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

DATE: FRIDAY, July 27, 1990                   TAG: 9007280405
SECTION: SMITH MOUNTAIN TIMES                    PAGE: SMT-8   EDITION: BEDFORD
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FRANKLIN ZONING REQUESTS

"It would work pretty good if I was on a hill," said Parnell, who runs Peanut Corp. of America in Lynchburg. "People I was talking to were complaining; they said they could only hear half of what I was saying."

Help may soon be on the way for the lake's cellular phone users now trying to get reception from Lynchburg or Roanoke.

Contel Cellular is seeking permission to build cellular reception towers on Smith Mountain in Bedford County and Grassy Hill in Rocky Mount.

A Contel spokesman said service could begin by the end of the year if the Atlanta-based company gets the required permits from the federal government and local planners.

On July 24, the Franklin County Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit for a 185-foot tower on Grassy Hill, just north of Rocky Mount.

On another matter, the commission voted 5-2 to approve Currin & Mayberry's petition to place a convenience store/gasoline station at Business 220 and State Street.

The town of Rocky Mount already has approved a zoning change for Sonny's Convenience Store on a 1/2-acre tract in front of the Comfort Inn-Rocky Mount.

Snow Creek representative Melvin Clark voted against the proposal, citing traffic problems if the Department of Transportation does not build a turning lane on Business 220.

The Planning Commission also took action on 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 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. Recommended approval, 7-0.

John Crandall of Crossville, Tenn. Rezone 23-acre lot off Virginia 849 from A-1 to RMF to construct one four-unit residential building. Recommended approval, 7-0, aftr Crandall agreed to rezone only 5 acres.

Amendment to the Franklin County zoning ordinance deleting shopping centers and other retail projects as permitted uses in light indutrial (M-1) zones. Recommended approval, 6-1, with Clark dissenting.

All recommendations must be approved by the Board of Supervisors.