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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 28, 1993                   TAG: 9303260072
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-23   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PROPERTY RIGHTS OVERLOOKED IN RULING

I addressed the Blacksburg Town Council meeting March 9 before the vote denying J.D. Nicewonder's request for commercial zoning of his land. As a distinct minority of one favoring the project sans commercial interest, I feel compelled to express my viewpoint since it was not reported.

The issue is not one of tree preservation or overall project vision. It is property rights.

Mr. Nicewonder legitimately amended his initial proposals to assuage the community. Notwithstanding, I feel that he received a public flogging for having the nerve to want to develop his own property.

I submit that the stated objections were a smoke screen masking concern for the residential value of the neighborhood. Nothing is to stop anyone from seeding his property with trees.

Furthermore, one's idea of developmental vision is only a matter of perception. Homeowners are entitled to act in their best interests. However, to couch the argument under false pretenses demands the presence of even more trees to cover the gap in logic.

Such collectivist thinking not only means that Mr. Nicewonder is stuck paying property taxes on land he cannot develop, but that no new jobs or capital will come to Blacksburg either.\ John T. Jordan\ Blacksburg

by CNB