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

DATE: TUESDAY, July 24, 1990                   TAG: 9007240319
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B/1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PETER MATHEWS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

PLANNERS OPPOSE AUTO JUNKYARD

In a contentious public hearing Monday, a Craig County man accused his neighbors and Montgomery County officials of trying to put him under "communist rule" because they object to his automobile graveyard.

"This has all been a pack of lies," Roy Law said of complaints that his cars, kept in a field off Virginia 621 just inside the Montgomery line, were an eyesore.

Two Virginia Tech faculty members said battery acid, gasoline and oil could pollute nearby Craig Creek if the cars stay there.

Law denied that and challenged county supervisors to drive out and see for themselves.

Planning Commission member J. Edwin Keith reminded Law that officials who visited him were unable to get to the junkyard because of water in the area. Law noted they had visited after heavy rains and added: "You could have jumped across the branch there."

After the hearing, the Planning Commission recommended denial of Law's request for a rezoning and special-use permit for the junkyard. The Board of Supervisors will act later.

On another matter, the supervisors declined a request to consider implementing a maintenance code. Michael Nearing has said the owner of his mobile home park in Shawsville refuses to make needed repairs.

County Administrator Betty Thomas suggested the board consider other alternatives, such as using the staff of the Human Services Commission to aid tenants.

In a memorandum last week, County Attorney Roy Thorpe and Planning Director Joe Powers told Thomas that a maintenance code would require more personnel to make inspections. And the county could be subject to litigation if a code were adopted but not adequately enforced, they said.

Supervisor Todd Solberg argued in favor of a code. But Supervisors Joe Stewart and Henry Jablonski said tenants sometimes were responsible for problems.

The board also changed the way it regulates the dog pound. Supervisors can now adopt regulations for the pound without going through the time-consuming process of a public hearing.

The board did not discuss a request from the county Humane Society that it set up a committee to review legal and ethical issues at the pound.

The board also scheduled interviews for 7 p.m. Wednesday and 7 p.m. Monday for the nine candidates for two seats on the county School Board.

by CNB