Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 29, 1992 TAG: 9201290112
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
MONTGOMERY BOARD ASKED TO RESCIND LINK-ROAD SUPPORT
Two Blacksburg men have asked the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors to reconsider the county's support of a proposed direct-link highway between Blacksburg and Interstate 81.Don Schumacher, who identified himself as a former planner specializing in environmental matters for the U.S. Department of Transportation, told the board Monday night that a more thorough study of the planned road should be undertaken.
The previous Board of Supervisors, in March 1990, endorsed a direct link from Blacksburg to I-81 along a route known as Alternative 6, which roughly parallels Virginia 641.
Richard Roth reminded the board that those supervisors who supported that route were defeated in November's election and that the newly elected supervisors had spoken against the road prior to the election.
Many citizens oppose the road and the way the decisions to build it are being made "with little debate and faulty environmental review," Roth said.
The board took no action following the men's remarks. Opposition by the supervisors could be enough to kill the road.
The direct link has been promoted as a way to test "smart highway" technology being developed at Virginia Tech. The state Department of Transportation board is expected to make a final decision on the future of the link in February.
In another matter, the supervisors agreed to send proposed amendments to the county's subdivision ordinance to a public hearing despite having some reservations about the Planning Commission's proposals.
A matter of major concern for supervisors was that they no longer will have final say in the approval of subdivisions if they approve the proposed amendments. Small or family subdivisions could be approved by county staff and major subdivisions would go before the Planning Commission for approval.
"I think we need to take a closer look at it because I think they're leaving the Board of Supervisors out," said Board Chairman Ira Long.
Supervisor Larry Linkous also questioned a proposed requirement that land be surveyed anytime it is to be subdivided. Linkous was concerned that the change might mean parents would have to get a survey if they want to give land to their children.
Other proposed changes would require asphalt streets in subdivisions and allow the Planning Commission to grant variances to any section of the subdivision law. Also, exemptions to the law would no longer be granted to subdivisions with lots larger than five acres or with fewer than three lots.
From subdivisions, the board turned to gruffer business.
Dogs, it seemed, had gotten Arthur Hamrick's pygmy goat; but Hamrick's $100 livestock claim to the county was getting some supervisors' goats.
"To my recollection I've never sold a goat for $100," said Supervisor Joe Stewart, who operates a livestock market in Christiansburg. "I like to see people paid for livestock that gets killed but I think that $100 figure is a mite high," he said.
The supervisors OK'd a $50 check to reimburse Hamrick for his goat.
The board was keeping a tight hand on the county's purse strings in other ways Monday night, tabling requests for money that supervisors felt were too high for a copier for the county library and electrical work at the county's recycling center.
In other action, the board agreed with Supervisor Joe Gorman to delete a statement from a previous budget resolution, which stated that no raises, except merit raise considered for county employees next year.