ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 1, 1997 TAG: 9703030021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RINER
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER MARK CLOTHIER CONTRIBUTED INFORMATION TO THIS REPORT.
Montgomery County needs new laws to properly manage growth and meet demand for utilities, all without impinging on developers' property rights.
That was an underlying theme of four community meetings this week led by members of the consulting team that is rewriting the county's outdated zoning ordinance.
About 90 people attended the four meetings held Wednesday and Thursday nights in Riner, Prices Fork, Shawsville and Blacksburg.
The county's zoning ordinance contains the local laws that govern the use of land in the areas outside Blacksburg and Christiansburg.
The county adopted its zoning ordinance in 1969 and has heavily amended it, but the document has not undergone an extensive updating. Development pressure in Riner and on Price Mountain have made the zoning update a priority.
The Planning Department and members of the consulting team found the meetings helpful.
"We were very happy because ... we had a cross-section of people that came out," said Planning Director Joe Powers.
In Riner, several speakers keyed on a desire to keep the area rural despite the growing pains of the last several years, which has seen large subdivisions, a planned golf course and residential development and other construction come to the community.
About 30 people attended the Riner meeting.
"We want to keep this little area we have a rural area ... and not to let the developers come in and ruin it" when adequate utilities and roads aren't available, said Charlie Bowles, a member of the Friends of Riner. The organization was formed last year to present a united community voice.
Margaret Smith, another member of Friends of Riner, liked consultant Milton Herd's suggestion of clustering 15 to 20 homes on large tracts such as 50 acres - a technique that helps preserve open space - but wondered how easily such as concept could be pitched to developers.
Herd said he's seen the gamut of "acceptance and approval to such resistance that the elected officials decided not to do it."
Zoning regulations must be written so that "landowners believe they have a reasonable use and that it's fair," he said.
Realtor Jill White said it is important that developers make a commitment to keep Riner the way it is - "rural and laid-back. We don't want the situation in Blacksburg."
A hearing in Blacksburg Wednesday drew about 30 people, 10 of whom spoke, six frequently.
Environmental issues were the main concerns.
Blacksburg resident Chris Swan said he wants the county to consider areas that aren't considered flood plains now, but could become them when nearby land is developed.
Blacksburg Mayor Roger Hedgepeth said he wondered whether the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors planned to bring the county's zoning map, comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances together. "Alone," he said, "they have no meaning."
Rick Roth said he wants the county to deal with open space similar to the way Blacksburg did with the Toms Creek Basin. There, developers are allowed to build more on a piece of property if they transfer development rights from nearby land.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 linesby CNB