Minutes - City Council

409 S. Main Street

City of Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Meeting Minutes - Final

City Council

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

7:00 PM

Council Chambers

Roll Call

5 -

Present:

Mayor Deanna R. Reed, Vice-Mayor Dany Fleming, Council Member Laura Dent,

Council Member Nasser Alsaadun and Council Member Monica Robinson

Also Present:

City Manager Ande Banks, City Attorney Chris Brown, Chief Matthew Tobia, Police

Chief Joseph Tucker and Deputy City Clerk Brian Vandenberg

Moment of Silence

Mayor Reed led the Moment of Silence.

Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Reed led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Special Recognition

Proclamation for National Police Week

4.a.

Mayor Reed proclaimed May 10-16, 2026 as Police Week and presented a

proclamation to Chief Tucker.

Consent Agenda (any item placed on the consent agenda shall be removed and

taken up as a separate matter, if so requested by any member of Council, otherwise all

items will be voted on with one (1) motion)

motion was made by Council Member Robinson, seconded by Vice-Mayor Fleming, to

approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote

taken as follows:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member

Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson

No:

Minutes from the April 28, 2026 City Council meeting

5.a.

6.a.

These minutes were approved on the consent agenda.

Public Hearings

Consider a request from Mick or Mack LC for a special use permit at 140 East Wolfe

Street

Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, provided an overview of where

the property falls on the zoning map and the land use guide; the applicant's proposed

use for the property; and conditions of the nature of canning operations at the facility.

Mr. Fletcher stated staff and Planning Commission (5-0) recommended approval with

a stated condition.

At 7:34 p.m., Mayor Reed closed the regular session and called the first public

hearing to order. A notice appeared in the Daily News-Record on April 29 and May 6.

Jeffrey Moon, the applicant, made himself available for questions. Council Member

Alsaadun asked about the intended age use of the arcade section. Applicant clarified

its use for all ages and also specified that the canning manufacturing portion would

not be accessible to children.

Panayotis Giannakouros questioned the potential effects of approving the permit on

other potential uses.

At 7:37 p.m. Mayor Reed closed the public hearing and the regular session

reconvened.

Vice Mayor Fleming expressed support for the business.

Council Member Alsaadun asked if the SUP remained with the property if the owner

stops operating. Mr Fletcher said yes, unless the site remains dormant for 24 months.

Council Member Dent said that the Friendly City Co-op had no desire to expand to

this portion of the site and expressed support for this permit.

Mayor Reed asked about food and drink at the facility and the applicant stated it

would be prepackaged food and alcoholic beverages, because a commercial kitchen

was too expensive at this time.

Council Member Robinson expressed support for this type of establishment at this

location.

A motion was made by Council Member Dent, seconded by Vice-Mayor Fleming, to approve

the special use permit with the condition as presented. The motion carried with a recorded

roll call vote taken as follows:

6.b.

Consider a request from Big Brother and Holdings CO LLC for a special use permit

at 165 South Main Street

Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, explained the nature of the

request to bring the short term rental unit into compliance; that the use is aligned with

zoning; and the requirements of short term rentals in Harrisonburg. He stated staff and

Planning Commission (5-0) recommended approval with stated conditions.

At 7:47 p.m. Mayor Reed closed the regular session and called the second public

hearing to order. A notice appeared in the Daily News-Record on April 29 and May

Margaret Clark 165 S. Main Street, the applicant, made herself available for

questions. Vice Mayor Fleming asked who typically uses the rental and the applicant

specified it was individuals associated with visiting JMU. Council Member Dent

asked about clarification on who would act as the operator and the applicant

specified it would be an individual adjacent to the unit.

Panayotis Giannakouros argued that short term rentals would not become an

economic liability to the community and offered support of the use.

At 7:53 Mayor Reed closed the public hearing and the regular session reconvened.

motion was made by Council Member Alsaadun, seconded by Vice-Mayor Fleming, to

approve the special use permit with conditions as presented. The motion carried with

recorded roll call vote taken as follows:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member

Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson

No:

6.c.

Consider a request from Collicello North LLC to amend the approved master

development plan (rezoning) for various addresses on Collicello Street and Kates

Lane.

Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, spoke on the history of the

master plan for the site and how the development has sat idle for some time; the

zoning and land use designation for the site; that the applicant's plan for the site

remains consistent with originally approved plan; the requirements of R-7 master

plans; requests of applicant to deviate from original plan as it relates to solar

requirements, building designs, and other issues; and the status of infrastructure at

the site.

Mr. Fletcher stated staff and Planning Commission (5-0) recommended approval.

Vice Mayor Fleming asked about easements and connectivity to the northeast portion

of the site along Edom Road. He asked if the 3rd Street bus stop nearby was ADA

compliant. Mr. Fletcher said he would need to follow up.

At 8:10 p.m. Mayor Reed closed the regular session and called the third public

hearing to order. A notice appeared in the Daily News-Record on April 29 and May 6.

Jordan Bowman, representative of applicant, spoke on the reasoning behind

requesting modifications to the original site plan and said he would follow up about

the Edom Road access. He said they could make commitments towards bus stop

accessibility when information about needed upgrades are known.

Council Member Dent expressed disappointment that solar would no longer be

required on homes in the development but was satisfied that the homes would be

solar ready.

Vice Mayor Fleming asked and Mr. Bowman clarified these units would not be

certified affordable housing, but entry level, market rate housing.

Panayotis Giannakouros spoke on prior discussion about a community garden in the

area when originally brought forward and how density sometimes leads to fewer

environmental amenities.

At 8:26 p.m. Mayor Reed closed the public hearing and the regular session

reconvened.

motion was made by Council Member Dent, seconded by Council Member Robinson, to

amend the master development plan as presented. The motion carried with

call vote taken as follows:

a recorded roll

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member

Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson

No:

Regular Items

7.a.

Consider adopting an Ordinance for administrative issuance of Encroachment

Licenses in downtown

Adam Fletcher, Director of Community Development, spoke on the need for the new

chapter on encroachments; provided examples of encroachments on rights of way;

what would be acceptable to be approved by staff vs. City Council; and outlined other

requirements for applicants.

Council Member Alsaadun asked if encroachments licenses expired and City

Attorney Brown indicated no. Council Member Alsaadun asked if there was a process

if businesses exceed what they were originally approved for. Mr. Fletcher said that his

office is made aware if residents express concern about a particular instance.

motion was made by Council Member Robinson, seconded by Council Member Alsaadun,

to adopt the ordinance as presented. The motion carried with a recorded roll call vote taken

as follows:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member

Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson

No:

7.b.

Presentation on the Zoning Ordinance Update Project and to consider a request to

endorse staff’s recommended approach for 2026

Wesley Russ, Deputy City Attorney, presented on project history; research conducted

on other communities; current status of the project; principles behind changes being

recommended to the ordinance, including infrastructure capacity, public input in future

developments, and neighborhood stability; the need to use simpler language and

replace all zoning districts; a streamlined table for allowed uses; and proposed

changes to zoning districts.

Thanh Dang, Deputy Director of Community Development discussed the next steps in

the rewriting process, including community engagement, a future public hearing and

implementation; and staff recommendation about the overall process and the

ordinance advisory committee.

Council Member Dent expressed concern about disbanding the ordinance advisory

committee.

Vice Mayor Fleming asked about how new zoning categories were determined and

Mr. Russ replied how similar designations could be found throughout the urbanizing

municipalities in the Commonwealth and how it reflected the City's current

development pattern. Vice Mayor Fleming asked about the nonconforming status of

properties with the new plan and staff replied that some will continue being

nonconforming but that efforts are being made to avoid them and that many

residential properties currently nonconforming would come into conformity.

Council Member Robinson and Mayor Reed asked about the necessity of disbanding

the advisory committee. Staff expressed the desire for expediency and relying on

Planning Commission, but stated that the process could move forward with the

advisory committee if Council could help clean up the membership roster.

Council Member Alsaadun asked what zoning district student housing would fall in.

Staff replied it would depend on how the housing is built, and that it likely would fall in

apartment and town home districts, but there would not be a student housing-specific

district. Council Member Alsaadun suggested specific zoning for student housing and

asked about building heights. Staff said height restrictions aren't planned to change

because most applications don't approach upper limits.

Vice Mayor Fleming suggested not sacrificing public participation for efficiency.

Council Member Robinson expressed concerns about transparency and equity in the

process, but supported the proposed changes.

Mayor Reed said appointing members to the committee would not ensure diversity

and that public engagement would still occur in this process.

Vice Mayor Fleming said that structured engagement would be possible and

suggested staff return with a more specific engagement schedule.

Michael Parks, Director of Communications, spoke on how an engagement plan is

already underway.

motion was made by Vice-Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Alsaadun, to

endorse staff's recommended approach for the project, disband the Ordinance Advisory

Committee and request staff bring community engagement plan to future meeting. The

motion carried with a recorded roll call vote taken as follows:

3 - Mayor Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming and Council Member Alsaadun

Yes:

2 - Council Member Dent and Council Member Robinson

No:

7.c.

Consider adopting the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget and approving the

Appropriation Ordinance

Ande Banks, City Manager, provided a brief timeline on how the budget has come

before Council in previous meetings and said he and staff were available for any

questions.

motion was made by Council Member Robinson, seconded by Council Member Dent, to

adopt the proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and the appropriation ordinance. The

motion carried with a recorded roll call vote taken as follows:

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member

Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson

No:

7.d.

Consider nominations for the Virginia Municipal League (VML) Policy Committees

2026

Vice Mayor Fleming indicated he would like to move to the Finance committee,

Mayor Reed indicated she would join the Human Development and Education

committee, and other members indicated they would remain on current committees.

motion was made by Vice-Mayor Fleming, seconded by Council Member Dent, to

nominate council members to VML policy committees as discussed.

a voice vote:

The motion carried with

5 -

Yes:

Mayor Reed, Vice-Mayor Fleming, Council Member Dent, Council Member

Alsaadun and Council Member Robinson

No:

Other Matters

8.a. Comments from the public, limited to five minutes, on matters not on the regular

agenda. (Name and address are required)

Panayotis Giannakouros spoke on procedure used in public comments.

8.b. City Council and Staff

Council Member Alsaadun mentioned that Rocktown High School hosted the 2026

VSBA Valley Region Networking Forum on April 30, 2026; and on May 2, 2026, the

Harrisonburg Welcoming Council hosted a Webinar on immigration advocacy.

Council Member Dent mentioned observing small towns making big impacts with

environmental issues on recent trip. VAPDC Association meeting to be held on May

13, 2026; and on May 19, 2026, there will be an open house on the Liberty Street

project.

Council Member Robinson mentioned that applications are open for African

American Festival, and she attended the NAACP meeting on May 5, 2026.

Vice Mayor Fleming mentioned the Virginia Coalition of High Growth Communities