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Residents urge council to reject or revise 801 North Main proposal, call for better public engagement
Summary
Multiple speakers used the citizens’ comment period to criticize a proposed eight‑story student-oriented development at 801 North Main Street as too tall, too dense and lacking required commercial space under a 2019 council resolution; several residents also urged the council to expand public outreach and to livestream work sessions.
Several Blacksburg residents used the citizens’ comment period at Tuesday’s council meeting to press elected officials to reject or substantially revise a proposed eight‑story development at 801 North Main Street and to expand the town’s public engagement practices.
Laura Purcell, who lives on Toms Creek Road, said the proposed building is “too tall, too dense, and too disruptive” for the surrounding one- and two‑story neighborhood and argued the proposal conflicts with a 2019 council resolution that discourages prioritizing student housing in a way that removes commercial space. “This proposal says the developer will improve a flood plain that is only under their apartment building with no other improvements to the area,” Purcell said, asking council to vote against…
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