Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 10, 1993 TAG: 9302100309
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
BIG-PARTY LAW PASSED
After seven months of discussion, four public hearings and three task force meetings, Blacksburg Town Council passed an ordinance Tuesday designed to help control huge block parties."I realize it may not be perfect yet, but I don't know that we'll ever get it perfect," council member Waldon Kerns said.
Council members said it was necessary to pass the ordinance before this year's spring parties.
The ordinance - a combination of the town's noise ordinance and a less stringent version of a previously considered party ordinance - regulates parties that have more than 500 people and use sound-amplifying equipment.
Council proposed the ordinance in the wake of three parties last spring that resulted in 164 arrests - almost half for underage drinking.
The ordinance restricts parties using amplified sound to between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. It also requires party organizers to apply for a noise permit at least 30 days before the event and to provide adequate parking and at least one portable toilet for every 50 people.
An earlier version of the ordinance would have required sponsors of parties with 100 or more people to register with the town seven days before the party, provide parking and one portable toilet per 50 people, clean up within 24 hours and post a security deposit of $100.
After three public hearings on the ordinance, a community task force headed by Tom Goodale, vice president of student affairs at Virginia Tech, was appointed.
At the task force's advice, the ordinance was rewritten to focus more on block parties and less on social events such as family reunions and wedding receptions.
A citizens' advisory council - with six Virginia Tech students and five town residents - will be formed to help plan and control parties affected by the law.
Violation of the proposed ordinance would be punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.
In other business, council denied a Virginia Tech sorority's request for rezoning to build three Greek houses northwest of U.S. 460.
Kappa Delta wanted to rezone 23.4 acres at 1600 Toms Creek Road so it could build an 11,000-square-foot sorority house. In addition, the sorority wanted to divide the property so two more Greek houses could be built there.
Council voted against the plan because it didn't want to set a precedent that would encourage the building of multiunit housing in the area.
Neighbors said they were opposed because the project would increase traffic and pose safety risks on Toms Creek Road.