Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 28, 1991 TAG: 9103010633
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Most legislation that would have provided local governments with more power to plan and regulate development has been killed during the 1991 General Assembly session, said John Marlles, chief of community planning.
Marlles said developers and builders have an army of lobbyists who are capable of persuading legislators to reject innovative proposals by localities to ensure desirable and orderly growth.
"It's becoming very difficult for localities to get the laws they need," he said.
Marlles said the home-building industry initially opposed Roanoke's request for a charter change that would have permitted city officials to establish design overlay districts to promote architectural harmony in neighborhoods with distinctive characteristics.
The builders approved it after wording changes were made, he said.
Roanoke is seeking another charter change - one to allow it to increase the $1,000 penalty on property owners who raze buildings in historic districts without permission. The city wants the authority to levy a civil penalty that would be double the assessed value of the structure.
At its annual organizational meeting, the commission decided to concentrate its work on four areas in the coming year: Roanoke Vision, the city's comprehensive plan; neighborhood plans; the city zoning ordinance; and better enforcement of zoning regulations.
Marlles said the planning staff also will begin work on a strategy that will be designed, in part, to increase the supply of housing for middle- and upper-income residents.
"We need to define the housing issue, determine what our problems and our needs are," he said.
Councilman James Harvey said recently that Roanoke needs to step up its effort to encourage construction of more single-family housing to attract middle- and upper-income residents to help pay the taxes to finance city services.
The city has attracted several large new industries and created hundreds of new jobs in recent years, but it hasn't produced enough new housing, he said.
Many of the people who have filled the new jobs, particularly the higher-paying positions, live in Roanoke County or other nearby localities because they could not find suitable housing in the city, Harvey said.
The commissions also re-elected Charles A. Price Jr. as chairman and Paul C. Buford Jr. as vice chairman. Price became chairman last fall when Michael Waldvogel resigned.
The commission also decided, in an effort to improve communication with top city officials, to seek meetings with City Council and the city manager.
by CNB