Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 22, 1990 TAG: 9005220522
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
Supervisors Charles Ellis and Mike Brooks criticized the two-year-old system in which only four of the county's seven magisterial districts come under zoning regulations.
Ellis called for a countywide ordinance "to protect the people" in all seven districts.
Brooks, however, suggested that only the four supervisors from zoned districts should be allowed to vote on land-use petitions. "If they don't want to have it in their district, then I think they should abstain in the voting."
No decisions were made Monday, but the board agreed with Brooks' recommendation to meet with the county's Planning Commission to "take a whole new look" at land regulations.
Two years ago this month, the Board of Supervisors enacted zoning regulations for two districts bordering Smith Mountain lake and the two districts around the towns of Rocky Mount and Boones Mill. The county's three most rural districts were excluded from the regulations.
The political understanding was that a district would be zoned only if its supervisor requested it.
That agreement was called into question Monday after the Board of Supervisors deadlocked 3-3 on a zoning petition for a sheet-metal shop east of Rocky Mount.
Brooks, who supported the request, was upset that two of the votes against the project were cast by Supervisors Wayne Angell and Ronnie Woods, who represent non-zoned districts.
Brooks suggested that it was unfair that supervisors with no vested interest in zoning are able to sway the outcome of zoning decisions. "If it's going to continue to happen as it is right here, I want to take a whole new look at what we are doing."
Angell, who also opposed meeting with the Planning Commission, said there were valid reasons for voting against the sheet-metal shop. Angell said he did not think the lot, which was less than one acre on Virginia 40, was big enough to support a sheet-metal business.
No date was set for the joint meeting of the Planning Commission.
by CNB