Tazewell reviews additions to comprehensive plan: water, sewer, sidewalks, recreation and grant strategies

Town of Tazewell council and the planning commission met in a joint work session to identify additions to the town’s five‑year comprehensive plan, focusing on infrastructure projects, recreation investments and grant strategies to secure funding over the next several budget years.

Moderator opened by reminding the group the comprehensive plan is due in September 2026 and framed the meeting as a chance to remove outdated items and add new priorities that will guide the town’s capital program. The agenda included updates on water and sewer infrastructure, sidewalks, recreation projects, facility planning and potential grant opportunities.

On utilities, staff reported an 18‑month wastewater treatment plant upgrade that began in November and is funded by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality as a roughly $19,000,000 project with principal forgiveness; ownership is shared with the Tazewell County PSA (town 60%, PSA 40%). The Route 460 water-line replacement — a $2.5 million project supported by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water with about $1.2 million in principal forgiveness — is in progress, with sections already upsized from 8" and 6" to 12" to improve capacity.

The EPA‑mandated lead service‑line inventory was discussed: the town said it met the October 2024 inventory deadline and must have a plan for replacing lead service lines by November 1, 2027; the town expects homeowner‑side requirements could follow with a longer compliance timeframe (discussed as possible 2037 requirement).

Sidewalk maintenance and expansion drew several comments. The town currently has $12,000 in the budget for Main Street sidewalk repairs (estimated $12,000–$18,000 to repair key blocks) and noted a possible Virginia Department of Transportation (DDOT) partnership to extend sidewalks from Cargo toward Bimbo if state approvals are secured. Commissioners asked staff to follow up with Thompson and Litton to resolve whether prior construction omitted sidewalk elements included in earlier plans.

Recreation and economic projects were a major focus. The Glitch River Farmers Market Pavilion is under construction, with roughly $658,000 secured in total funds and an additional $50,000 recently awarded for parking and pavement work; an awarded bid of about $260,000 is already on site. Mountain‑bike trails at Gratton on Albany Street have $350,000 from the town and $60,000 from Tazewell County (total $410,000); easements from two private properties will be required. The town also reviewed a $309,000 estimate to restore fields at Linden Shire Park to address drainage and make the fields playable.

Staff reviewed a $354,000 congressional earmark for EMS facility improvements (sourced to Senator Warner) for which the town has agreed to a $300,000 local match; Thompson and Litton provided preliminary architectural work and a schematic cost of $866,000 that will be refined in a pre‑bid process with contractors.

Participants identified funding sources to pursue, including EPA and the Virginia Department of Health for lead service-line work, Department of Conservation and Recreation and Virginia Outdoors Foundation for recreational grants, EDA/USEDA, Tobacco Commission funds, ARC and state economic development programs for adaptive reuse (including a planning grant for 1616 Riverside Drive and possible equipment funds via Virginia GO). Speakers emphasized the importance of placing projects in the adopted comprehensive plan to strengthen grant applications and of obligating local matching funds where appropriate rather than only listing projects in budget displays.

A round‑table later in the meeting covered recreation programming: an update on a downtown theater project with an anticipated opening in May, proposals to expand youth and adult rec sports, potential formation of a recreation committee and discussion of volunteer capacity for coaching and refereeing.

Attendees also discussed longer‑term housing and flood planning: options to remove blighted structures to free developable lots, the possibility of tiny‑house options subject to zoning and setback constraints, and the need to add flood mitigation and emergency planning elements to the comprehensive plan to address localized flooding on streets such as Barnard/Blacksburg Street.

Next steps included directing staff to follow up on sidewalk plan inconsistencies with Thompson and Litton, pursue identified grant opportunities with regional partners, firm up easement agreements for the mountain‑bike trails and advance planning for adaptive reuse of town‑owned properties. Council indicated it will consider forming a dedicated committee with representation from the planning commission and IDA to shepherd comprehensive‑plan items and planning deadlines.