Blacksburg approves acceptance and leaseback of 5‑acre Meadowbrook parcel from Friends of the Huckleberry

The Blacksburg Town Council approved an ordinance to accept a 5‑acre parcel at 2700 Meadowbrook Drive from the nonprofit Friends of the Huckleberry and to authorize a five‑year leaseback of the parcel to that nonprofit.

Town Attorney Larry Spencer summarized the history: in February 2003 the Friends purchased a 20‑acre tract adjacent to Jefferson National Forest, subsequently conveyed 15 acres to the town and retained five acres. The Friends recently paid off debt on the remaining five acres and offered to transfer that parcel to the town “free and clear” of mortgages or deeds of trust, Spencer said. The group asked that the town accept the parcel and lease it back for five years to allow rental income from a single‑family home on the site to support trail maintenance and related activities.

Alex Weiss spoke during the public comment period in favor of the town acquiring the property but asked the town not to conduct logging on the parcel. The council then considered a disclosure and disqualification statement from Councilman Ford, who said his spouse is president of the Friends of the Huckleberry; Ford stated the town attorney had advised him he did not have a personal interest but he would disqualify himself to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

A motion to approve Ordinance 20 74 passed on a roll call vote. The clerk recorded one abstention (Ward) and otherwise recorded ayes; the measure passed and the town will accept the parcel and enter a five‑year lease to the Friends of the Huckleberry.

The leaseback, as described by counsel, would use rental proceeds from the house on the parcel to support the Friends’ trail work and give the town time to determine longer‑term uses.