Toms Creek Basin Planning Study

The Town of Blacksburg is kicking off the Toms Creek Basin (TCB) Planning Study, an effort that will engage the public and local stakeholders and guide a strategy for the future of TCB.

The study will take approximately one year to complete and will be led by planning and community development firm Development Strategies, in close partnership with a steering committee and town staff. Throughout the project, the team will talk extensively with the community in a variety of ways and use data to evaluate key TCB characteristics, including open space and conservation, ecology and environmental elements, past and future developments, recreational amenities, transportation, and infrastructure.

“This is an important moment that will greatly affect the long term future of the TCB,” said Toms Creek resident and Steering Committee member Bob Freyman. “Residents in the basin and the town at-large need to provide input to be sure the results of the study reflect their values and desires for the TCB.”

The kickoff started this week with a tour of the basin and included a presentation to Town Council and the Planning Commission. There will be numerous public engagement opportunities throughout the project, both online and in-person. These activities and
conversations will allow the Town to gather community insight that will ensure future actions and policies align with a common vision for TCB.

“As Blacksburg continues to develop over time it is critical that the Town takes proactive steps to create a clear vison for the Toms Creek Basin that aligns with our community and Town Council values for the area,” said Deputy Town Manager Matt Hanratty. “There are many competing interests in the TCB including the need for housing, recreation, environmental preservation, open space management, and connectivity. It’s important that these are balanced in a plan that allows the Town to grow sensibly in the basin. This study will be the foundation for that growth moving forward and provide a roadmap for decades to come.”

TCB comprises approximately 4,000 acres west of the US Route 460 Bypass and north of Prices Fork Road. The area was annexed into the Town in 1973. When surveyed in 1996, residents stressed the importance of preserving the rural character, open spaces, and scenic views of TCB. Blacksburg Town Council re-affirmed this sentiment in 2022 at its biannual retreat.

For more information about the TCB Planning Study, to ask a question, or make comments visit the Let’s Talk Blacksburg project page or reach out to Project Manager and Town Planner Kinsey O’Shea at KOShea@blacksburg.gov or 540-443-1304.