Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 26, 1992 TAG: 9203260095
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLYNE H. McWILLIAMS BUSINESS WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The petition she signed asks the Fifth Planning District Commission to recommend that Roanoke County relax its restrictions on the height of commercial signs along Interstate 81.
Real estate broker Tony Rogers started the campaign in hopes of smoothing the way for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Kentucky Fried Chicken to build restaurants at the Hollins exit. Rogers represents the owner of the property the restaurants are considering.
The only thing holding them up is the restriction on business signs, Rogers said. The county ordinance, adopted in 1990, limits the height of signs to 25 feet. But the companies say they won't open restaurants along the Interstate unless their signs can be at least 75 feet high, Rogers said.
Rogers said he will give the signatures and a presentation to the Roanoke County Planning Commission tonight at an informal open house to review and discuss proposed revisions to the county's zoning ordinance. The meeting will be at the Burlington Elementary School cafeteria from 5 p.m to 8 p.m.
"We may have already lost this," Rogers said of the two restaurants.
Rogers, a broker with ERA Alpha Omega Real Estate, took his cause to the people Friday. Standing near the N&W Federal Credit Union on Williamson Road, he collected more than 250 signatures of support in eight hours.
"I'm all for something to help the valley grow," said Sherry Moses after she had signed her name. She said a new Cracker Barrel would not only create jobs but "would add variety to the area."
Several other signers mentioned a need for more jobs as well as an extra source of tax revenue for the county.
"There are issues that need to be addressed," said Wayne Strickland, executive director of the Fifth Planning District Commission. "Sometimes people don't pay attention to those issues."
Strickland said studies of five interchanges in the Roanoke area are looking at the impact of economic growth while maintaining an environmental balance. The committee is scheduled to complete next week a study of exit 146 at Hollins that includes sign height.
County planner Janet Scheid said the Planning Commission is awaiting the results of that study before making a decision on changing the height limits in the zoning ordinance.
The only way businesses can get around the ordinance is to get a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals. So far, neither business has applied for a variance. "That indicates to me they're not the ones who are all on fire about this," Scheid said.
Rogers said the project would cost Cracker Barrel more than $1 million including the land, building and parking lot.
The sign issue may not be the only controversy the Lebanon, Tenn., company could face if it locates here.
Cracker Barrel, in addition to its Southern-style menu and souvenir Confederate flags, has drawn attention and protests from national gay rights groups for allegedly firing "non-heterosexual" employees at restaurants in Georgia. The company reportedly told some workers their lifestyles failed to reflect Cracker Barrel's traditional values.
Cracker Barrel later said it had reversed the policy. Company officials were not available Wednesday to comment.
Memo: CORRECTION