.

4279
02:58:09,867 --> 02:58:12,833
And also reappoint town manager Mark Neil to

4280
02:58:12,833 --> 02:58:16,233
the New River Valley Regional Water Authority.

4281
02:58:16,233 --> 02:58:17,733
What is counsel's pleasure

4282
02:58:17,733 --> 02:58:19,567
to do with these two appointments?

4283
02:58:19,567 --> 02:58:22,300
>> I move that reappoint deputy Town manager

4284
02:58:22,300 --> 02:58:23,600
Christopher Lawrence to

4285
02:58:23,600 --> 02:58:25,933
the onward New River Valley Executive Committee.

4286
02:58:25,933 --> 02:58:27,833
And also that we reappoint

4287
02:58:27,833 --> 02:58:29,967
Town Manager Mark Neil to

4288
02:58:29,967 --> 02:58:32,967
the New River Valley Regional Water Authority.

4289
02:58:32,967 --> 02:58:33,967
>> Second.

4290
02:58:33,967 --> 02:58:35,670
>> And we have a motion in a second.

4291
02:58:35,670 --> 02:58:37,200
Will the clerk please call the roll.

4292
02:58:37,200 --> 02:58:37,967
>> Anderson?

4293
02:58:37,967 --> 02:58:38,867
>> Aye.

4294
02:58:38,867 --> 02:58:39,267
>> Bush?

4295
02:58:39,267 --> 02:58:40,133
>> Aye.

4296
02:58:40,133 --> 02:58:40,533
>> Collliver?

4297
02:58:40,533 --> 02:58:41,400
>> Aye.

4298
02:58:41,400 --> 02:58:42,670
>> Ford.

4299
02:58:42,670 --> 02:58:42,733
>> Aye.

4300
02:58:42,733 --> 02:58:43,300
>> Anderson.

4301
02:58:43,300 --> 02:58:44,700
>> Aye. >> Mattingly.

4302
02:58:44,700 --> 02:58:45,833
>> Aye.

4303
02:58:45,833 --> 02:58:48,833
>> Unfinished business? We have none.

4304
02:58:50,233 --> 02:58:53,833
New business? None. Um, council announcements.

4305
02:58:56,700 --> 02:58:59,467
And then we have two or three things here.

4306
02:58:59,467 --> 02:59:00,800
>> No, not you.

4307
02:59:00,800 --> 02:59:02,300
>> I have counsel announcements,

4308
02:59:02,300 --> 02:59:04,833
and I have a slide in theory. Yes, here we go.

4309
02:59:04,833 --> 02:59:07,100
Um, I have a resolution,

4310
02:59:07,100 --> 02:59:08,600
and I kind of hate to read it since

4311
02:59:08,600 --> 02:59:11,133
we are three hour long meeting, um,

4312
02:59:11,133 --> 02:59:12,867
whereas the Blacksburg community members have

4313
02:59:12,867 --> 02:59:14,967
expressed strong support for expansion of bicycle

4314
02:59:14,967 --> 02:59:18,567
and pedestrian infrastructure and amenities, etc.

4315
02:59:20,933 --> 02:59:22,333
>> Is that what it says?

4316
02:59:22,333 --> 02:59:24,967
>> No, it doesn't, but you'll thank me in a few minutes.

4317
02:59:24,967 --> 02:59:26,200
For the past 67 years,

4318
02:59:26,200 --> 02:59:28,233
the month of May has been declared and recognized,

4319
02:59:28,233 --> 02:59:29,700
this national bike month.

4320
02:59:29,700 --> 02:59:31,733
And this year, Blacksburg is doing

4321
02:59:31,733 --> 02:59:34,133
a expanded bike week

4322
02:59:35,533 --> 02:59:37,833
for the 19th to the 26th called Bikes Burg.

4323
02:59:37,833 --> 02:59:40,167
And there's all kind of fun things going on

4324
02:59:40,167 --> 02:59:44,300
including a bike parade down Main Street at 10.

4325
02:59:44,300 --> 02:59:45,833
Bike bus you can see,

4326
02:59:45,833 --> 02:59:49,900
you can get more information at the town webpage.

4327
02:59:49,900 --> 02:59:52,400
So take the bike to work challenge.

4328
02:59:52,400 --> 02:59:53,833
Do some bike yoga,

4329
02:59:53,833 --> 02:59:57,800
and by all means, come on downtown and enjoy the fun.

4330
02:59:57,800 --> 02:59:58,967
>> And I'll just add to that,

4331
02:59:58,967 --> 03:00:00,467
we are this evening

4332
03:00:00,467 --> 03:00:04,670
also not reading two other proclamations,

4333
03:00:04,600 --> 03:00:07,367
and one of them is to name, um,

4334
03:00:07,367 --> 03:00:11,333
May 21-27 the emergency medical services week.

4335
03:00:11,333 --> 03:00:13,400
And also to recognize

4336
03:00:13,400 --> 03:00:15,400
the Blacksburg Rotary Club, that actually,

4337
03:00:15,400 --> 03:00:17,300
it's the Christiansburg Blacksburg Rotary Club,

4338
03:00:17,300 --> 03:00:20,500
which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

4339
03:00:20,500 --> 03:00:21,567
So that's great.

4340
03:00:21,567 --> 03:00:24,567
>> That's pretty impressive. And if

4341
03:00:26,733 --> 03:00:30,933
we have nothing else, we are adjourned.