Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 20, 1990 TAG: 9007210280
SECTION: SMITH MOUNTAIN TIMES PAGE: SMT-8 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On July 16, the board voted 4-3 for a request by Earl M. Hodges to operate a sheet-metal shop on 0.7 acres near Virginia 40 and 122, east of Rocky Mount.
The deciding vote was cast by Snow Creek Supervisor Gordon Washburn, who was absent from a meeting last month at which the supervisors deadlocked 3-3 on the proposal.
Supporters said the business would fit into the commercial nature of the Hodgesville intersection, while opponents said the lot is too small to accommodate a business and residential trailer.
Eric Ferguson, a Rocky Mount attorney representing Hodges, argued that the lot was large enough for a "testing ground" for an air-conditioning and heating businesss started by Hodges' son and son-in-law.
"It's just an effort by them to get started," Ferguson told the board. "If they succeed, they'll have to move; they understand that."
Hodges agreed to several conditions, including a new circular driveway leading to and from Virginia 40 and a prohibition against expanding the 576-square-foot garage where sheet metal will be formed into heating ducts.
But the conditions did not appease some neighbors, including Hodges' brother and sister, who both spoke against the zoning request.
James Hodges said his brother had shown bad faith by operating the sheet-metal shop before getting zoning approval - a charge that Ferguson denied.
The supervisors also took action on the following petitions:
Thomas and Carolyn Campbell of Penhook. Special use permit to add eight units to the Pirates Cove mobile home park on Virginia 920 at Smith Mountain Lake. Approved, 7-0.
Petroleum Marketers Inc. of Roanoke. Rezone 7.8 acres at U.S. 220 and Virginia 697 from agricultural to general business use to build an all-night convenience store with gasoline pumps. Land now owned by Mafin Development Inc. Approved, 7-0.
Roger Lynch. Special-use permit to build a sawmill on five acres off Virginia 834 near Gills Creek. Approved, 7-0.
The Planning Commission is scheduled to meet July 24 to consider the following requests:
Virginia RSA No. 4, Limited Partnership. Special use permit to build a 140-foot-tall cellular telephone tower on Grassy Hill, north of Rocky Mount.
Harold W. Newby of Scruggs. Change his 3.3-acre lot on Lakewood Drive in Becky's Creek subdivision from RC-1 to B-2 to build an office and storage building for his electrical and plumbing business.
John Crandall of Crossville, Tenn. Rezone 23-acre lot off Virginia 849 from A-1 to RMF to construct one triplex unit.
by CNB