HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-2026 Planning Commission Packet Planning Commission
Agenda
Monday, January 12, 2026 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Review and Approval of Minutes
a. November 11, 2025 Planning Commission Minutes
4. Public Hearing (NA)
5. Presentation (15 minutes)
a. Rest and Rise Winter Shelter- Terri Sternberg
6. 2026 Election of Officers
7. 2026 Meeting Calendar
a. October Meeting Date*
8. Disclosure of Real Estate Holdings Forms
9. Commissioner Comments
10. Reminder of Next Meeting
a. Monday, February 9, 2026 6:00 p.m.
11. Adjournment
“To Our House” / “Rest and Rise” Overnight Winter Shelter Program Description
This information is being provided to the Town of Pulaski - Zoning Administration as a first
step toward bringing a successful program into Pulaski that has been operating for 16
seasons primarily in the towns of Christiansburg and Blacksburg. To Our House is
described below, and its program design would be followed expressly by the
Pulaski-focused “Rest and Rise” program.
To Our House (TOH) is a program of New River Community Action (NRCA) with the
cooperation of local faith-based organizations. Its goals are two-fold: a) to provide cold
weather shelter for homeless adults during a five-month season beginning November 1
each year, and b) to assist and support those who are currently homeless as they seek
permanent housing through education, skills building, and case management. NRCA has a
substantial budget allocated for TOH to allow for paid overnight staff and ancillary services
such as housing case management and other supportive services. The faith-based
community (which involves many congregations over the 20-month period) provides the
overnight accommodation space, meals, fellowship, transportation, and additional
volunteer overnight supervision.
Rationale for the structure of the TOH program
Helping individuals transition from being unhoused to having permanent housing is a vital
component of not only personal health and stability but also for public health and safety,
economic development, and a thriving community and region. In fact, having stable
housing is intricately connected to improving physical and mental health and substance
use prevention and/or treatment. The program that TOH offers is instrumental in
supporting individuals as they seek to move from surviving to thriving. By having a
guaranteed place to be fed, find rest and fellowship, and receive wrap-around services for
the duration of the season, program participants can and do make great strides in
overcoming various obstacles that have contributed to their housing instability.
Program Details
● The season for winter overnight shelter is NOT weather dependent. It begins
November 1 and ends April 1.
● TOH is a low-barrier program where a state-issued identification card is not
required. Currently, TOH allows citizens from the New River Valley locality to use the
program.
● Each participant who is enrolled in TOH is screened by the eligibility staff at NRCA to
ensure that the limited number of beds available are being filled by the most
vulnerable unhoused adults who have no other overnight shelter options.
● Each participant is entered into the NRCA homeless individual management
database (HIMS) and is referred to appropriate supportive services within NRCA and
outside of NRCA, such as NRVCS for mental health or substance use recovery
support. NRCA administers much of the housing assistance programs in the NRV.
● Each participant (referred to as “guest”) is guaranteed their spot in TOH for as long
as they need it. If a guest leaves the program during the season, their spot is made
available to the next person who is seeking admission into the program.
● Currently, the capacity is 14 sleeping “pods” (tent, air mattress, linens). The guests
arrive at the host church location no earlier than 5:45pm and leave the location by
7:00am each day. They are allowed two bags and a backpack and may leave their
bags in their tent for safekeeping during the day. Participants are on their own
during the day.
● Guests are given a detailed “Guest Expectations” agreement to read and sign as a
condition of the program. (see attached)
● The location of the shelter moves during the season from host church to host
church. Pulaski has five congregations in the town limits who committed to hosting
a 12-week season in 2025-2026 from December 14 - March 14. Each location agreed
to at least one-week as host and up to two weeks as their schedule allowed.
● A hot dinner meal, breakfast, and a bag lunch are provided by support churches.
● Provision for showering and clothes laundering is also part of the program.
● There is a program manager for TOH who works for NRCA who handles any staffing
or guest-related issues.
● NRCA housing case managers make regular visits with the guests throughout the
season during evening hours as a way of providing continuity of care for supportive
services.
Rest and Rise Pulaski is called by this name rather than To Our House only because - in
the initial phase - it is serving as an extension of TOH without being technically “owned” by
NRCA as a program entity. Rest and Rise Pulaski relies completely on volunteer leadership
and support by members within the town and county of Pulaski until such time as NRCA
can grow their budget for including this expansion.
As one can see, this model offers services and supports to our citizens beyond an
emergency-based warming station would be able to provide. The length of the season
allows for time needed to move through the journey of homelessness to being housed,
especially when affordable accessible housing is as tight as it is. A guaranteed “bed”
provides added stability and promotes growth from surviving to thriving as people seek
healing, health, and sustainable livelihood.
“Rest and Rise Pulaski” - Emergency Warming Station
This is a request for clarification of Ordinance 2023-03, p. 195, of the current Zoning Ordinance -
submitted by the Pulaski County Ministerial Association on January 5, 2026.
Ordinance 2023-03 grants emergency warming station as an accessory use for houses of worship
as stated:
Houses of Worship.
An institution that people regularly attend to participate in or hold religious services, and shall include
buildings in which the religious services of any denomination are held. (Adopted November 1, 2022/
Ordinance 2022-17)
a. As an accessory use, emergency warming stations are permitted, as defined by the building
code and subject to meeting applicable building code and fire code requirements and only
accept Pulaski County residents and only operate from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Adopted February 7,
2023/ Ordinance 2023-03)
In an effort to assist in supporting our most vulnerable citizens of Pulaski, five particular member
churches of the Pulaski County Ministerial Association have planned to use specific sections of
their facilities to provide overnight winter shelter as described in the accessory use permit.
Yet, when the five downtown churches have tried to operate over a season from mid-December
2025 through mid-March 2026 as warming stations (taking a week or two in rotation among the
five churches), we are being advised by the Town Council and Town Manager, along with the Fire
Marshal, that we don’t have permission to do so without submitting plans to the Planning
Commission for review and approval.
Questions to be answered by the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, Town Manager:
1. What does a church have to do to carry out ordinance 2023-03 other than having the
specific building space inspected for meeting applicable building and fire codes? What are the
appropriate steps that need to be followed?
2. What or who determines the emergency conditions? For example, Taking it to the Streets’
Warming Station operates when the temperature is 40F and falling at 6:00 pm. Nighttime lows are
consistently below 40F this winter.
(The full page 195 from the Zoning Ordinance is attached for your reference.)
To Mr. Nathan Smythers, the Planning Commission, and Mr. Todd Day, thank you for your
assistance in finding the answer to this pressing question as the winter nights will only get colder
as January and February arrive.
Respectfully submitted,
Terrie Sternberg, Chair
Pulaski County Ministerial Association
cc: Anderson Memorial Presbyterian Church - Jack Chaffin
Christ Episcopal Church - Judith Peele
First Christian Church - Jeff Worrell
First Presbyterian Church - Ernie Wallace
First United Methodist Church - Rev. Josh Kilbourne
Commonwealth of Virginia
2026 Pay and Holiday Calendar
State Holidays
January 1
New Year’s Day
January 19
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 16
George Washington Day
May 25
Memorial Day
June 19
Juneteenth
July 4 (Observed on 3rd)
Independence Day
September 7
Labor Day
October 12
Columbus Day & Yorktown Victory Day
November 3
Election Day
November 11
Veterans Day
November 25
4 hours additional holiday time
November 26
Thanksgiving
November 27
Day After Thanksgiving
December 24
8 hours additional holiday time
December 25
Christmas
Please note: In some agencies, the holiday and payday schedule may vary from what is shown here. If you
have questions, see your
agency human resources officer.
Denotes Payday
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