Waynesboro council approves CIP funding, school project and LifeWorks CUP; zoning text amendment passes 4-1

Waynesboro City Council on June 23 approved multiple routine and major items, including an ordinance amending City Code provisions for bay and service door orientation (4-1), a fiscal-year 2026 capital improvement plan funding amendment of $8,528,270 (5-0), a $57,000,000 appropriation for the Waynesboro High School capital project (5-0), and a conditional use permit for LifeWorks to operate a food pantry at 505 North Winchester Avenue (approved; nontransferable). Council also reappointed Greg Hitchin to the Shenandoah Partnership board (5-0) and adopted the consent agenda (5-0).

Ordinance amending City Code (Chapter 98, Article 4, Sections 4.10 and 6.7): City staff described the item as a holdover from prior meetings and presented draft criteria intended to guide decision-making on the orientation of bay and service doors and overlay corridors. Staff stated the ordinance had been introduced and was the subject of a prior public hearing. Council voted on June 23; the tally reported at the meeting was four in favor and one opposed.

Fiscal year 2026 capital improvement plan funding amendment: Council held a public hearing as required and then voted to adopt an ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025 budget to fund the FY2026 CIP in the amount of $8,528,270. The vote was recorded as 5-0.

Waynesboro High School capital project appropriation: Council opened and closed a public hearing on an ordinance to amend the fiscal year 2026 budget in the amount of $57,000,000 for the Waynesboro High School project, then approved the ordinance by a 5-0 vote. Staff noted the city expects to borrow for the project in the third quarter of the fiscal year and that a supermajority (four-fifths) vote will be required at the time of borrowing.

Conditional use permit for LifeWorks food pantry, 505 N. Winchester Avenue: The mayor recused himself from discussion and voting because he serves on the board of trustees of the church selling the property. Staff said LifeWorks' River City breadbasket opened in late 2023 and currently serves approximately 500 households per month. The council approved a conditional use permit that staff noted is issued to LifeWorks and includes a condition making the permit nontransferable; if a different entity later sought to operate the pantry at that address, it would require council review.

Reappointment and other routine business: Council reappointed Greg Hitchin as the city's locality representative on the Shenandoah Partnership board for a three-year term ending June 30, 2028 (vote 5-0). The consent agenda and other procedural items were approved without recorded opposition.

Where a specific mover or seconder was not recorded in the transcript, the meeting record indicates items were properly introduced previously, were the subject of required public hearings, and were put to a vote at this meeting. Vote tallies reflect the roll or voice calls as announced at the meeting.