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

DATE: FRIDAY, February 8, 1991                   TAG: 9102080833
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PARK ALONG RAIL TRACKS WILL NOT BE BUILT NOW

Last year, Mayor Noel Taylor proposed that a park be developed along the Norfolk Southern tracks with flowers, benches, walkways and other landscaping. He recommended that it include both sides of the railroad tracks between the Virginia Museum of Transportation and Williamson Road.

But City Manager Robert Herbert said there are "practical and financial limitations" that will prevent the city from implementing the proposal now.

In a report on City Council's agenda for Monday night, Herbert said the city owns only a small amount of street right-of-way in the proposed area for the park and could not do any substantial amount of landscaping. To provide more space, the city would have to reduce the width of the streets, he said.

The city manager said any changes in the right of way would also affect the railroad's property, including fences, signal lines, utility poles and even the tracks in some places.

Even though the city won't develop a park now, one of the unsightly areas that prompted Taylor's recommendation will be landscaped as part of the Domimion Tower project.

The area along the railroads on the north side of Norfolk Avenue near the Dominion Tower will be planted with a hedge as part of the landscaping for the office building. Private funds will pay for the hedge, but the city will maintain it, Herbert said.

City officials won't discard Taylor's proposal, Herbert said. "It may be possible to implement portions of it over a period of time as it moves higher on the priority list and the city's financial condition improves," he said.

Also Monday, council is expected to urge Congress to approve federal legislation that would give the city the right to regulate cable television rates.

Vice Mayor Howard Musser said the legislation was recently introduced because of growing support among local governments for some control over the rates.

Under existing rules, only about 3 percent of the nation's more than 9,500 systems are under price restraints, and there have been growing complaints that they keep raising rates and providing poor service.

The industry was deregulated in the mid-1980s and was allowed to set its own rates. Prior to deregulation, local governing bodies were allowed to do so.

The regional committee is considering Cox Cable Roanoke's request for a renewal of its franchise to serve Roanoke, Vinton and Roanoke County.

The company has requested a franchise to replace the current 15-year agreement, which expired Dec. 31. Cox has been granted a 60-day extension until March 1.

Council also will hold a public hearing Monday night on proposed revisions in the plan for a residential complex for elderly people on Brandon Avenue Southwest that was approved four years ago.

The Brandon Oaks complex will be built by the Virginia Lutheran Homes on 18 acres at 3804 Brandon Ave. next to an existing nursing home that will be part of the overall development.

The project will include 154 apartments, 18 cottages, a 23-bed personal care center, a community center and administrative offices.

The city's Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals have approved the revisions.