Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990 TAG: 9006230352
SECTION: SMITH MOUNTAIN TIMES PAGE: SMT-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Smith Mountain Lake Association survey shows that property owners overwhelmingly oppose the formation of a town along the lake's shoreline.
Some 74 percent of the 757 property owners surveyed indicated they preferred to remain a part of one of the three counties that border on the 20,000-acre reservoir. The survey was mailed to 7,000 property owners.
Although few people are promoting the idea of a town, the association's survey results may have been affected by the wording of the question.
The question noted that a town would mean "an increase in your property tax rates." It did not mention that a town also would provide new services, such as curbside garbage collection, water service and sewage disposal. Only 26 percent responded favorably. There was no "undecided" category.
"I was personally pleased to see that there were not that many people out there beating the drum to form a town," said Bob Hawlk, president of the Smith Mountain Lake Association.
"I think what we need to do instead is to work with the counties and have them bring the services to the lake."
The notion of forming a town has gained some support in recent years as lake residents have paid increased local taxes - because of spiraling assessments - with no appreciable increase in services.
"I think it's something that people start to talk about when they get dissatisfied with tax increases," said Patty Dalton, assistant director of the Smith Mountain Lake Partnership. "But I don't think people mean it."
The Virginia General Assembly would have to approve a charter for the new town. Residents would still pay taxes to Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties and be part of those counties.
Hawlk said one of the biggest obstacles to a town charter would be drawing town limits. Shoreline development is scattered along the Roanoke and Blackwater arms of the lake.
"The difficulties involved in creating a separate jurisdiction here in an area 40 miles long and divided between three counties would be a nightmare," Hawlk said. "Have you ever seen a 40-mile long town?"
Chuck Hoover, a former lake association president, said he thought that town status for Smith Mountain Lake is at least 20 years off.
by CNB