Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 13, 1991 TAG: 9102130496
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY and MARK LAYMAN STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The supervisors said they'd prefer that a visitors center along the Blue Ridge Parkway be built on Hammond's 275-acre farm north of the Roanoke River instead of at the regional landfill south of the river.
The Roanoke businessman has been battling two projects that want his farm.
The Explore Park, which doesn't have the power of condemnation, has long wanted to buy his property. Hammond, who wants to develop his farm into a golf course, remains the biggest landowner within the Explore site who has yet to sell.
Meanwhile, the National Park Service, which does have the power to condemn land, has eyed Hammond's farm for both the proposed Roanoke River Parkway and the visitors center.
The Park Service has been looking for several years to build a visitors center along the Blue Ridge Parkway, preferably near the river parkway and Explore.
The Park Service studied five sites for the center, all near the point where the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses the Roanoke River. Last summer, a draft environmental impact study recommended that the center - along with part of the 10-mile river parkway - be built on Hammond's farm because it offers the best views.
In response, Hammond lobbied Park Service planners to put both the river parkway and the visitors center on the south side of the river on the regional landfill.
After other citizens also complained, Rep. Jim Olin, D-Roanoke, persuaded the Park Service to scrap plans for a 10-mile road and instead build just a 2-mile route entirely on the south side of the river.
At the same time, the Park Service agreed to take a new look at sites for the visitors center. Olin pointed out, for example, that it would be cheaper to acquire the landfill site.
However, some Park Service planners have raised environmental questions about building there. And the supervisors said Tuesday that they like the idea of building the visitors center on a hill on Hammond's farm. County Administrator Elmer Hodge told the supervisors that Vinton and Explore's planners prefer that option, too.
Hodge said that, among other things, the Hammond site would be the least expensive to develop. And the visitors center could be built there regardless of what happens with the river parkway, Hodge said.
The Park Service is expected to make a decision about where to build later this year.
The 11,000-square-foot visitors center would orient travelers on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Roanoke Valley's history, geography and recreational opportunities. It would have a 150-seat auditorium, nature trail and picnic area.
Hammond was out of town Tuesday and couldn't be reached for comment.
Hodge said he hoped Olin could meet with the supervisors to discuss the project at their Feb. 26 meeting.
Also on Tuesday, the supervisors:
Gave preliminary approval to an ordinance raising the fine for illegally parking in a handicapped space from $25 to $50. The supervisors also gave preliminary approval to another ordinance raising the maximum fine for failing to pay personal property taxes and failing to get a motor vehicle decal from $20 to $100. The supervisors are scheduled to give final approval to those ordinances Feb. 26.
Authorized payment of $130,677 to Botetourt County for half the cost of an access road at the Bonsack Industrial Park. The two counties are jointly developing the industrial park, which is off U.S. 460 and Alternate U.S. 220.
If an industry that meets certain qualifications builds at the park within the next year, the state will reimburse the counties for the cost of the road. Arkay Packaging, which planned to build there, met those qualifications but recently decided to delay construction.
Gave Hodge the go-ahead to look for a qualified business person to fill one of the county's two seats on the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission.
Supervisor Dick Robers recently was reappointed to the commission, but said he would serve only until a business person could be found to take his place. Supervisor Bob Johnson is the county's other representative on the commission.
by CNB