Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 14, 1991 TAG: 9103140217
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Council voted Tuesday night to schedule a public hearing April 9, and in the meantime to send the 164-page draft to the citizens task force that has kept tabs on the evolution of the plan for more than two years.
The Planning Commission recently recommended adoption of the draft, but without the approximately 30 additional paragraphs.
"The Planning Commission felt this is really something that should be done separately," said Councilwoman Frances Parsons, who is liaison to the commission. "This is a major change when you're talking about open space."
The town will soon start working on an open-space preservation plan that may be added to the Comprehensive Plan.
But Councilman Michael Chandler, who wrote the new paragraphs, defended the changes, saying they would protect the town and give officials more latitude in planning for open space.
"The word changes are nothing more than an outgrowth of council work sessions on the plan and public comments," he said.
He also suggested changes to the proposed land-use map that would lower future residential development along Prices Fork Road from medium to low density.
"Making map changes will ensure we won't get hemmed in by future development plans before an open space plan is developed, which could take at least a year," he said.
But the wording changes were more important, Chandler said, to give the town planning flexibility.
At his suggestion, council agreed to ask for the task force review and to set another hearing.
Council will also ask the Planning Commission to schedule another public hearing for its April 2 meeting.
The town will also publicize the nature of the changes on public-access Channel 24. Citizens can also review the entire plan at the Planning Department in the town hall.
In other action Tuesday, council:
Authorized a contract between the town and 13 property owners to spend $300,000 to improve the Progress Street parking lot.
Town Manager Ron Secrist said the project would soon be opened for bidding and should be finished by mid-August.
Approved a special-use permit for the town aquatic center on Patrick Henry Drive, with conditions to screen the parking lot with landscaping, and to add a pedestrian path and crosswalk between the high school and the center.
The pool will be built with an energy conservation system that recycles heat from the air and will save between 15 percent and 17 percent of the facility's projected yearly operational costs.
The pool may be open by the summer of 1992.
by CNB