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Council approves $7.3 million phase of Virginia Business Ready Sites grant to ready Tract 8
Summary
Roanoke City Council voted to accept and appropriate phase 2 funding from the Virginia Business Ready Sites program to advance Tract 8 from tier 3 to tier 4 (mass grading and design work); the ordinance passed 6-1 with Vice Mayor McGuire recording the lone Nay amid requests for stronger trail and greenway connectivity planning.
Roanoke City Council voted on May 18 to accept phase 2 of the Virginia Business Ready Sites program grant for site development of Tract 8, moving the city's work on the site from tier 3 to tier 4 and authorizing $7.3 million for grading and related site-preparation work.
The ordinance uthorizes acceptance of the grant award from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and appropriates funds for design and mass-grading work. Staff told council the state program helps localities prepare pad-ready industrial sites; the city previously approved an earlier phase and the full award totals $7.5 million, with $200,000 used in phase 1.
Councilmember Lisonbee moved the ordinance; Councilwoman Powers seconded. During deliberations Vice Mayor Stephen T. McGuire said he could not support the measure because he wanted clearer assurances that the city would prioritize trail connectivity and preserve planned greenway links (the Reed Mountain Greenway) alongside industrial site work. Staff responded that AECOM is reviewing trail connectivity and that staff would share mapping and tree-clearing details with council. The clerk recorded a roll-call vote with Nash, Vollison, Powers, Hagen, Sanchez Jones and Mayor Cobb voting Aye and Vice Mayor McGuire voting Nay; the ordinance passed.
Why it matters: the state Business Ready Sites program is intended to increase competitiveness for advanced manufacturing and other projects by shortening the time-to-market for industrial land. Councilmembers expressed support for good-paying jobs and economic development while urging coordination with parks and greenway planning to preserve trail connections and limit tree clearing.
Next steps: staff said AECOM is integrating the trail plan into grading work and will provide maps showing clearing and proposed trail alignment; staff also noted that permitting and mass-grading will follow design completion.
