CommitteeHarrisonburg

City Council

Track committee activity, current roster, and published meeting coverage for City Council in Harrisonburg.

0 active membersLast meeting Aug 11, 202627 summaries in 30d

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Active roster

Latest activity

Aug 21, 2026

Municipality

Harrisonburg

Latest coverage

Council updates stormwater rules

Published Aug 21, 2026

Related summaries

Published meeting coverage connected to City Council.

Briefing

Jul 28, 2026

South Main multifamily development approved

Council approved the rezoning and two special use permits for 1340 South Main Street, allowing multifamily buildings with more than 12 units and retail, office, or restaurant uses; each vote passed 3-1. Council also approved $1,724,238 in additional funding for Harrisonburg City Public Schools and $3,252 for the school nutritional fund.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jul 14, 2026

Council approves two special-use permits

Council unanimously approved special-use permits for a short-term rental at 453 West Water Street and a meat processing and storage facility at 256 Charles Street, with staff-recommended conditions. Council also discussed developing a policy to prohibit automatic license plate readers, but no such policy was adopted at this meeting.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 9, 2026

Council approves higher utility fees

Harrisonburg City Council unanimously approved increases to water and sewer-related rates, a seasonal tiered rate structure, and the stormwater utility fee. The council also approved erosion-control and stormwater-management fee changes, with all five members voting yes on the recorded votes.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 26, 2026

Council adopts tax rate and city budget

Harrisonburg City Council unanimously approved the FY 2026-2027 real estate tax rate of $1.01 per $100 of assessed value and adopted the revised city budget, which decreased by approximately $1 million from the prior proposal.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 12, 2026

Council adopts budget, advances zoning overhaul

Council unanimously adopted the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and appropriation ordinance, while endorsing a recommended zoning update approach by a 3-2 vote and requesting a future community engagement plan.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 12, 2026

Council Holds Closed Session on Litigation

Harrisonburg City Council unanimously voted 5-0 to enter a closed session for consultation with legal counsel and staff about actual or probable litigation.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 28, 2026

Link Apartments Rezoning Delayed

City Council unanimously tabled the proposed rezoning for The Link Apartments until June 23, 2026, allowing more time to consider the development's location, traffic, downtown planning, and park-related concerns.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 14, 2026

Council Approves Madison Street Housing Plan

Council voted 4-0 to approve rezoning and a special use permit for 851 Madison Street, allowing two planned units with reduced setbacks and no parking minimums under the approved conditions. The property is in a floodplain, and supportive services are recommended but not required.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 24, 2026

Council approves updated financial policies

Council approved revisions to Harrisonburg’s financial management policies and approved several funding actions, including $255,000 for land next to Fire Station Four, $174,403 for the Eastern Source project, and more than $1.45 million in additional school funding.

3 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 10, 2026

Council Approves Sale of Historic Main Street Property

Council unanimously approved a contract to sell the city-owned property at 301 S. Main Street, the former Quilt Museum, with preservation requirements covering the building’s footprint, front porch, exterior wood details, fireplaces, and original radiators.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 25, 2026

Council Approves Five-Year Capital Plan

Harrisonburg City Council unanimously approved the FY2026-27 through FY2030-31 Capital Improvement Program, setting the city’s framework for planning future capital needs and pursuing grants. Council also unanimously approved zoning and special-use requests, chicken-permit ordinance changes, and temporary voting-precinct changes tied to a potential April 12, 2026 special election.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 11, 2026

Council Ratifies Ongoing Snow Emergency

Council unanimously ratified the City Manager’s declaration of a local emergency because snow and ice clearing efforts were still underway, removing language that would have ended the emergency. Council also approved a $52,500 grant agreement to support Harrisonburg’s entrepreneurship program.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jan 14, 2026

Council approves zoning changes and utility write-off

Council unanimously approved writing off 347 delinquent utility bills totaling $26,205.63, equal to 0.11% of total billing, while collection efforts continue. Members also unanimously approved several zoning and ordinance changes, amendments to three CDBG action plans, and a public art donation for Ralph Sampson Park.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jan 11, 2026

Council Prioritizes Housing and Economic Health

Council unanimously identified Housing and Homelessness and Economic Health & Jobs as its top outcome areas, followed by Public Safety and Culture and Recreation. Members also reviewed the fiscal year 2026 general fund outlook, upcoming budget obligations, capital needs, and City Hall complex renovations.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Dec 10, 2025

Council approves affordable housing land sale

Council unanimously approved selling city-owned property at 2421 and 2425 Reservoir Street to Central Valley Habitat for Humanity for housing. Discussion noted that homeownership is nearly impossible for households earning 60% to 80% of area median income without projects like this, and that solar panels are intended to reduce residents’ utility bills.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Nov 26, 2025

Council Approves Housing Property Purchase

Council approved, 4-1, a resolution allowing the Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority to purchase and renovate 227 N. Main Street for mixed-use housing and commercial space. Council also approved a $500,000 economic development appropriation tied to a facility that has created more than 950 jobs since 2021.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Nov 13, 2025

Council Approves 145 New Housing Units

Council approved a resolution allowing the Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority to develop 62 units for older adults and 83 affordable housing units at Bluestone Town Center.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Oct 14, 2025

Council approves major funding and zoning changes

Harrisonburg City Council approved $3,275,138.74 in supplemental appropriations for sanitation equipment, children's services, and general fund grants. Council also unanimously approved three land-use requests, including changes involving Bluestone Town Center and a public alley closure with utility and storm-drainage easements reserved.

3 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Sep 23, 2025

Council Approves $22.7 Million Appropriation

Council approved on second reading a $22.7 million supplemental appropriation for prior-year encumbrances, unspent grants, and new grant awards. The council also approved three special events and received updates on youth mental-health funding and the proposed Link Apartments rezoning.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Sep 9, 2025

Council approves $22.7 million in appropriations

Council unanimously approved $22,737,842 in supplemental appropriations: $14,947,224 for prior-year encumbrances, $5,983,590 in unspent grants, and $1,807,028 in new grants.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Aug 26, 2025

Council approves city land sale for housing

Council unanimously approved selling the city-owned property at 2410 Reservoir Street to Frank Gordon, trustee of the Valley Housing Trust, for residential development. The vote was 5-0 after discussion of the housing needs associated with the project.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Aug 12, 2025

Council Delays Link Apartments Rezoning

Council voted 5-0 to table the proposed Link Apartments rezoning until September 23, 2025, directing staff to facilitate discussions between the developer and residents before then.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jul 22, 2025

Council updates stormwater rules

Council unanimously approved an amendment to the Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Ordinance after the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality found the city’s prior duplex provision was less stringent than state law. Council also approved two rezonings and tabled a proposed update to developer bond estimates until August 26, 2025.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 16, 2025

Harrisonburg Declares Water Treatment Emergency

City Council unanimously approved a local emergency declaration after heavy rains caused high turbidity in the raw water supply, reducing treatment plant output and lowering stored water levels. Mandatory water restrictions remained in effect, while officials said the water was safe to drink.

1 min readMunicipal coverage