Still a lot of unknowns about the Wharf Parking Lot as Staunton City Council gets update
STAUNTON — There's more that is unknown than known at this time concerning the closure of part of the Wharf Parking Lot in downtown Staunton.
City Manager Leslie Beauregard updated Staunton City Council on the area Thursday night at its regular meeting.
In 2021, nine months after two devastating floods hit downtown Staunton, City Council allocated a portion of their American Rescue Plan Act funds toward flood mitigation efforts in the city.
A tunnel survey and structural evaluation conducted by Wiley|Wilson explored the conditions where Gum Spring Branch and Lewis Creek run underground. Those efforts included a tunnel survey and structural evaluation conducted by Wiley|Wilson and started last week. What the engineers saw caused them concern about the structural integrity of the tunnel in several specific areas, primarily around the Wharf.
The east portion of the Wharf Parking Lot has been closed as has the entrance from West Johnson Street. A new entrance to the west end of the parking lot was created off of Byers Street that can be accessed from Lewis Street. Traffic patterns on West Johnson Street have also been changed.
Can rabbit rescue be saved? Augusta County Board of Supervisors asks attorney to try to help Bunny Lu
Beauregard said the extent or cost of repairs is not known yet. The city is also not sure how to fund those repairs.
"We have already been talking to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, we talked to the planning district commission," Beauregard said. "Looking at a combination of local dollars, grants. We even looked at if we take out bonds. We just don't know until we know the cost, obviously, but we're kind of exploring every single option."
The timeline on starting emergency repairs and how long those repairs will take is also an unknown as of Thursday night. Beauregard said the city is also not sure of the longer term plans for creeks and tunnel systems and strategic flood mitigation.
"That's a lot not to know," she said. "I realize."
Murder suspect pleads not guilty in Waynesboro, losses bid to suppress police statements
As far as what is known, Beauregard said that downtown parking and traffic flow will stay as is for now until more is known. Wiley|Wilson will continue to evaluate areas of concern. The engineering firm will also continue its evaluation north up Central Avenue and east to New Street.
Beauregard said the Staunton Farmers' Market that operates in the west portion of the Wharf Parking Lot is still scheduled to start April 5.
"Understanding though, if construction occurs and they have to leave that space for some period of time, they'll need a plan B," she said. "We're helping them work through that."
It's also perfectly safe for pedestrian traffic on the eastern side of the Wharf Parking Lot, Beauregard said.
The city manager thanked the staff that worked on this, including public works for creating the new entrance.
"I think it looks like it belonged there forever," she said. "I think when this is all said and done, I think they're going to keep that as an opening and bollard it. It's always nice to have that option for special events or the Farmers' Market or whatever."
Beauregard did tell council that this provides an opportunity to study parking in downtown Staunton.
"I have a feeling that we will be updating you and the public often," Beauregard said. "Often and frequently and sharing as much detail as we can at any given time."
More: VSP: One dead in Augusta County crash
More: Staunton School Board, search firm meet to discuss timeline on hiring superintendent
— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton City Council hears update on Wharf Parking Lot closure
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sanitation fee passes, begins July 1
The sanitation fee resolution, which caused many conversations and criticisms within Lebanon, was passed by the City Council in a 4-2 vote during Tuesday's meeting. The structure of the fee will be $20 for residential customers and $40 for business customers. The city's sanitation department does not pick up dumpsters used by businesses, only bins specifically used for the city service. Geri Ashley and Camille Burdine, Councilors for Ward 2 and 3 respectively, stuck to their votes against the fee for the second reading. Both raised concerns of how residents at or below the poverty line or seniors on fixed incomes may be impacted by the $20 per month fee. Questions regarding how the sanitation department is funded were asked as confusion rippled through the community. 'This was an unadvertised discussion in a work session. It was a 15-minute discussion,' Ashley said. 'I still don't have all my questions answered. I don't feel like I have the economic information.' 'I think that we should, as a City Council, have spent more time talking about it and seeing if we could come up with any other solutions,' Ashley added. 'If in fact we are paying for garbage in our city's taxes, and now we're incorporating a fee, then what happens next year when we get our taxes? Are our taxes going to be reduced at that point, because that is a double dip.' On Wednesday, Burdine reiterated her thoughts that the city should be more proactive in studying the impact on the citizens before a fee was implemented. She said the response to rising costs caused the city to be 'reactive instead of proactive.' Burdine said she is not opposed to a sanitation fee, but feels that more time should have been spent researching it. Also on Wednesday, Ashley called the fee a 'knee-jerk reaction' and likewise felt that not enough research was done. She also said instead of a flat fee, a property tax increase would take into account the property values and Wards 1, 2 and 3 would not have to deal with a monthly fee which might be a burden. Ashley said she wants to see if the sanitation fee will disappear from the property taxes. Ward 1 Councilor Joey Carmack said he supported the fee because it's a flat fee that all residents pay, which doesn't fluctuate. 'I do not feel it's fair for the sanitation fee to be a property tax,' Carmack said. 'A property tax would be unfair, because for example, person one has a $1 million house, and [may] only have one can of trash. They would pay more taxes than person two [who has] a $350,000 home.' 'We dump the trash from the city at Walter Hill (in Murfreesboro), which has been in the news about closing soon,' Carmack added. 'When that does happen, we will be paying even more to dump trash.' Middle Point Landfill has been working with Rutherford County to increase fees for 'out-of-county' tipping fees, as well as downsizing the number of counties allowed to dump there. During a meeting earlier this year, it was proposed to double the fees for non-Rutherford County clients from $1.20 per ton to $2.50 per ton to generate more revenue for that county. The town meeting hall had more residents in attendance than usual, which was commented on by the Councilors, who expressed gratitude for the increased attendance. Burdine, Chris Crowell, Councilor for Ward 4 and Phil Morehead, Councilor for Ward 6, particularly welcomed the attendance and interest in city business. During the public comment period, nearly a dozen people spoke to the City Council. One resident, Stephen Lawson, said he and others should have the option to opt out of the fee, and that he would rather pay a private company $30 to support that business than give the city $20. He also asked if there were other landfills which could be used. 'I thought there was a landfill in Wilson County. Is that one full?' Lawson asked. 'That's owned by the Wilson County government, and it's just open to construction materials,' Mayor Bell responded. 'It's not open to us.' Alex Buhler, former Ward 1 Councilor who stepped-down in 2012, also spoke. 'They should have that option to opt out,' Buhler said. 'If a thousand people opt out, that's a thousand houses you don't have to go to.' Bell responded by saying that wouldn't save as much money as people think because the sanitation trucks will still be driving by those houses anyway. Some of the Councilors said they don't know if private companies would have the same quality of work that the city does, as officials believe sanitation is a public health matter which the Council 'takes seriously.' Another resident wondered if the sanitation fee would lead to the start of 'nickel and diming' the residents of the city. Glenn Denton, County Commissioner for District 20, which covers the downtown Lebanon region of the county, criticized the growth of the city, which he thinks sparked the need for growing services and the fees to pay for them. 'Enough is enough. We have overbuilt in our city beyond what our infrastructure can handle,' Denton said. 'When do we stop building to where we cannot service and when we cannot pay for the infrastructure around it?' Nearly an hour and a half was spent discussing the sanitation fee and budget for the next year. With the passing of the resolution, the sanitation fee goes into effect July 1.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Opinions can vary on Garrett Wilson and what he "deserves.'' But "deserves'' isn't always how this works. The market sets itself, and the Jets know this.
Opinions can vary on Garrett Wilson and what he "deserves.'' But "deserves'' isn't always how this works. The market sets itself, and the Jets know this. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. We know that the New York Jets' contract extension talks with receiver Garrett Wilson are underway, with suggestions that this might be a slow roll on the way toward training camp. Advertisement And we also know that corner Sauce Gardner and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson are also due to join Wilson in wanting to get paid, meaning new general manager Darren Mougey figures to be a busy man. And what about Wilson's numbers? We have our educated guesses. And others have their uneducated ones. Example? The Jets receiver is the subject of shockingly bad contract prediction from quarterback-turned-analyst Kurt Benkert. "I think that Garrett Wilson could very easily get a four-year, $96 million contract," Benkert said. Wait. What? Let's do some math here. Wilson, whose fifth-year option will cost New York $16.8 million, is likely to view himself as a superstar - or, at least, a budding one. The going rate for such a player isn't a number that hovers above $20 mil; that's about $10 million shy. Advertisement Wilson, 24, despite shaky QB play, has become a 1,000-yard perennial. ESPN's Ben Solak has even predicted that in 2025 Wilson will lead the NFL in receiving yards. Opinions can vary on Wilson and what he "deserves.'' But "deserves'' isn't always how this works. The market sets itself. There are now nine NFL receivers who make over $29 million per year. The next wave of great receivers will be chasing a number like that. Not everybody in the media might see it. But we bet the Jets do. Related: Jets Issue 'Perfect Storm' All-Pro Comparison To Armand Membou This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Business Solutions Center to help small businesses launched
( — The new resource hub, Business Solution Center, was launched by the City of Sacramento in an effort to help local small businesses succeed. Video Above: Local business in Old Sacramento focused on Eco-Friendly products Officials said the City's Office of Innovation and Economic Development developed the hub, while the American Rescue Plan Act and the U.S. Small Business Administration funded it. The Business Solutions Center aims to unite multiple small business services into a 'single, streamlined program.' The hub offers personalized, one-on-one support for entrepreneurs who want to build a business plan, expand operations or navigate permitting and licensing. 'We know small businesses are the backbone of Sacramento's economy, and the Business Solutions Center is about meeting them where they are with the support they need to succeed,' said Denise Malvetti, Deputy Director of the Office of Innovation and Economic Development. 'Whether it's funding, permits, or someone to help navigate your next steps, this Center puts real, tangible resources within reach.' 13th measles case of 2025 in the state confirmed in Woodland The center helps business access: Up to $5,000 in microgrant funding to invest in equipment. One-on-one consultations with counselors in partnership with California Capital Financial Development Corporation. Up to $2,500 in city fee credits to help cover permitting, licensing or inspection costs SizeUp Sacramento: a data tool offering insights on business performance, competitors and customers 'From day one, we've designed the Business Solutions Center with equity, accessibility, and long-term impact in mind,' Malvetti said. 'This isn't just about recovery—it's about building a stronger, more inclusive local economy for years to come.' Officials said the center was built with an emphasis on 'equity, accountability, and measurable results.' The city is able to evaluate the program's impact through a customer relationship management system that tracks service requests. Based on the evolving needs of Sacramento's business community, adjustments are made. Those who want to participate can: Visit the 311 portal and register for an account. Add your business to your 311 account Submit a 'Business Resources' request through the dashboard Officials said those who already have a 311 account can: Login and select 'My Profile' Then click on 'Add Business' Select 'Request Service' and make sure to click the 'Business Case' request. More information can be found on the city's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
