Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 19, 1990 TAG: 9007190632
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Commissioner John Bradshaw said Wednesday that the back of the store, which has been built on the access road to the shopping center and can be seen from Interstate 581, presents an unattractive image for motorists and visitors to the city.
"I am appalled by the cinder-block wall and trash Dumpster at the rear of the building," Bradshaw said, adding that he thinks the store's backside detracts from the shopping mall's appearance and landscaping.
"I know that Henry Faison [developer of Valley View] was very concerned about aesthetics and landscaping. This could detract from the appearance of a very fine complex," he said.
Bradshaw said the rear of Lewis-Gale Clinic and a branch bank, which were constructed earlier on the access road, are attractive from the interstate spur.
He asked city planners if the Brendle's building complies with the city's landscaping and zoning regulations.
If the city's regulations permit such unattractive buildings along 581, Bradshaw said, he thinks the commission needs to recommend tighter controls.
Tom Tasselli, a staff planner, said Brendle's was given a temporary certificate of occupancy so it could open before all of the landscaping and final touches were finished.
Brendle's submitted a site plan for the building that included landscaping and screening, Tasselli said. He said he will check to see if the store has complied with the plan and make a report to the commission at its next meeting.
Tasselli said there also were covenants and restrictions in the plans for Valley View that dealt with landscaping. He said he will check those, also.
Commission Chairman Mike Waldvogel said he thinks the city needs to give attention to the landscaping issue because he understands that more buildings will be constructed on the mall access road.
by CNB