Summary

Winchester City Council sets 2026 real property tax rate, advances zoning text amendments, and approves consent items

WinchesterApr 14, 20263 min read

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Council approved the CY2026 real property tax rate and discussed the FY2027 budget; approved consent resolutions including a lease with Blue Ridge Youth Soccer and new design-build procedures; read and approved a Resolution of Sorrow for Victoria Zabala; tabled a resolution opposing mandatory collective bargaining; held first readings on three zoning/text amendment items (short-term rentals in B-1, setback/corner lot definitions, and rezoning 1328 Commerce St. to HR with PUD); convened an executive session on pending litigation (520/522 N. Cameron St.) and certified reconvening; received mayor/city manager reports and public comments.

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LaborBudget & TaxPublic SafetyEducationCommerceHousing

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Key decisions

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Approved minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting on March 24, 2026.
Set the calendar year 2026 real property tax rate at $0.795 per $100 of assessed value (O-2026-11).
Moved agenda item 12.1 (R-2026-17) to between item 9.1 and Public Comments.
Approved R-2026-16: Lease agreement with Blue Ridge Youth Soccer Association, Inc. for nonexclusive use of Henkel-Harris press box.
Approved R-2026-15: Resolution adopting design build and construction management procedures for the City of Winchester.
Approved R-2026-17: Resolution of Sorrow for Victoria Zabala.
Tabled R-2026-18 (Resolution Opposing Mandatory Collective Bargaining Legislation) indefinitely.
Held first readings (introduced) of: O-2026-7 (TA-26-1 short-term rental text amendment for B-1), O-2026-8 (TA-26-2 amendment to definitions of setback and corner lot), and O-2026-6 (RZ-25-5 rezoning 1328 Commerce Street to High Density Residential with PUD overlay).
Recessed into an executive session to consult with the City Attorney regarding settlement of pending litigation related to 520/522 N. Cameron St.; reconvened and certified that only authorized matters were discussed.
Adjourned the meeting at 7:59 PM.

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Meeting information

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City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM - Apr 14 2026

Apr 14, 2026, 6:00 PMcompleted

Agenda

Minutes of the City Council - Regular Meeting on March 24, 2026. City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM - Mar 24 2026 - Minutes - Pdf 4 - 9
4.1
Decision: APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Second Reading of O-2026-11: AN ORDINANCE TO SET THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026, with Discussion on FY2027 Budget Options. Requires Roll Call Vote. Presenter: John Piper, City Manager Council Action Memo - An Ordinance to Set the Real Property Tax Rate for Calendar Year 2026 - Pdf Council Action Memo - FY 2027 Budget Discussion 10 - 63
9.1
Decision: PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public comments received online prior to deadline. Public Comments for Council Meeting (Apr 14, 2026) 64 - 76
10.1
Decision: PUBLIC COMMENTS
R-2026-16: RESOLUTION TO ENTER LEASE AGREEMENT WITH BLUE RIDGE YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION, INC. FOR NONEXCLUSIVE USE OF HENKEL-HARRIS PRESS BOX Presenter: Councilor Bell, Chair of Finance Committee / Chris Konyar, Parks & Recreation Director Council Action Memo - RESOLUTION TO ENTER LEASE AGREEMENTWITH BLUE RIDGE YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION, INC.FOR NONEXCLUSIVE USE OF HENKEL-HARRIS PRESS B - Pdf 77 - 91
11.1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
R-2026-15: RESOLUTION ADOPTING DESIGN BUILD AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES FOR THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA Presenter: Councilor Bell, Chair of Finance Committee / Melisa Michelson, City Attorney Council Action Memo - RESOLUTION ADOPTING DESIGN BUILD AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROCEDURESFOR THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA - Pdf 92 - 103
11.2
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
R-2026-17: Resolution of Sorrow for Victoria Zabala Presenter: Mayor Les C. Veach Council Action Memo - Resolution of Sorrow for Victoria Zabala - Pdf 104 - 106
12.1
Decision: AGENDA
First Reading of O-2026-7: TA-26-1 A ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT REQUEST BY PAUL RICHARDSON TO AMEND SEC. 18-29 OF THE WINCHESTER ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THE B-1 - CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND SPECIAL TAXATION DISTRICTS. Presenter: Councilor Windle, Chair of Planning & Economic Development Committee / Aidan Davis, Deputy Zoning Administrator, and Paul Richardson, Applicant Council Action Memo - TA-26-1 A ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT REQUEST BY PAUL RICHARDSON TO AMEND SEC. 18-29 OF THE WINCHESTER ZONING ORDINANCE PERT - Pdf 107 - 124
12.2
Decision: AGENDA
First Reading of O-2026-8: TA-26-2 A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT REQUEST BY PAINTER-LEWIS PLC TO AMEND SECTION 1-2 OF THE WINCHESTER ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO THE DEFINITION OF SETBACK AND CORNER LOT. Presenter: Councilor Windle, Chair of Planning & Economic Development Committee / Alfredo Gutierrez-Velasquez, Zoning Administrator, and Tim G. Painter, Applicant Council Action Memo - TA-26-2 A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT REQUEST BY PAINTER-LEWIS PLC TO AMEND SECTION 1-2 OF THE WINCHESTER ZONING ORDINANCE PERTAINING - Pdf 125 - 138
12.3
Decision: AGENDA
First Reading of O-2026-6: RZ-25-5 AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE 3.37 ACRES OF LAND AT 1328 COMMERCE STREET (MAP# 233-11-1) FROM COMMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL (CM-1) DISTRICT TO HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (HR) DISTRICT WITH PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) OVERLAY Presenter: Councilor Windle, Chair of Planning & Economic Development Committee / David Stewart, Director of Planning Council Action Memo - RZ-25-5 AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE 3.37 ACRES OF LAND AT 1328 COMMERCE STREET (MAP# 233-11-1) FROM COMMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL (CM-1) DIS - Pdf 139 - 215
12.4
Decision: AGENDA
R-2026-18: Resolution Opposing Mandatory Collective Bargaining Legislation (HB 1263 / SB 378) Presenter: Melisa Michelsen, City Attorney Council Action Memo - Resolution Opposing Mandatory Collective Bargaining Legislation (HB 1263 / SB 378) - Pdf 216 - 218
12.5
Decision: AGENDA
Motion to recess into Executive Session in order to consult with the City Attorney regarding the settlement of pending litigation relating to 520/522 N. Cameron St., where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the City’s negotiating or litigating posture, as authorized by Va. Code § 2.2-3711(7).
13.1
Decision: EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion to reconvene into open session and to certify that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act were discussed during the closed meeting, and that only those public business matters identified in the motion which convened during the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered during the closed meeting.
14.1
Decision: RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION
Finance Report - February 2026 Council Action Memo - February 2026 Finance Report - Pdf 219 - 341
15.1
Decision: MONTHLY REPORTS
Winchester Police Department Report - March 2026 March 2026 Winchester Police Department Report 342 - 343
15.2
Decision: MONTHLY REPORTS