Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 14, 1995 TAG: 9511140114
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Over the objections of the Greater Deyerle Neighborhood Association, senior citizens at Brandon Oaks and the city planning staff, City Council on Monday voted 6-0 to change the zoning on 2.7 acres on Brandon at Aerial Way Drive.
The property was zoned for commercial offices. Council's action, changing the zoning to general commercial, will allow owners William and Brownie Lester and Douglas Spadaro to build a combination gas station, restaurant and convenience store on the site, which is where the planned Peters Creek Road extension will meet Brandon Avenue.
The rezoning has been in the works since July and has been the subject of three public hearings by the city Planning Commission.
Residents were split between people who fear additional traffic and development and others who want the convenience of walking, rather than driving, to get their groceries.
James Lambie, of Brandon Oaks retirement community, noted that traffic on Brandon is already expected to increase from 28,000 cars a day to nearly 50,000 in the next 20 years, mostly as a result of the new Peters Creek intersection. Traffic engineers estimated that the store would put about 1,000 more cars daily on road.
"Elderly people frequently have respiratory problems," Lambie said. "The flow of traffic's going to increase; it's going to increase pollution."
Lucy Ellett, who lives on an 80-acre farm across Brandon from the proposed store, said the zoning change would "set the stage to allowing similar changes on Brandon Avenue - on both sides of the road."
"This could become an attractive office park and entrance to our city," Ellett said. "Your decision can mean the difference between an attractive, boulevard-like entrance to our city and extended commercial strip development."
But Edgar Johnson, who lives in the adjacent Stratford Park Apartments, said he wants the store.
Right now, "my neighbors and myself have to drive to get groceries and other essentials," Johnson said. The Lesters agreed Monday night to put a pathway between the store's property and the apartment complex.
Deyerle residents have fought the rezoning from the beginning, contending that it would extend a strip of haphazard commercial development on Brandon and lead to more.
The city's planning staff deemed the proposal too intensive and incompatible with both the city's comprehensive plan and the Greater Deyerle neighborhood plan.
The Planning Commission in July voted 5-1 against rezoning the property, noting the pressure it would bring for more commercial development.
But after the owners redesigned the project, moved gas pumps back from the road and ditched a plan for an adjacent oil-change facility, the Planning Commission reversed itself in a 4-2 vote in favor Oct. 4.
The building's country-style design - similar to that of another convenience store and gas station on Starkey Road in Roanoke County - seemed to have an influence on council members.
Councilman John Edwards, who heads the board of the corporation that runs Brandon Oaks, abstained from the vote.
In other action Monday, council:
Moved up the date of council's second December meeting from Dec. 26, the day after Christmas and the first day of the African-American holiday Kwanzaa, to Dec. 18 - the first full day of Hanukkah.
Council members later said they were unaware of the Jewish holiday's date, and may change the meeting date once again.
Approved, 6-0, a $65,000 low-interest loan and a $15,000 grant to the buyer of three of the "Trinkle" buildings: 120, 122, and 124 W. Campbell Ave.
Council in September agreed to sell the buildings to the owners of Hill Studio, an architectural and planning firm, for $85,000. That deal will close later this month. The loan and grant will be used in renovating the buildings' interiors and facades.
Approved appropriating $1.04 million in funding for improvements to the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
A total of $813,000 will come from selling bonds approved by voters last year. The remaining $228,000 is federal highway money already approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
Altogether, the museum is planning $1.94 million worth of improvement, including a new entry, neon signs, an amphitheater and a building to cover the museum's outside exhibits.
by CNB