Michael SutphinCitizens First Questionnaire Answers 1.

Old and new Blacksburg High and Middle School property development a. What do you think should happen to the Old Blacksburg High School property and why? i. If the solution requires money: Where would the money come from to pay for this? ii. How would you handle resident opposition to this? (i.e., how much say should the neighborhoods around that site have in the future of the site?) There are a number of possible good uses for the Old Blacksburg High School property, and I would support several optionsincluding civic, recreational, and residential usesprovided that these uses make financial sense for the town and they fit with the character and values of the surrounding neighborhoods. Several local officials have already spoken about the Town of Blacksburg purchasing the property to increase our parks and recreation offerings, and possibly selling off a portion of the property for residential use. I believe this is a sensible solution, but of course, this requires cooperation between the town and county. Adjacent neighborhoods should have a considerable say in the future of the property, and if elected, I would make sure the process not only remains open and transparent but also allows for citizen input through neighborhood meetings and public forums. b. Many have said that the Old Blacksburg Middle School is a key downtown property. With that in mind, and with your understanding of the OBMS Master Plan, what are your favorite parts of the plan and what parts are you most concerned about? I support the Old Blacksburg Middle School Master Plan, and I am grateful that our local leadersincluding the Blacksburg Town Council and the Montgomery County School Board have been able to put forward a plan after years of little to no progress on the property. We do not want to live in the community with the highest number of abandoned school buildings in Virginia, and I believe that recent events have shown that our local officials do not want this either. The master plan will not only lead to mixed-use development but also expand what we think of as our downtown. I am especially excited that Modea will be able to use the property to expand its business within town limits and bring more jobs to the area. As a member of the Blacksburg Housing and Community Development Advisory Board, I have been a part of conversations about the town using tax credits to purchase a portion of the property to use for affordable housing. I believe that we still need to work on finding answers to several questions about infrastructurefrom parking spaces to shared utilitiesbut that in the end this redevelopment project will be a gem for our community in the long run. c. Do you believe Blacksburgs interests have been well represented in the planning of the new Blacksburg High School? Has the town used its leverage adequately? Why or why not?

Thanks to the work of vocal community leaders, including members of the Blacksburg Town Council, we will have a new Blacksburg High School. I support the construction of a new high school, and I believe that the town did pull its weight to ensure that the county did decide to build a new school. I do, however, have a number of concerns about the location of the new Blacksburg High School. Why are we putting all of our new schools next to each other on Prices Fork Road? Schools add value to surrounding neighborhoods, and it makes more sense to integrate them throughout our community and throughout our neighborhoods than to create a district for our schools. This creates a burden for a number of reasons, including traffic. That said, I am thankful that we are moving forward on this issue, and I believe that we need to make sure the new Blacksburg High School construction moves along on schedule and succeeds for the benefit of our students and parents. d. There are a number of properties in Blacksburg (the old Blacksburg Middle and High Schools, and the new high school) for which the town and county are involved in collaborative planning for development. i. What is your vision for these properties and the towns relationship with the county in their development/management? ii. How would you use the current (or an alternative, please specify) planning and development process to achieve your vision? Please see above or refer back to my answer to this question at the Citizens First forum on Sept. 14. 2. Downtown revitalization a. What is your feeling about the vitality and health of our downtown with respect to both business and residential uses? All in all, I believe that we have a healthy, vibrant downtown, but there is much room for improvement. We need to take a holistic approach to our downtown area that not only retains and attracts shops and restaurants but also markets our central business district as the place to bring friends and family for shopping, dining, and entertainment. A retail study released in June 2007 shows that a typical Blacksburg shopper is not just a student, a long-time resident, or a football visitor. In truth, all three make up our shopping base. If elected, I will work with town and business leaders to create an identity for Blacksburg that effectively markets our downtowns broad appeal. Downtown Blacksburg will benefit from the increased foot traffic associated with the new arts initiative. With Virginia Techs new performing arts building in close proximity to the Lyric, the

Community Arts Information Office, and several art galleries, many visitors will come downtown to attend a play, watch a movie, or experience the arts and culture in Blacksburg. I will work to make sure this effort succeeds at boosting our sense of community and our tax base. I also see an opportunity to work with Downtown Blacksburg Inc. to increase attendance at the towns annual events, which generate significant economic activity in Blacksburg. I will encourage residents to shop at local vendors and the farmers market. These efforts not only support small businesses but also reduce the amount of greenhouse gases expended as a result of our consumption. In terms of residential uses, I believe that we have room to expand workforce and senior housing downtown. The Old Blacksburg Middle School property may provide some opportunity for this. b. What do you think are the top 2 or 3 priorities for downtown revitalization and how would you implement them? Here are my top three priorities for revitalizing downtown: (1) Ensure the success of the Old Blacksburg Middle School Master Plan. This plan calls for increased commercial and residential development that will not only provide much needed economic development but also extend the public perception of where our downtown is and how far it goes. If elected, I will work with county and town leaders to promote development that follows the guidelines set forth in the master plan. (2) Retain our existing shops and restaurants. We have all seen the empty storefronts, and we have all read the headlines about stores closing in Blacksburgwhether its Easy Chair Coffee Shop or Books-A-Million. If elected, I will make sure we keep our existing downtown retail by increasing foot traffic by expanding access to public transportation and designating arts and pedestrian districts and listening to the recommendations from the Blacksburg Business Climate Task Force so that we can improve communication and customer service between local government and our business community. (3) Create incentives for entrepreneurs to start a business in town, especially in our historic downtown. In 2009, the Blacksburg Town Council passed an ordinance that waives business license and other fees for downtown establishments that remain in town after one year. I would like to see this ordinance put into action. c. What is your opinion on the planned College Avenue Promenade? I support the College Avenue Promenade, and I believe it will not only add to the character and value of our downtown but also increase foot traffic for local businesses along College Avenue. d. Do you think Blacksburg development is currently over, under, or properly regulated? What changes, if any, to town regulations would you support?

This is a fairly broad question, but in general, I believe that Blacksburg development is properly regulated. I would support changes to town regulations on a case-by-case basis after carefully considering the rationale behind each regulation and its impact on the community and our neighborhoods. e. Should we encourage more building of new retail and commercial space? What size and type of uses would you support? If not, why? I believe that the Town of Blacksburg can support some additional retail and commercial spaces. Instead of focusing on large-format retail, which has been a point of discussion and contention in town for years, I believe that we need to work to retain established businesses in Blacksburg and to provide incentives for entrepreneurs looking to open commercial and retail ventures in selected areas of town, including the downtown and North Main areas. We all know that certain items are hard to find in Blacksburg; we don't have a dedicated mens clothing store or pharmacy downtown, for example. We also need more low-rent business incubator spaces and a program to encourage building owners in the downtown area to maintain their properties. I support these and other efforts to promote economic development in Blacksburg. f. Are you supportive of conditional use permits for large commercial spaces? Yes, I support Ordinance 1450 and 1509, which require a conditional use permit for large commercial development. I believe that small towns like ours should have a say in their future. 3. Neighborhoods a. What is your philosophy towards resolving recurrent friction between students and town residents? Whether in Blacksburg for four years or forty years, we need to learn to live peacefully and civilly with our neighbors. We are one community. Historically, students have been an important part of life of Blacksburg, even before the founding of Virginia Tech, and our future depends on us working together. There are a number of areas in which the Blacksburg Town Council and town staff can work on improving the relationship between students and long-term residents, especially issues like over-occupancy. I have lived in Blacksburg for nine years, first as a Virginia Tech student and now as a permanent resident who lives and works in town, and I am uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between students and long-term residents.

b. Please comment on whether town codes and their enforcement are adequate to control problem properties in town. Why or why not? What incentives and/or penalties would you propose to improve the situation? Although I believe that town code and its associated penalties are sufficient to deal with problem properties in town, these properties are not always addressed adequately in Blacksburg. Tight budgets mean we have limited town staff to deal with code enforcement. In some cases, only one or two staff members are tasked with addressing certain types of code enforcement issues in a community with 45,000 members. Whats more, some issuessuch as over-occupancyare difficult to investigate and even more difficult to enforce. For a more complete synopsis of my views on this issue, please refer to my answer to this question at the Sept. 14 forum. c. What steps should we take as a town to preserve and reclaim historic downtown neighborhoods? Should new properties be added to the historic district? Certainly, our local government has a vested interest in preserving our historic structures and landmarks, and I support historic preservation efforts as a part of a larger smart growth approach to land-use planning. In general, I believe that our existing regulations are adequate to preserve and reclaim historic downtown neighborhoods, and I do not foresee adding new properties to the historic district. d. Should downtown residential neighborhoods be used for general downtown or VT parking? As a new resident of a downtown residential neighborhood, I understand that parking can be difficult in Blacksburg at times, especially during football game days. Obviously, the ideal is that downtown homeowners and renters can park as close to their home as possible. To my knowledge, town parking regulations do not take into consideration a residents status as a student or long-term resident. Virginia Tech is constructingor has recently constructed several new parking structures, which will help alleviate some of this problem. 4. Bikeway/Pedestrian Master Plan a. Please comment on the extent to which the current transportation grid in Blacksburg serves alternative transportation needs for recreating, commuting, and running utilitarian errands. More and more Blacksburg residents are taking the bus or riding a bike to school, their place of work, or the store. We have all read the headlines about the increase in Blacksburg Transit ridership, the calls for more bike lanes in town, and the success of the Safe Routes to Schools

program. Our current transportation grid offers many opportunities for cyclists and pedestrians, but there is room for improvement. Although not everyone has the ability to take the bus to work or ride a bicycle to school, we can all work together to increase opportunities for those of us who can and do. In the 2009 town council race, I talked about the importance of creating a fully connected bike path and share the road system in our downtown area as well as the expansion of the Huckleberry Trail, one of Blacksburg treasures. I hope to incorporate sidewalks, greenways, and bike paths in the planning process, not as an afterthought. I am a strong advocate for public and alternative transportation, and I plan to use my campaign as a soap box to share how these modes of transportation not only expend less energy and produce less greenhouse gas emissions but also save money. According to a 2008 report by the American Public Transportation Association, a person who uses public transportation instead of driving will have an average annual savings of more than $8,700. I understand that it is unrealistic to expect everyone to switch to public and alternative transportation, but even occasional bus riders will save money. With a struggling economy, more Blacksburg residents will look for alternative ways to travel around town. I will not only make sure our town offers them safe, accessible, and affordable options but also work to meet our regional alternative transportation needs through RIDE Solutions and similar programs. b. Do you believe that Blacksburg is a bicycle and pedestrian friendly community? i. What are the greatest impediments to increased walking and bicycling in Blacksburg? ii. What are your priorities for implementing the Bikeway/Pedestrian Master Plan that citizens are currently drafting for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan? Please see above for a general overview of my goal to create a bicycle and pedestrian friendly community and refer to my answer to this question at the Sept. 14 forum for more information. c. Would you support a bicycle contraflow lane for the planned College Avenue Promenade? Before answering this question, I would need to see the plans for a bicycle contraflow lane as well as figures on the associated costs. In general, though, I support bike lanes as a part of new development and redevelopment projects, especially downtown. d. What is your position on linking neighborhoods, as in the Safe Routes to Schools program and neighborhood trails, to bikeway, sidewalk and mixed use trail connectivity throughout the town? Please see above for a general overview of my approach to linking trails and alternative transportation routes in Blacksburg.

5. Environmental Management and Sustainability a. What are some significant steps Blacksburg can take toward environmental sustainability? There is much that the Town of Blacksburg can do to ensure that we are good stewards of our environment: Incorporate smart growth design principlessuch as promoting compact, mixed-use development and preserving green and open spacesin all land-use decisions Improve access to public and alternative transportation Ensure the success of the downtown recycling pilot program and extend the program to the rest of town Making good on Blacksburgs Cool Cities status under the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement Lead by example with low-impact, energy-efficient building practices Support the local foods movement through the Blacksburg Farmers Market and community-supporting agriculture (CSA) programs Restore Stroubles Creek and preserve the Toms Creek Basin Empower citizens to make environmentally conscious decisions, especially with the talents, creativity, and initiative of young people b. What policies do you advocate for the Towns management of its nature parks, namely Heritage Park, Ellet Valley Nature Trail, Cedar Run, and of it recreational parks? In August, the town completed a needs assessment for its parks and recreation facilities. Although the assessment focused on indoor facilities, it does contain some valuable information about outdoor trails and recreational parks as well. Although the Town of Blacksburg has more than 500 acres of parks and recreation fields, we do have some room to grow and expand what we already have. I support a hands off approach to many of our parks and nature trails, especially the farther that they are from the towns center. For example, I believe that Heritage Park should remain green and open space for the time being, and I believe that the majority of citizensespecially in the surrounding areasupport this approach as well. 6. Future of Blacksburg and the relationship with Montgomery County a. Should Blacksburg consider becoming a city? If no, why not? If yes, what criteria and why? The Town of Blacksburg should only consider becoming a city if it can do so without raising real estate taxes. My understanding is that the town conducted a feasibility study on becoming a city in the 1990s and found that it would not be a financially sound option. I expect that the same would be true today.

b. Are there any areas in the relationship between Blacksburg and Montgomery County that you think need improvement? Any that you think are exemplary? The Town of Blacksburg must build on its relations with our neighbors in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. The Comprehensive Plan identifies several factors influencing our relations with other government agencies, including the appeal of the Blacksburg Industrial Park and the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center to businesses in the region, shared transportation resources, the economic opportunities offered by Virginia Tech, the shared identity with our neighbors in the New River Valley, and established agreements to address public health and safety. Many town citizens and officials serve on regional boards and committees. We must not only continue this good work but also building upon it as new challenges emerge. There are several particular areas where we should work together cooperatively. If elected, I work to ensure the success of the Old Blacksburg Middle School Master Plan, partner with the county on school issues, coordinate efforts to recruit business, and offer area transportation choices. I have addressed the first three of these in earlier questions; let me address the latter in more detail here. The Town of Blacksburg must take regional needs into consideration for the future of our transportation network. The towns borders are only visible on a map, and transportation crosses these borders. I support regional transportation agreements, such as the expansion of Blacksburg Transit into selected neighborhoods in Christiansburg, the Smart Way bus, and the Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive Airport. We must also make commuting easier and more environmentally friendly for the towns workforce that travels to and from neighboring localities. RIDE Solutions, a ridesharing program operated by the New River Valley and Roanoke Valley planning district commissions, is a great start, but we should also consider public support for regional park-and-rides as a next step. The Town of Blacksburg should also serve as a model for other localities on sustainability, openness in government, broadband expansion, and other issues. As we excel in these areas, we are not only improving the quality of life for Blacksburg residents and taxpayers but also raising the standard for local government in the New River Valley and the rest of the commonwealth. c. To what extent would you reach out and work with those on the County Board of Supervisors? See above. 7. Relations with Virginia Tech a. One of the big issues for many in town is the question of the meals tax. Should Virginia Tech collect the meals tax for the town of Blacksburg? Tell us why or why not?

Yes, Virginia Tech should collect the Blacksburg meal and lodging taxes from campus visitors. Here are five, widely circulated reasons why: 1. All of Virginias 15 four-year public universitiesexcept Virginia Techreimburse the local community for meals and lodging. 2. More than 100 restaurants in Blacksburg collect the meal tax, but the restaurants and franchises on campus do not. 3. The Hotel Roanoke collects a lodging tax, but the Inn at Virginia Tech does not. 4. Collected taxes would help the Town of Blacksburg maintain its high quality of life and keep it safe, clean, and beautiful for all members of our community. 5. All student meal plans are tax exempt and would remain that way if Virginia Tech collected local taxes. b. There is a significant arts push coming from Virginia Tech with the building of the art center downtown and other facilities. i. How will the town benefit from it? ii. How do we work with Virginia Tech to maximize positive impacts? Yes, I am excited about the new $89 million Center for the Arts and its many benefits for the town. I am a strong supporter of the arts in Blacksburg, and I believe that the arts provide a great starting point to increase foot traffic in our downtown area. With the new performing arts center in close proximity to the Theatre 101 building, The Lyric, the Community Arts Information Office, and several art galleries, many visitors will come downtown to attend a play, watch a movie, or experience the arts and culture in Blacksburg. These efforts not only boost our sense of community but also increase our tax base, and they are part of the solution to revitalize downtown. c. Virginia Tech and the town of Blacksburg live in a symbiotic relationship; however, many feel that the town does not get a fair deal in the relationship. What can the town council do to improve the relationship? Please see my answers to previous questions and refer to my answer to this question at the Sept. 14 forum for more information about my stance on this topic. 8. Good governance and candidate management style a. How would you as a council member work with constituents to enact their wishes, especially on difficult or contentious issues?

I would make sure that the Blacksburg Town Council and our local leaders listen to all sides of an issue. When I studied journalism at Virginia Tech and worked as a student reporter for the Collegiate Times in my college years, I learned that there are many sides to every issue and that one must look at each issue from many points of view to arrive at a more complete picture of the truth. I also take this sort of approach to local governance. Whether insisting that the Blacksburg Town Council hold open meetings whenever possible and advocating for an open and transparent government, encouraging citizens to weigh in on difficult and contentious issues at public forums and neighborhood meetings, or speaking with community members one-on-one, I will make sure that local government remains of the people, by the people, for the people. b. Ideas for improving the quality of life in town often change as they move from conception to implementation. Developers have been known to mislead citizens, town staff, and elected officials (i.e., bait and switch). i. What steps would you take to ensure that truthful and accurate information is always provided to, and issued from, the Town of Blacksburg? ii. How would you harmonize the objectives of a diverse citizenry with the implementation of those objectives by town staff? In short, I believe that we need to improve the way local government communicates its messages to our diverse citizenry and allow town staff to provide unbiased, research-based information about local issues with accountability to the town council. For my extended thoughts on this matter, please refer to my answer at the Sept. 14 forum. c. How would you handle a disagreement between staff and constituents? (i.e., how would you determine which way to go? Would you have a preference for the staff view or the public view?). As an elected official, my job and my responsibility would be to make sure that the Town of Blacksburg makes decisions that reflect the views and outlook of Blacksburg citizens. On the one hand, the town staff works for the citizens, not the other way around; on the other hand, town staff often has access to knowledge and resources that the average Joe might not have. It is the responsibility of the Blacksburg Town Council not only to listen to and understand the needs of the towns citizens but also to use its big picture view of town issues and policies supporting by resources and information from town staffto educate and inform the public.