Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 11, 1990 TAG: 9007110353
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The council narrowly defeated a measure to convert Ray Chisholm's Turner Street property from commercial to residential zoning. The action settled several months of confusion about the placement of a line on the town's official zoning map.
Chisholm is building student apartments next to Burger King, based on a decision by the Board of Zoning Appeals that the site is commercially zoned.
But some council members thought the property should be residential, as originally zoned, and asked staff to review the issue.
Tuesday, the majority of council said that overturning the board's ruling holds no advantage for the town because the apartments, now under construction, would be built anyhow.
Storms and lightning caused a power outage at town hall and surrounding buildings early in the evening.
As the council meeting grew longer, the chambers grew darker and warmer, forcing several council members to remove their suit coats and fan themselves with memos.
Mayor Roger Hedgepeth stopped himself to chuckle in the middle of his usual invitation for citizens to speak during public hearing: "Is there anyone in the audience . . . I guess I should say, `Who can find their way to the podium.' "
"It's getting darker and darker, Mr. Mayor. Can we go faster and faster? I'd like to get through this agenda," Frances Powers said at one point.
Staff quickly brought high-powered flashlights from the police station across the street, which cast strange shadows across council members' faces as they tried to read their notes.
Council also voted to send an ordinance prohibiting open burning in town to the State Air Pollution Control Board for review.
The ordinance allows a few exceptions, such as ceremonial bonfires and burning land-clearing debris, with restrictions.
by CNB