COUNCIL'S DISCUSSIONS ARE PLENTY, ACTIONS FEW

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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 6, 1992                   TAG: 9202060193
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
COUNCIL'S DISCUSSIONS ARE PLENTY, ACTIONS FEW
Town Council members took little action on several issues Tuesday night, but they sure did talk a lot.
Following a long discussion, council took no action to get involved in a proposed downtown design study, a move that appears to be a continuation of a yearlong battle between the town and Montgomery County over development.
Instead of a vote, council shot off several rounds of questions that Town Manager John Lemley will take to county officials.
"We want to know what the county's needs are and what they want to do," said Councilman Ray E. Lester Jr.
Basically, council members are concerned that county-owned properties are the only areas being considered for development in the proposed study. And if they are, they asked, why get involved?
"Why are we talking about enhancement and development for the downtown when county plans haven't been drawn up yet?" asked Councilwoman Ann Carter.
The town owns several deteriorating buildings on East Main Street and plans to raze them for parking. The county has properties across the street and doesn't know what to do with them.
The county has said it would like to see a development plan for the entire downtown, but the town is happy with its own plan.
"This thing has been bouncing around for some time now," said Mayor Harold Linkous. "But all this report indicates to me is that they [Virginia Tech Community Design Assistance Center] will be looking only at county-owned buildings."
The design center, which will conduct the study, drew up a proposal that county Administrator Betty Thomas passed on to Lemley after the two met to discuss the study project.
The supervisors say they will pay two-thirds of the study's estimated $7,288 cost. But, said the mayor, "Christiansburg taxpayers would be paying double, since their money is also in the county pot."
Council members hammered out their questions for almost half an hour. Lemley hopes to have more information for them at the Feb. 18 meeting.
After another lengthy discussion, council decided that a local event is an appropriate finale for Industry Recognition Week.
The Montgomery Regional Economic Development Commission asked county governing bodies to choose between a local or a regional event after the New River Valley Chamber Coalition and New River Valley Economic Development Alliance asked that the week culminate in a regional dinner.
The commission said local dinners and a regional activity during the week would be more appropriate. Council agreed.
A regional dinner would keep industry leaders from visiting at many localities. It would "depreciate their appreciation," said Councilman Truman K. Daniel Jr., liaison to the commission.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB