[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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":56,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6139690,"mediaKeyId","5580629-610a804ea9e3f06aec91b0484b6ef843","parentId",5580629,"title","Bristol adopts ordinance to require repair or removal of dangerous structures under Virginia law","audioSeconds",157,"startMs",4061000,"endMs",4218000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580629-610a804ea9e3f06aec91b0484b6ef843&start=4061&end=4218","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580629-610a804ea9e3f06aec91b0484b6ef843/thumbnail_4061000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6139690/Bristol/Washington-County/Virginia/Bristol-adopts-ordinance-to-require-repair-or-removal-of-dangerous-structures-under-Virginia-law","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139690-f5de87c81458ab713d79530c2060b8c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113930&Signature=lncg7o9o2mVUvwgDHwzWewlnJ4stZOcIvO0lT2Fxjt335DQNLIHseD-G4chBu7DkAPO4Ytr6zXBHuau03NNCUTPaN3K42liW2v~up7exOIEyyuG0ySlpcltCszhC-oUIjVGqnzglemXZXz5hnpXIfRU2zFwXR6OXpSzOk9tBWd5heswWROorQqlx9dc1tuH6guW98QmDoEkJhvQq5Unx15TruNFQmayAuZC2US4~OXnLjVLcqaAsH27j6MZi6HnfYZa6nSq1ShiKh-FWbBbRqS43a1JSFSgjf-Ue9Q3VMWMgFIo22CMGVG3Xxf-k5Avl7HXvDr2lTyp7Suy5jgnfQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bristol, VA","date","2025-08-14T11:09:56.203Z","article","On Aug. 12, 2025, the Bristol Virginia City Council adopted Ordinance No. 25-7, authorizing the city to require the removal, repair or securing of structures that endanger public health or safety in accordance with Virginia Code §15.2-906.

City staff told council the ordinance provides an additional legal tool for addressing blighted and derelict properties that present immediate hazards. Staff said existing approaches—warning letters, voluntary compliance and court action—remain available, and this ordinance adds an administrative mechanism to accelerate remediation for properties deemed unsafe.

City Manager Eads and other council members emphasized the ordinance is intended for severely hazardous properties, not for routine maintenance issues such as a broken porch banister. “This is not an ordinance if you have a broken banister on your front porch,” a councilmember said during debate, adding the tool applies to properties that are “several steps beyond that” in disrepair. Councilmembers noted the city already has examples of properties that would qualify.

The council voted to move the ordinance on second reading and then to adopt it. The adoption vote was unanimous. The ordinance citation read into the record was: “Ordinance number 25-7, ordinance of the city of Bristol, Virginia requiring the removal, repair, or securing of structures that endanger the public health or safety in accordance with Virginia Code §15.2-906.”

Staff and council members said the new ordinance will be used selectively, aimed at structures that create imminent hazards to occupants or the public. The city indicated it will follow the procedures laid out in the ordinance and state code when initiating enforcement and will continue to pursue voluntary remediation where feasible.

Implementation will proceed through the city’s code-enforcement and legal processes; staff said they will bring cases to council or court as required by the ordinance and state law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","oneSentenceSummary","City council adopted Ordinance 25-7 authorizing the city to require the removal, repair or securing of structures that endanger public health or safety under Virginia Code §15.2-906. Council members clarified the ordinance targets severely hazardous properties, not minor repairs.","taxTitle","Bristol, Washington County, Virginia","taxId",56054,"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":56,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6139695,"Council approves resolutions to accept opioid manufacturer settlement funds",149,758000,907000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580629-610a804ea9e3f06aec91b0484b6ef843&start=758&end=907","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580629-610a804ea9e3f06aec91b0484b6ef843/thumbnail_758000.jpg","/articles/6139695/Bristol/Washington-County/Virginia/Council-approves-resolutions-to-accept-opioid-manufacturer-settlement-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139695-ad11832887e1c70fd89162b6336f94d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113930&Signature=Rw2I~bpQcbweTVRRkOPTqtHWhwxubAjxA7AoNzh9DtOk3zXWR-rVAN~tu3Edm8-0NPg62Y93s6ynnNkeGP-~j4KRW1o9HHE9hUbdEofmWGP75OuNxu7ZNBhPa-lvVIwyT8Lbz3m3bAJiADnT3zACallZ3BZkNtdMe~xXA~gilxTYFQhHSHK0qfCFCPWpIn9-OW3TiOZMt1TQtYjcBGvSw-MGdE5DFFtIoZN2yc0~xgqwaw~gZXRGctJUs7rQhmwFD6uGxzkBEWRrnUXHxB0S0Rl6mZoTvKWebYDlnYbt-RVjQ3sMaT-q91DKqQy6j5pYur8x1tWWJHs4n6QGFxnrvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Aug. 12, 2025, Bristol Virginia City Council unanimously approved two resolutions to accept settlement payments tied to national bankruptcies and settlements involving opioid manufacturers, including Purdue Pharma and a group of other manufacturers named in the memorandum presented to council.

Outside counsel who represents localities in Virginia advised the city to accept the settlements, staff said. According to the city presentation, Bristol’s share was described in the meeting as a small fraction of the total settlement; staff characterized the city portion as “not a huge dollar” but part of a larger statewide distribution that, as presented, amounts to about $16,000,000 allocated to the state of Virginia from the settlements.

Council discussion framed the action as overdue and as a mechanism to generate funds that affected communities can use to address addiction and its consequences. One councilmember said the manufacturers “produced some very harmful medications … that contributed to a lot of the addiction” affecting Appalachia and the rest of the country, and expressed relief that settlements were moving toward resolution.

A motion to approve the resolutions passed unanimously in roll call. Clerk votes recorded the five councilmembers present as voting yes.

Staff did not provide at the meeting a city-level dollar figure for Bristol’s share beyond describing it as a small percentage of the total and recommended acceptance of the settlements as presented. Council did not adopt any specific local spending plan during the meeting; staff and outside counsel noted that settlement funds typically have rules governing allowable uses and distribution schedules.","Bristol’s City Council approved two resolutions accepting portions of multi-state opioid-manufacturer settlements, a step councilmembers described as overdue though the city’s share is small.",{"_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":56,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6139700,"Council rejects rezoning for proposed Stagecoach Road RV campground after neighborhood objections",218,2102000,2320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5580629-610a804ea9e3f06aec91b0484b6ef843&start=2102&end=2320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5580629-610a804ea9e3f06aec91b0484b6ef843/thumbnail_2102000.jpg","/articles/6139700/Bristol/Washington-County/Virginia/Council-rejects-rezoning-for-proposed-Stagecoach-Road-RV-campground-after-neighborhood-objections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139700-e88fdd894b31e31324274a3ecd92c98c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113930&Signature=FskFbYIzjMUg-Ft4luQFHLUfGUllsVg~7ljvR4uGkDSBSI5YiOOc~mjSkGhEQCcb5HhO7VVlOdc2H0l2rAyERLtQN2-JdFb0ps0Iu3Qv-HBGxQSph-g03CGEyoKoGf~83zocOwCFQJnexdGqnRV0xTLBSchG781IKKOZcdmBfl-TSyWPzRil7TBX77ZA~r0CSTW-5hHPJfL-Y8kK6z1qvIpNXlRHfDcwXj4QEPg6A~UR8W2jrG34whURLlqEFWX8HQWtVq4q-o2AqICMThcHamdI2cUmfgn9U5y-9NeTmZdrx9~TUn8Zffzy4ELYZYr1avSpvS5qmyE6X5p5hqQddg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Aug. 12, 2025, the Bristol Virginia City Council rejected on first reading a zoning map amendment that would have rezoned part of a single-family lot on Stagecoach Road to allow an overnight recreational vehicle (RV) campground on property owned by Paul and Lisa Moss.

The vote came after more than a dozen residents from the Hasson Heights neighborhood and nearby streets urged the council to preserve the residential character of the area and questioned the project's traffic, public-safety and fiscal impacts.

City planning staff told the council the request would rezone a portion of an R-1 (single-family) lot to B-3 (general business) so the Mosses could combine that parcel with adjacent B-3 land to meet the city ordinance minimum of 10 acres required for an overnight recreational campground. Staff recommended approval on first reading. Planning staff also presented a traffic projection that estimated the project would generate an additional six vehicle trips during the morning peak hour and 10 vehicle trips during the evening peak hour.

City staff provided preliminary road-improvement estimates to accommodate heavier vehicles. Public Works figures presented by staff showed an estimated $243,925 to widen lanes from 10 feet to 11 feet on the approach from the wagon-wheel pavement to the site; staff said about $222,000 of that could be reimbursed from state maintenance funds, leaving roughly $21,000 from the city general fund. Extending similar widening to the end of Stagecoach Road was estimated at $71,754, with about $21,800 reimbursable and a local share near $49,800, according to figures the city distributed to council members.

Residents at the microphone pressed several themes. Mike Musick, a Hasson Heights resident, asked council to “keep our neighborhood a neighborhood,” saying about 200 families would be affected if the rezoning moved forward. Bill Caudill, an appraiser and resident, said, “Please do not strap a city who already is struggling financially with more debt,” and questioned the return on investment and how long lodging-tax receipts would take to repay road improvements. Other residents warned of increased crash risk at the busy intersection near Exit 7 and listed nearby commercial turnoffs already used by large delivery trucks, school buses and motorists.

Staff answered neighborhood questions about notice and permitting. Planning staff said required notifications included two newspaper publications and letters to adjoining property owners; staff also said a sign was posted on the property for approximately two weeks prior to the public hearing, though some residents said they had not noticed it or that it had been removed earlier when a meeting was canceled.

Council members raised multiple concerns during debate. Several members acknowledged the city may have a general need for more RV accommodations but questioned whether this particular site was appropriate given the lane widths, heavy-vehicle turning movements and proximity to I-81. Council and staff noted that VDOT is conducting a corridor STARS study of the Old Airport Road/Lee Highway area that could lead to access improvements but is not an immediate solution. Staff said that if the council voted the rezoning down, state code and local ordinance set a one-year waiting period before reapplication; staff also said road improvements would likely take a year or more to program and construct.

After discussion the council voted against the ordinance’s first reading. With a motion on the floor to advance the ordinance by caption, the clerk recorded no votes in favor and the motion failed 0–5.

Next steps: Because the first-reading motion failed, the proposal cannot be refiled for a year under local code; council members and staff suggested the Mosses and neighborhood could pursue additional meetings to address neighbors’ concerns and that the city still could consider Stagecoach Road improvements for safety and maintenance even if the rezoning does not proceed.

For transparent record-keeping, staff retained the detailed traffic projection and the Public Works cost estimates provided to council and promised to make them available to residents on request.","Bristol Virginia City Council voted down a first-reading rezoning request for an overnight recreational campground on Stagecoach Road after residents raised traffic, safety, property-value and notification concerns. Staff had recommended approval and provided road-cost estimates and traffic projections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bristol adopts ordinance to require repair or removal of dangerous structures under Virginia law

Council approves resolutions to accept opioid manufacturer settlement funds

Council rejects rezoning for proposed Stagecoach Road RV campground after neighborhood objections