[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6187813,"mediaKeyId","5064325-c53e1b4916986389bcce1feb74baeb8d","parentId",5064325,"title","Council approves VDOT revenue-sharing funds to close financing gap for Harding Avenue project","audioSeconds",249,"startMs",249000,"endMs",498000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064325-c53e1b4916986389bcce1feb74baeb8d&start=249&end=498","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064325-c53e1b4916986389bcce1feb74baeb8d/thumbnail_249000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6187813/Blacksburg/Montgomery-County/Virginia/Council-approves-VDOT-revenue-sharing-funds-to-close-financing-gap-for-Harding-Avenue-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187813-51ca95c81d30d0e64487390e6984a52b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776724213&Signature=JgqFKyvF1xsc1Rw2eyuNZ65qOjHeYYKp09vuYFgGl1-qr4nlq2eJZjKgPAAGyrnP5n67Bu1DVR7yD0at2-weMINnyM78Zu6onc2BUrAFdLuSZqe97BPSlBb9Auaogr5j6FSjUiARv3ykEenYSWobMjh4~P7iAE84LuPjplQz~m5xVJUpJn3McQCKDSk3LWHSseofsLsjXCnbRRuOKCblSmMfagdDz7rL~~pPexp6G40t51h-DGvubtUq4RCG5owJl~-WOInbC7HVHxq8HZrRIz2TRMXCYZleFh9760HRfCFekyS-w4lxGIpyzD4IOPcCB4mVEuEiD42SoRs-UKulKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-24T22:48:35Z","article","The Blacksburg Town Council approved Ordinance 2089 on June 25 to accept and appropriate Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) revenue-sharing funds to the town’s VDOT revenue-sharing account, closing the remaining financing gap for the Harding Avenue project.

The ordinance as read into the record authorized accepting and appropriating $2,397,000 in VDOT revenue-sharing funds to the fiscal year 2024–25 operating budget. Town staff later described the amount as “$2,400,000” in remarks to council; the difference was stated on the record during the same discussion.

Matt Hanratty, town staff, described the Harding Avenue project as the reason for the appropriation and said, “This $2,400,000 is the last gap we need for the Harding Avenue project, so we can move forward with construction as we've discussed at your work session.” He summarized the project’s visible elements as “basically, almost 4,000 linear feet of sidewalk, bike lanes, storm water, really from the corporate limit, on the East side of town all the way down Harding past Patrick Henry Drive.”

Council called for public comment and received none for Ordinance 2089. A motion to approve the ordinance was made and seconded, and the clerk called the roll. The transcript records the following recorded votes: Edgar Smith — Aye; Mattingly — Aye; Sutphin — Aye; Watson — Aye; Anderson — Aye; Ford — Aye. The ordinance carried on a unanimous recorded vote of the members present; Councilmember Oliver was recorded as absent earlier in the meeting.

Project scope described by staff indicates the work will add pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and stormwater improvements along a multi-block corridor on Harding Avenue. The appropriation places the VDOT revenue-sharing funds into the town’s revenue-sharing account and is presented on the record as the final funding gap to proceed to construction.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Blacksburg Town Council Meeting - June 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Blacksburg Town Council approved Ordinance 2089 to accept and appropriate $2,397,000 in VDOT revenue-sharing funds to close the remaining funding gap for the Harding Avenue project.","taxTitle","Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia","taxId",4264,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6187818,"Blacksburg council welcomes new police chief John Clare",157,52000,209000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064325-c53e1b4916986389bcce1feb74baeb8d&start=52&end=209","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064325-c53e1b4916986389bcce1feb74baeb8d/thumbnail_52000.jpg","/articles/6187818/Blacksburg/Montgomery-County/Virginia/Blacksburg-council-welcomes-new-police-chief-John-Clare","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187818-2a360d1a170d3e1a629e08c26c123309/orig.mp4?Expires=1776724212&Signature=MwQ-htNtmZJqwm09bMGn5LKS7BqPSAk4DhrU3PXt4F4YGYROjXP2v4ftwkM8MEX4tJkzpvnMWm~zhRJ8~74~3kspv6SX16oiY8BcPG8RmOB2d1Wip3A1Kv4yFATaNBcEEyAtsZl81aVwIS9XFhxPdVZwn6HYkuPPsyKCKgewQEWFBNA90Ta1ZBLwNlgtRC06V9MX0~w90Be3khEpBVGHmRUgSQ-~fvZJKpa8u8CIVBVyi3ZiQBpNdnlescpeCGNnKfLmek-vrdjlOhNQUMMpM6TTclIRQe2Zf0y6YDakgCsmiQVOUVuXIB7CeM6jWkWHdtE8a5f71CKLrmHchiV5tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police Chief John Clare was introduced and welcomed at the June 25 Blacksburg Town Council meeting.

Mayor (not named in transcript) said the council wanted to welcome the new chief and summarized Clare’s background, including prior service as chief in Marion, Virginia, and Quantico, Virginia. Mayor (not named in transcript) said, “It’s great pleasure that he, is our new police chief, and I’ll give him a few minutes at the mic.”

Clare thanked the council for the appointment and described his impressions of the department and community. He said, “I can’t, tell you how much I appreciate your selection of me as chief of police. Incredible opportunity to come to this community.” He reviewed his prior experience in Marion, where the transcript states he oversaw a $2,100,000 budget and a team of 22 sworn officers and reported a 35% reduction in overall crime under his leadership.

Clare also summarized other elements of his background that he mentioned at the meeting: launch of community engagement programs focused on local and regional media, youth and vulnerable populations; initiatives in officer wellness and career development; previous service in Quantico described as “instrumental in restoring organizational integrity and launching a new public safety…initiatives;” and completion of recent graduate leadership programs, including a master’s degree in executive leadership and attendance at the UVA Sorensen political leaders program.

The council moved on to the consent agenda after the brief remarks; no formal hiring vote or appointment motion was made on the public record during this agenda item, and the welcome was presented as an introductory, ceremonial statement rather than a formal personnel action.","The Blacksburg Town Council formally introduced John Clare as the town's new police chief and gave him an opportunity to address the council and audience. Clare summarized his prior leadership roles and said he looks forward to working with the community.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6187803,"Council appoints members to planning, advisory and arts boards",176,723000,899000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064325-c53e1b4916986389bcce1feb74baeb8d&start=723&end=899","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064325-c53e1b4916986389bcce1feb74baeb8d/thumbnail_723000.jpg","/articles/6187803/Blacksburg/Montgomery-County/Virginia/Council-appoints-members-to-planning-advisory-and-arts-boards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187803-eb284e69deb8964999d1870163e5bfdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1776724212&Signature=WIlrPR~tOkGtQ1RG6bxBey~ouldj4qs9oWTQl6J~G0tCuJPlgmGJfhm298oHvr~S2eQLgmBJ95HKeZeRODuD9lsX3lcqVc3ZVVFOmE1ADL24xf~E2Rzu5bi0m3vosskFQ6kqFuvFpYi6mUpg-iRliQTmFMIPQPuq2ZoQu2IFAgSf971vhiTLD46eYDLiq53-cQRkiUjFafQNBo5zWt0agvyvPhNGW3F~ujwDzujFIDlQygqak3J-q-8nVPeLv~yQaMcdyLb0J33DInP5fMGECFhR09lL2G6wd0OsI2XSOp6siZiMUfVoQEELpb1Ev24OI4jJiTlWJL2~zLDpvVDtNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blacksburg Town Council announced and approved a slate of appointments to town advisory boards and commissions at the June 25 meeting; most terms will begin July 1 and run four years.

The council announced appointments including Mel Jones to the Blacksburg Planning Commission; Meredith Jones and Jordan Truesdell to the Board of Building Code Appeals; Jesse Jubrowski to the Board of Zoning Appeals; Sally Pfeiffer and Charles Shade to the Corridor Advisory Committee; Gary Buss, Kristin Washko, Lauren Webb and Kathryn Thompson to the Historic or Design Review Board; Charlie Brower and Jason Hardy to the Public Arts Committee; and William Baldwin, Rachel Knapp and Brandy Faulkner to the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board. The council described these as mostly four-year terms that begin with the town’s fiscal year on July 1.

A council speaker (Mayor/not named in transcript) emphasized the value of citizen service on advisory committees and said, “I will just, underscore the fact that we really rely on student, sorry, on, citizen talent, on the hours of, time that citizens are willing to spend on our advisory committees. Their opinions are important to us, and they have a very real, opportunity to shape policy when they join us in this committee work.”

A motion to approve the 2025 board and committee appointments was made and seconded; the clerk called the roll. The transcript records the following recorded votes on the appointments: Mattingly — Aye; Sutphin — Aye; Watson — Aye; Anderson — Aye; Ford — Aye; Hagar Smith — Aye. The motion carried.

Council thanked appointees and noted the importance of committee work to town policy and planning; no additional debate or public testimony was recorded during the appointments vote.","Blacksburg Town Council announced and approved multiple appointments to planning, zoning, advisory and arts committees for four-year terms beginning July 1. Council emphasized reliance on citizen volunteers to staff advisory bodies.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6187808,"Resident urges council to deny 801 North Main amendment, citing parking, setback and traffic concerns",245,402000,647000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064325-c53e1b4916986389bcce1feb74baeb8d&start=402&end=647","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064325-c53e1b4916986389bcce1feb74baeb8d/thumbnail_402000.jpg","/articles/6187808/Blacksburg/Montgomery-County/Virginia/Resident-urges-council-to-deny-801-North-Main-amendment-citing-parking-setback-and-traffic-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187808-69ab00cedce68de0d641400fd7dd7253/orig.mp4?Expires=1776724212&Signature=gOlai16heZbTz4qcJclK~bHoRCANJEcgBTdY73dfbZJ76O2Qxe-TiCduCBkVw6PpRnIkm7jnKVPc4KKb6h9rg5~lFwrznuDzft78yUrhTLZLVU~hk-zVy5MYQoAtKIvffwRM6tmsmUthRHCxpU-pKlH6TpRpPVwC3f4jX88PqDAztXGyzm909J6TClSrBDEj1jTgoVPWp7BMlRuQJm9KSuLjfnu6Z1JuoNFfs1oBLR1wen5eAIVJL5VPx-9zH7bzY4vrkJW3kRzqDCQZlPVC8xtjO4fUrOI4nnocP0mk~LPi5m0ECi12ORaJ5tWjxwxUCq89jVea69q4O-iueegWOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Blacksburg resident urged the Town Council to deny a forthcoming amendment to the 801 North Main development, saying the changes would worsen parking, aesthetics and traffic.

Mark Chobaca, of 817 Montgomery Street, spoke during the public comment period and said three concerns should guide council action when the amendment is considered in two weeks: increased parking demand, reduced setbacks that would bring development closer to Main Street, and traffic impacts. He said the amendment “may make the development seem better, but I think most of the most egregious parts of this development get worse with this amendment, not better.”

Chobaca urged the council not to rely exclusively on parking ratios and to consider absolute parking counts. He told the council the current development could create “an overflow of between 228 and 456 cars that are gonna have to be absorbed somewhere in town,” naming likely spillover onto public streets and nearby neighborhoods including Cambridge and Bennett Hill Progress. He also criticized a proposed 0-foot setback, saying commercial zoning currently requires “I believe, it's 10 feet of setback,” and warned that the closer building edge would be inappropriate for Main Street’s existing commercial frontage.

On traffic, Chobaca said the amendment could “severely hamper our ability to put a traffic circle there,” and noted traffic circles have been a recent local success. He concluded by urging council to “deny this amendment when it comes before you.”

Mayor (not named in transcript) asked a follow-up question about a T-shirt Chobaca was wearing; Chobaca replied that the phrase “street parking is theft” expresses the argument that street space could be repurposed for other uses such as separated bike lanes, and that Blacksburg’s biking infrastructure is “woefully inadequate.”

The council did not take action on the 801 North Main amendment at this meeting; Chobaca noted the amendment will come before the council in two weeks.","At the June 25 Blacksburg Town Council meeting, resident Mark Chobaca urged the council to deny an upcoming amendment to the 801 North Main development, arguing it would worsen parking overflow, reduce setbacks and hamper planned traffic solutions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves VDOT revenue-sharing funds to close financing gap for Harding Avenue project

Blacksburg council welcomes new police chief John Clare

Council appoints members to planning, advisory and arts boards

Resident urges council to deny 801 North Main amendment, citing parking, setback and traffic concerns