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Council briefed on homelessness task force, zoning text amendments and VRFA modernization; staff warns planning capacity limits
Summary
Deputy City Manager Angie O'Brien briefed council on five initiatives including the Hope and Home Task Force (final recommendations due Aug. 2026), combined zoning text amendments (vape ordinance, Evans Spring, Hagan’s text changes) targeted for April 2026 adoption, and a VRFA modernization effort; staff warned the planning department is 'about 10 positions down,' so combining initiatives preserves capacity.
Roanoke City Deputy City Manager Angie O'Brien told council on Dec. 15 that five council-member initiatives are underway and described timelines, staffing constraints and next steps.
O'Brien summarized the workstreams: the Hope and Home Task Force on homelessness (a volunteer group supported by Virginia Tech researchers, aiming to deliver final recommendations in August 2026); a coordinated set of zoning text amendments that bundle the vape-ordinance effort, Evans Spring zoning updates and earlier proposed text amendments (with staff proposing a target adoption on April 20, 2026); and a Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority (VRFA) modernization project intended to create a…
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