Board Meeting Notes

See more information about the items below by viewing the August 20, 2024, Board of Supervisors Meeting video.

At the top of today’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors received a briefing from VDOT officials on transportation projects intended to alleviate traffic along route 419 near Tanglewood and along Route 220 south of 419.

In new business, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution authorizing Economic Development Incentive Agreements with (1) the County of Roanoke, the Roanoke County Economic Development Authority, and Mack Trucks, Inc., and (2) the County of Roanoke, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority, the Roanoke County Economic Development Authority, and Mack Trucks, Inc.

The Board of Supervisors went on to hear the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of real property containing approximately 2.71 acres located at 4818 Starkey Road, Roanoke, Virginia. The property is intended to be used as new administrative offices for Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Second reading is scheduled for September 10.

In a related measure, the Board of Supervisors also heard the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the reallocation of a portion of the proceeds of the County's 2022 lease financing with Virginia Resource Authority. Second reading is scheduled for September 10. This measure is to amend the previous agreement that called for constructing a new Parks, Recreation and Tourism office. The Parks, Recreation & Tourism administration offices could be relocated to an existing building at 4818 Starkey Road that would provide the needed office space, require fewer renovations, less site development, and significantly reduce overall costs versus a new construction.

The Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance as an emergency measure upon approval by 4/5ths of the board to execute a lease agreement with .com Properties, IV, LLC for forty (40) parking spaces located at 200 East Calhoun Street, Salem, Virginia. These parking spaces are adjacent to the Roanoke County Social Services building in Salem, and provide access for the department’s clients and staff.

The Board of Supervisors also approved a petition by Joel Calfee for a special use permit to operate a short-term rental on approximately 0.2599 acres located at 1176 Nover Avenue.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Supervisors approved the following items in the form of one resolution in its consent agenda:

• Approval of minutes – July 23, 2024;
• An ordinance to accept and appropriate grant funds in the amount of $186,275 from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority along with local matches of $48,000 from the Opioid Abatement Settlement Funds received by Roanoke County (Second Reading);
• A request to accept and allocate the Virginia 9-1-1 Services Board fiscal year 2024 Data Maintenance and Data Transfer grant in the amount of $5,000;
• A resolution requesting the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to accept Foxfield Lane of Section 4 of the River Oaks Subdivision in the Catawba Magisterial District into the VDOT Secondary Road System;
• A request to approve holiday schedule for calendar year 2025;
• An ordinance authorizing the Treasurer of the County of Roanoke to employ the services of a private collection attorney to assist with the collection of delinquent accounts and to authorize the imposition of a fee to cover the cost of retaining a private collection attorney (Second Reading);
• An ordinance authorizing the granting of an easement to the Western Virginia Water Authority for water and sewer improvement projects (First Reading and Request for Second Reading scheduled for September 10);
• The petition of Dale Wilkinson to rezone approximately 21.39 acres of land zoned I-1,Low Intensity Industrial District, to R-3, Medium Density Multi-Family Residential District, in order to develop a 225-lot residential subdivision, located at 7812 Sanderson Drive, Hollins Magisterial District (First Reading and Request for Second Reading and Public Hearing on September 24);
• A resolution requesting the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to accept Integrity Drive in the Vinton Magisterial District into the VDOT Secondary Road System.

Work Session

The Board of Supervisors moved to a work session with staff to review progress on the Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A)Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the SS4A Discretionary Grant Program to fund initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The U.S. Department of Transportation has appropriated $5 billion for the SS4A program with funds split between Planning and Implementation grants. The SS4A program provides eighty percent (80%) Federal funding for a twenty percent (20%) local match. Applicants must first have an eligible Safety Action Plan in place in order to apply for Implementation Grants in subsequent grant rounds. Staff requested and were awarded an Action Plan Grant for development of a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan in partnership with the Town of Vinton and Botetourt County.

Future events and milestones in the plan’s development are anticipated to include: 

• September 5, 2024: Open house-style community meeting at the Hollins Library from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to review and comment on draft safety improvement recommendations 
• September 9, 2024: Open house-style community meeting at the South County Library from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to review and comment on draft safety improvement recommendations 
• December 2024: Presentations to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors on the draft Plan 
• January 2025: Draft Plan to be released for public comment and Planning Commission work session 
• February 2025: Public hearings to be held with the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to consider adopting the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan as part of the Roanoke County 200 Plan 

The Action Plan will include crash analysis and mapping, strategic project prioritization, community engagement and detailed conceptual plans and estimates for each locality’s top prioritized project. It is anticipated that these top projects would then be submitted for funding as SS4A Implementation Projects in early 2025. A resolution of support and match commitment would be requested from the Board of Supervisors prior to submission of an Implementation Grant application.

Closed Session

The Board of Supervisors held a closed meeting as follows: Section 2.2-3711(A)(5) of the Code of Virginia, for discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business’ or industry’s interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community. Specifically, the Board will discuss potential business location or expansion in the Catawba Magisterial District.

Evening Session

After a public hearing, the Board of Supervisors approved a petition by Reed Road Solar 1, LLC to obtain a special use permit for a major utility service (solar farm) on approximately 36.48 acres located at 9150 Reed Road.

For More Information...

More information on these items and the meeting video can be found under the Past Meetings section of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Meetings and Videos page. You may also contact the Chief Deputy Clerk to the Board at 540-772-2005 for more information.