
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 4, 1990                   TAG: 9007040305
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

DENIAL URGED FOR BLACKSBURG SUBDIVISION PHASE

The Planning Commission on Tuesday night found that developer Bill Mathews has failed to meet the town's subdivision requirements on his Gladewood project.

After a brief public hearing, the commission voted unanimously to recommend denial of phase IV of Gladewood subdivision, adhering to the recommendation of the planning staff.

"I don't think it's ready," said commission member John Novak. "I don't think it should have been brought forward with some of these questions" unanswered, he said.

Joe Draper of Draper Aden Associates, the consulting engineer, said the developer would "have no problem with working out" the remaining issues, and asked for a recommendation for conditional approval.

Town Council has final say over subdivision plats.

Mathews, a general partner in J & B Enterprises which is developing the tract, said he plans to take his plat to council, which has scheduled a public hearing for next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Town planner Dirk Geratz said the developer had omitted or not adequately addressed several items on the town's checklist for preliminary plats, including:

Dedication of right of way through one of the lots to give access to a large privately owned parcel known as the Pinnock property that would otherwise be landlocked.

Future plans for a 15-acre tract - the largest in phase IV - that the developer has said would be hard to develop because of steep terrain.

Provisions for sidewalks.

Agreement to donate money in lieu of land for future park development has not been negotiated.

Geratz said staff had not had time to review changes the developer submitted late last week. The commission was under a legal deadline and had to make a decision Tuesday night.

Planning director Bill West told the commission the changes could probably be made before council's July 10 meeting.

Gladewood I and II contain 26 homes. Gladewood III, with a total of 26 lots, has been approved and is under construction.

Phase IV would add another 34 lots.

by CNB