BLACKSBURG COUPLE HOPES TO OPEN DOWNTOWN INN SOON

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 30, 1992                   TAG: 9201300169
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
BLACKSBURG COUPLE HOPES TO OPEN DOWNTOWN INN SOON
Victor and Jo Pat Huggins said they will open their bed and breakfast - the first in town in a long time - "as soon as possible."
Town Council approved a special-use permit Tuesday, allowing the Hugginses to convert some of their Clay Street apartments into lodging rooms.
The Hugginses also received permission to switch their buildings back to apartments if the bed and breakfast fails. The apartments are a non-conforming use in the Central Residential District and were grandfathered in under the new zoning ordinance passed last year.
Council also approved the 1993-97 Capital Improvement Program, including an increase of 1 percentage point in the meals tax to 4 percent.
The first-year spending of $4.8 million includes street maintenance and underground storage tank removal.
Town Manager Ron Secrist recommended, and council approved, three changes:

Shifting $25,000 allocated in 1996-97 to start building the South Main Street bikeway in 1994.

Spending $3,000 in 1992-93 for curb, gutter and sidewalk expansion along Whipple Drive from Givens Lane to the bus stop.

Adding sidewalk construction on Primose Drive at Countryside Court to a list of deferred projects for the curb, gutter and sidewalk expansion fund.
In other action, council referred to the Planning Commission a rezoning of the once-proposed Hethwood II property from planned residential district to agricultural or some other appropriate zoning district.
Council also passed a resolution addressed to Gov. Douglas Wilder and members of the General Assembly expressing concern over budget cutbacks in the community college system, particularly New River Community College in Dublin.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB