Votes at a glance: committee forwards wireless lease, Main Street and Patterson Avenue pedestrian grant to council

The Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee voted to forward multiple papers to city council with recommendations to approve after brief presentations and public hearings.

Ordinance 2025-165: lease with New Singular Wireless PCS LLC (item 2) Shania Wilson of the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response presented an ordinance authorizing the chief administrative officer to execute a five-year lease allowing New Singular Wireless PCS LLC to maintain telecommunications equipment at 3518 North Hopkins Road. Wilson said the initial annual rent in the lease is $47,000 with a 3% annual increase and five possible term extensions; the presentation included an explanation of how the annual increase is calculated. The committee held a public hearing (no public speakers spoke for or against), and the committee voted to forward the ordinance to council with recommendation to approve. Recorded votes: Burton: Aye; Vice Chair Robertson: Aye; Chair Jones: Aye.

Resolution 2025-R30: DHCD Main Street program application (item 3) Matt Welch, acting director of economic development, described a resolution supporting an application to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to participate in the Main Street program's "Exploring Main Street" step. Welch said the city's proposed target is the Broad Street corridor (general boundaries described as Eighteenth to Belvidere) and that the initial annual fee for the exploring phase is $375. No public testimony was offered on the item; the committee voted to forward the resolution to council with a recommendation to approve (Burton: Aye; Vice Chair Robertson: Aye; Chair Jones: Aye).

Resolution 2025-R32: VDOT Transportation Alternatives Program application (item 4) The city engineer presented a resolution supporting a Transportation Alternatives Program grant application to fund pedestrian-safety improvements on Patterson Avenue between Maple Avenue and Libby Avenue. The staff presentation said the total project cost is about $1,440,000, with $1,000,000 (80%) requested in federal funds and a required 20% local match of $250,000; staff proposed an additional $187,000 in city/local funds to make the application more competitive. Proposed improvements include ADA curb ramps, sidewalk reconstruction, bike racks, reduced driveway widths and pedestrian amenities. The committee held a public hearing (no speakers) and voted to forward the resolution to council with a recommendation to approve (Burton: Aye; Vice Chair Robertson: Aye; Chair Jones: Aye).

Appointments and minutes The committee accepted (to forward to council with recommendation to approve) appointment recommendations for several advisory boards and commissions. In committee action, staff noted vacancies across multiple advisory boards; a motion to forward applications for James Hudler (recorded in packet as James Hutzler), Bridal Sims and William Andrews was approved by the committee (forwarded to council with recommendation to approve; recorded committee vote: Burton: Aye; Vice Chair Robertson: Aye; Chair Jones: Aye). The committee also approved minutes from the June 17, 2025 standing committee meeting.

All forwarded items will appear on the upcoming council agenda for final action. The committee recorded no substantive opposition on the record for the three forwarded items; questions that arose during discussion were addressed in staff presentations or resolved during the public hearings.