Public commenters urge EV charging investment and highlight historic‑preservation momentum

During the non‑agenda public‑comment period at the Feb. 25 meeting, two residents raised separate topics of local concern: electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure and historic‑preservation progress in the Virginia Hills neighborhood.

Reverend Jackie Nofflin told council she had emailed staff about federal funds available for EV charging infrastructure and urged the city to pursue grants and mapping used by the state to identify rural charging gaps. Nofflin noted the Sheetz station’s chargers are often fully occupied and said Virginia received federal dollars for charging stations; she asked staff for feedback on potential city action and said economic‑development staff had a planned meeting about chargers.

Daniel Hsu, who identified himself as the “old house agent” and said he renovates properties in Bristol, gave a longer update on preservation and development activity in Virginia Hills. Hsu noted multiple recent private sales with rising home values — including a Lee Street sale he said closed at $435,000 and a later appraisal of $660,000 on another property — and cited developer renovation projects that salvaged houses slated for demolition. He said the Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority received a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods planning grant to support a transformation plan for the Virginia Hills area and that the planning process must involve the state historic preservation office.

Hsu added that a World Design Studio team from Clemson and other universities worked in the region to produce design visions to inform BRHA and the Choice Neighborhoods planning grant. He asked council to recognize ongoing preservation work and noted that the VI campus has active preservation interest after a recent fire.

Ending: Council acknowledged both comments and staff noted ongoing coordination on EV charging and historic‑preservation planning; no formal action was taken during the public‑comment period.