[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6531586,"mediaKeyId","3524263-e3613866f31cc75092b24dda9ebfcbbc","parentId",3524263,"title","Council opens public hearing on school board vacancies, schedules candidate interviews","audioSeconds",2682,"startMs",4218000,"endMs",6900000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3524263-e3613866f31cc75092b24dda9ebfcbbc&start=4218&end=6900","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3524263-e3613866f31cc75092b24dda9ebfcbbc/thumbnail_4218000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531586/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Council-opens-public-hearing-on-school-board-vacancies-schedules-candidate-interviews","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531586-bc8327513e8d191620e2063a2275380e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=WVfAk8pJk~5-sIFoyZLrSlgqrpePhNrwrCfuKX-NzXN42-TvS~CcwimNkvKg8rk6UAXJG0aKVhhVSUcWMYSBlkpd6vkrme5jygtuVpnajlOl36a9GBl397uZEbtvZ~MDI9PI2AkuegoXipXRLZbW3r1Zh7ElwhD9jwnKct1SNbsKKj3loIJ7HqxNz50iIrxzTmG3a5EOeVp9yUDBJk-HDQ-x17a0kUW3z1oTcCJbiezmKxaOvQuoPOXNDpgRbdmA6R~tBlg06zAWdr-l43hAsdOm8PXuxOaWaq-6RrvLC-PpCj8x6QefxRw-b0~0IdsjpDB4sKLQyumco-OQAz7OHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lynchburg","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","Lynchburg City Council held a public hearing on May 27 to receive names and brief remarks from candidates seeking appointment to upcoming vacancies on the Lynchburg School Board (Districts 1, 2 and 3), and the council selected a slate of applicants to invite for interviews.

City staff read the names of dozens of applicants into the record, as required by state code, and candidates who had not previously spoken were given an opportunity to address council for three minutes. Dozens of candidates and community supporters spoke about priorities including literacy, teacher pay, school safety, mental health and career and technical education.

Candidates who spoke from District 1 included Deborah Trevzger, who described herself as a lifelong educator and argued the district must “first acknowledge our failures and seek wisdom.” From District 2, Sharron Simpson and Rodney Hubbard were among those who presented their qualifications; several candidates from District 3 also addressed council, including Dr. Brenda Farmer and Tori Howard.

After the hearing, council agreed to invite a subset of applicants for interviews and to hold residency checks before final action. Council scheduled interview sessions on June 10 and asked staff to complete residency verifications for candidates before interviews. Several council members publicly named candidates they wanted to interview; the transcript records multiple names that councilors asked staff to schedule. Among those councilors asked to be interviewed were (by council request during the meeting): Dr. Harvey Clam, Jabri Poe, Jack Collins, April Watson, Mike Baron, Sharron Simpson, Dr. Brenda Farmer, Gloria Preston, Tori Howard, Eliza (Liza) Giganto, Deborah Trefzger and others; staff will confirm final interview lists and residency status.

Why it matters: Appointments will fill school board seats that become vacant June 30 and will shape governance of district policy, budget priorities and superintendent oversight. Candidates and speakers emphasized reading and early‑grade literacy, teacher retention, mental‑health services, and preserving signature programs.

What’s next: Council said it will conduct interviews on June 10, perform residency checks and return to make appointments. The public hearing record will remain part of the appointment file; council invited community members and supporters to remain engaged during the interview and appointment process.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lynchburg City Council Meeting 5-27-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council opened a public hearing May 27 to receive names and brief remarks from dozens of applicants for upcoming Lynchburg School Board vacancies and identified candidates to be interviewed on June 10.","taxTitle","Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia","taxId",3745,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531591,"Council kills proposed 12.5% lodging tax and $10 nightly fee after hours of public comment",615,7178000,7793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3524263-e3613866f31cc75092b24dda9ebfcbbc&start=7178&end=7793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3524263-e3613866f31cc75092b24dda9ebfcbbc/thumbnail_7178000.jpg","/articles/6531591/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Council-kills-proposed-125-lodging-tax-and-10-nightly-fee-after-hours-of-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531591-c6f462af104d955640051ef458af40cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=KnesPesNYi~A~Y~ANtWgHPRi7NzUjyg2m8ejoseyZt3t3tCz9gbr9Pf81Dsrgot~kCFuHWk4ZOtbYLk5xpX5q1Dbi-WuNa0zT7KwHnzcFaBJZ-qdgeV-4YRs5qZzNzFfN0jQuwfkKhiqSen3vsB~~xfXlswbFOv4FacZj3I4zT5sGNhmCYhGHJXkImMWBCd5-dvXV082tA7J-h6YfLpZFVGqk0-oLUAnLIEbk~Ckf5x11I7e-juE0fQRyKCkz1FHMr04a5nUsMSQzfbG-0RdFLwHEUXYDxRmBlq8X6NDT4kLqFJlnPT-GCzrNlvXsCu3S2ee77T2TQWkavyuGqSEKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lynchburg City Council on May 27 heard extensive public comment and debate over a staff proposal to raise the city’s transient lodging tax to a maximum of 12.5 percent on room rate plus a $10 per‑night flat fee. The proposal drew strong opposition from short‑term rental hosts, hotel operators, local restaurateurs and business groups, who warned it would make Lynchburg among the most expensive overnight destinations in Virginia and could drive visitors and conventions to neighboring localities.

Speakers at the public hearing described the diversity of the city’s lodging market, from independent bed‑and‑breakfast owners to downtown hotels and hundreds of Airbnb hosts. Amy Corbett, who manages boutique short‑term rentals in Lynchburg, told council, “This proposal is 12.5% plus $10 a night…this increase is extreme,” and warned that the change could deter visitors who otherwise bring restaurant and retail spending to the city. George Stanley of the Virginian Hotel said the change “threatens to raise prices on the average hotel room in Lynchburg by more than 13%…If occupancy falls, people who would otherwise come here stop visiting Lynchburg.”

The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association and the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance urged the council to be cautious and to pair any tax changes with a tourism‑development plan and economic impact analysis. Small hosts and long‑time operators said the proposed flat fee would disproportionately affect budget travelers, parents visiting Liberty University students and family members attending funeral services.

Council action unfolded in several steps. Early in the meeting a council member moved to deny the proposed lodging tax increase and the council’s voting machine recorded that motion as passing 6‑1. Later, some members successfully moved to reconsider the denial and bring the item back for discussion — the motion to reconsider succeeded 4‑3. After further debate and cross‑examination and additional public input, council voted 5‑2 to postpone reconsideration indefinitely, effectively removing the specific 12.5% plus $10 proposal from immediate consideration.

Why it matters: The lodging tax is paid largely by visitors, and it funds tourism, events and sometimes general fund priorities. Opponents argued a sharp increase could reduce overnight stays and cost local jobs and restaurant and retail revenue. Supporters of finding new local revenue sources argued the city faces budgetary pressure and sought options short of a large real estate‑tax increase on homeowners.

What’s next: The council did not adopt the 12.5%/$10 proposal. Because council later voted to postpone reconsideration indefinitely, staff and council will need to determine whether to bring back any lodging tax proposal at a lower rate and with an explicit plan for using the new revenue; the record shows council members asked for further impact study and for proposals that pair rate changes with tourism investment plans.

","After hours of public testimony from hoteliers, short‑term rental hosts and restaurants, Lynchburg City Council moved to remove from consideration a staff‑proposed increase in the transient lodging tax to 12.5% plus a $10 nightly fee.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531581,"Votes at a glance: key Lynchburg council actions, May 27, 2025",9276,1224000,10500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3524263-e3613866f31cc75092b24dda9ebfcbbc&start=1224&end=10500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3524263-e3613866f31cc75092b24dda9ebfcbbc/thumbnail_1224000.jpg","/articles/6531581/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-key-Lynchburg-council-actions-May-27-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531581-e597843f08580d176bd5f10b8847bd85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=HDEHyqSgKMP3X69YF91Ou0OAbLbZ43qu2GfcSLC6OHGY0ZKThgyEM2qahk2TFWog~1zJYlhNraY~Il~qOTULIXVpNnJ5qwb~6fsuvRjNzByyZunC9IRzgR2VAzra7vzfkXuNNYtH~Eu49GpIQbEiuJdNM-y9QIUsi8u1I86pdzgkRlzOn1Wt7L6UkqjVUSdO0w2FpYQaHImWI8vXQa3duOeuSWuTUUlEwZZxILyVrHjx-KAiCzUOW3EvZfB-RbS7qvumSBnBCPzsr4ZPL7Djw5DoQdI351~7pyjyP4CSeSYW6zMrj~qU7byKcURMipWGEkxhUXaEEMqWA6HqyueSow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","This roundup lists formal motions and recorded outcomes from Lynchburg City Council’s May 27 meeting.

• Leesville Road rezoning (agenda item 5) — Adopted (6‑1)
Council adopted an ordinance to rezone approximately 4.6 acres on Leesville Road from R‑1 to R‑4C conditional to allow a 54‑unit townhome development with submitted proffers (including a for‑sale proffer added the day of the hearing). Motion passed on the council voting machine 6‑1.

• Transient lodging tax (agenda item 7) — Denial; reconsideration; postponement indefinitely
Council initially voted to deny the staff‑proposed ordinance to raise the lodging tax to 12.5% plus a $10 nightly fee (machine vote recorded 6‑1). A later motion to reconsider that denial passed 4‑3. After additional debate and public comment, council voted 5‑2 to postpone reconsideration indefinitely, effectively removing the specific 12.5% + $10 proposal from immediate consideration.

• Real estate tax (agenda item 21) — Direction to staff to produce budget at equalized rate (substitute direction passed 4‑3)
Council considered setting the real estate tax at the equalization rate published with assessments. After substitute motions and debate, the council directed staff to produce a budget at the equalized real‑estate tax rate; the direction passed 4‑3.

• FY2025 third quarter adjustments (ordinance O‑25‑037) — Adopted (6‑1)
The council approved FY2025 third quarter budget adjustments by roll‑call vote 6‑1.

• Capital appropriation for fan experience at stadium (ordinance O‑25‑039) — Adopted (5‑2)
Council approved an amendment to the FY2025 City Capital Projects Fund to appropriate $5,250,000 for a stadium fan‑experience project; roll‑call vote recorded 5‑2.

Why it matters: These votes change the city’s land‑use map, pause a major proposed revenue increase for tourism, and set the process for the city’s fiscal calendar. The direction to staff to produce a budget at equalization resets council debate about whether to equalize property assessments or adopt a different real estate tax rate.

What to watch next: Staff follow‑up on the rezoning (site plan and stormwater), residency checks and interviews for school board appointments on June 10, the city’s production of a budget at the equalized rate per council direction, and whether staff returns with an alternative lodging‑tax proposal or with additional impact analysis.","This summary lists council’s recorded votes on major agenda items from the May 27 meeting, including a rezoning approval, lodging‑tax action and budget directions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531596,"Council approves rezoning for 54 townhomes on Leesville Road over planning commission objections",342,1294000,1636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3524263-e3613866f31cc75092b24dda9ebfcbbc&start=1294&end=1636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3524263-e3613866f31cc75092b24dda9ebfcbbc/thumbnail_1294000.jpg","/articles/6531596/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Council-approves-rezoning-for-54-townhomes-on-Leesville-Road-over-planning-commission-objections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531596-650e6411d517e313c3829177734a1502/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207470&Signature=d8iOySeVAVNaTgL1uG3cKNfw3Of-MLJ1ANYvfR4c5QS1nvYYXHUQhrUSJavvhoBBEDxc8eM-~etz76Nzs-lu~qvq6pkhLJUF2bz9eaJfxnYwK7H2UV0e2eZKmnNBjDpQKOrrt2kbOgmBwClyDECWrVgoFhvRrUo3mCDSe-xJY9F5uW4bE918auJLyzD6uaSh7b~hE9vF0oSUX3vdqAJpDR1L~u8nJeeyGQveMA90w~DvtfrMcJUuBLug31eI8fH55dUa16Tjn7i~RuGuT8c93UOjINBoft9KyqnhkIFu0ranETwUDDjVucFyyNpOvlEJz6tyKCTCYmuNH-UmeJjrkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lynchburg City Council on May 27 approved an ordinance rezoning about 4.6 acres along Leesville Road from R-1 (low-density residential) to R-4C (high-density residential, conditional) to permit a 54-unit townhome development.

Planning staff told the council the petition would change zoning on parcels near Burton Creek and would allow a 54‑unit townhome project on roughly 4.6 acres. Rachel Freshiesen, the planning staff presenter, said Planning Commission had recommended denial at its April hearing, citing traffic concerns and a preference to preserve single‑family zoning. Freshiesen told council the petitioner added a proffer on the morning of the hearing: “the units would be for sale.”

The petitioner’s representative said the design meets technical ordinance requirements and argued the existing houses on the site are dilapidated. Supporters who spoke at the public hearing called the development a source of for‑sale, lower‑priced housing. Dawson Martin, who identified himself with Martin Ridge Homes, said the developer has built and renovated homes in Lynchburg and that the proposal would “bring some affordable housing to Lynchburg.” Other proponents included local realtors and residents who said townhomes would help recent graduates and retirees access ownership.

Opposition on council and at the hearing centered on traffic on Leesville Road and cumulative development in that corridor. Ward 3 Council Member (identified in the record as the ward representative) said neighbors repeatedly told him they wanted to slow down new multifamily development on Leesville Road and cited a series of pending nearby projects that, he said, could combine with this proposal to worsen congestion. In response, the petitioner told council the development’s trip generation study estimates 361 daily trips with AM and PM peak volumes near 30–36 cars and that the project would use a right‑in/right‑out entrance design and provide parking above ordinance minimums.

Technical and design details presented to council included an estimated development cost of about $9 million; a proposed site layout with an entrance taper and a detention/stormwater design intended to meet DEQ and city post‑development rate limits; and a parking plan that the petitioner said would provide 74 spaces for 54 units. The petitioner also said the site would be served by an extension of city sewer and water and that building setbacks would place the first buildings several dozen feet from Leesville Road.

After debate and multiple motions on the floor, council adopted the rezoning ordinance. The recorded outcome on the council’s voting machine was 6-1 in favor.

Why it matters: Rezoning from R-1 to R-4C changes long‑term allowable uses for the parcels and allows higher density than the existing low‑density zoning. Council members who voted in favor cited the need for for‑sale housing options; those opposed cited traffic and preserving existing neighborhood character. The proffer that the units will be sold, and the petitioner’s commitment to provide parking and stormwater controls, were central elements of council’s deliberations.

What’s next: With the ordinance adopted, the developer may proceed to final site plan and permitting consistent with the proffers and city requirements. Council discussion included suggestions about monitoring cumulative traffic impacts on Leesville Road as other nearby projects proceed.

","Lynchburg City Council voted to rezone roughly 4.6 acres on Leesville Road from low-density R-1 to R-4C conditional, allowing a 54-unit townhome project. Planning staff described traffic, parking and stormwater measures; the Planning Commission had recommended denial. The council approved the ordinance after public comment and debate, 6-1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council opens public hearing on school board vacancies, schedules candidate interviews

Council kills proposed 12.5% lodging tax and $10 nightly fee after hours of public comment

Votes at a glance: key Lynchburg council actions, May 27, 2025

Council approves rezoning for 54 townhomes on Leesville Road over planning commission objections