Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 18, 1991 TAG: 9104190636
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N/5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FINCASTLE LENGTH: Medium
Betty Knapp, who was to establish the house, asked the supervisors to allow her to withdraw the petition to give her time to answer neighbors' complaints and settle some concerns expressed by members of the county Planning Commission.
She said she plans to refile the petition later. The supervisors explained that by law she cannot refile for at least 90 days.
About 30 opponents were prepared to speak against the possibility of a boarding house in their residential neighborhood. But they had no opportunity to speak after Knapp requested the petition withdrawal.
Some of the concerns expressed at a Planning Commission hearing last week dealt with fire protection, sewage disposal, traffic, and supervision and security.
Knapp has said she wants to operate the home in a Christian manner for short-term stays by people in the early stages of AIDS. She said she planned the home as a retreat center where AIDS victims could find hope and encouragement.
On another matter, the supervisors learned that two candidates have filed petitions asking to be appointed to the county School Board to represent the Amsterdam District.
The two candidates are Ray Sprinkle, who holds the post now and is seeking reappointment, and Ernest R. Brown, a firefighter in Roanoke.
Brown has been active with the PTA at Breckinridge Elementary School, the Fincastle Boosters Club and other civic affairs in Botetourt.
Sprinkle recently announced that he would seek the Democratic Party nomination to be a candidate for clerk of court in Botetourt. That post now is held by George Holt, who has announced his retirement.
In other action:
The supervisors set May 16 at 7:30 p.m. as the date for a public hearing on a redistricting plan made necessary by the 1990 census. Because of fairly even population growth, little change is necessary. Most of the revision in boundary lines is in the highly populated southern portion of the county. The board indicated that after the November election it would revise the plan further to make several changes requested by Supervisor Harold Wilhelm, who wants to change the lines so people in two small areas in Troutville and Blue Ridge can vote in a precinct closer to their homes.
Jim and Dorothy Hancock withdrew a request for the board to allow a planned unit development on 446 acres on the west side of U.S. 220 in Daleville.
The board gave County Administrator John Williamson authority to begin seeking proposals from reassessment firms as a preliminary to a general property reassessment next year. The supervisors also decided to conduct reassessments every five years.
by CNB