Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 20, 1993 TAG: 9307200497
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The 2.9-acre tract, now zoned for a single-family dwelling, is next to Grove United Methodist Church, which has opposed the idea ever since the Witnesses' first request just over a year ago.
Last year, the commission narrowly recommended that City Council approve the Witnesses' plans to construct a 4,000-square-foot building on the site. Commission members Polly Corn and Jim Graham, who attend Grove United Methodist Church, abstained.
But, Corn, who's also on City Council, voted no last July when council rejected the petition on a tie vote. Councilman Bobby Nicholson, also a Grove United member, did not attend that meeting.
Following council's denial, the Jehovah's Witnesses lost again in December after they petitioned the courts to intervene and reverse the decision. Circuit Judge Kenneth Devore turned away their lawsuit because it was filed one day too late.
This year, because of new zoning procedures, the commission will visit the site and study the issue in detail before offering a new recommendation to City Council. That vote could come next month.
At Monday night's public hearing, the debate lacked some of the emotion that enveloped last year's pleadings, but both sides seemed just as determined.
Small contingents of supporters sat in the audience, but only one spoke for each side.
Bearing a scaled-down model of the site and the proposed building, Ed Dixon of the Jehovah's Witnesses asked the panel to once again approve his church's petition. He said the new sanctuary would be "an attractive building and an asset to the community."
His congregation, now located on Lee Street, has about 75 members, he said. Additional Sunday traffic would involve a maximum of 50 cars.
The model depicted a line of trees as a buffer zone between the proposed Kingdom Hall and Grove Church, built in 1975 after it obtained a similar special-use permit. Tyler Square Shopping Center abuts the property on the other side, and the Witnesses hope to share an access road behind one row of shops.
Speaking for Grove Church, Jon Wyatt cited mainly aesthetic and traffic safety concerns. He called the proposed development "inappropriate" and said it would devalue Grove's own considerable investment next door.
"I think it's unfortunate that two churches are involved here," he told the commission.
Wyatt said alot has changed in Radford since his church was granted its special-use permit to build on its present site, including the addition of the shopping center nearby.
His comments echoed those he and others offered before a well-attended City Council public hearing last summer, when the church's pastor and several members said the new facility would have an "undue adverse impact" on the neighborhood and on their church.
Commission members gave no indication Monday how they will view the Jehovah's Witnesses petition this time around.
"This is a new request. I think we ought to look at it from ground zero," said commission member John Giesen, who will head the site review.
When the site review committee visits the property, City Engineer Jim Hurt likely to will be asked to accompany the panel.
by CNB