B&B APPROVED FOR CHRISTIANSBURG'S MAIN STREET

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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 8, 1993                   TAG: 9304080180
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
B&B APPROVED FOR CHRISTIANSBURG'S MAIN STREET
Town Council has cleared the way for a new bed and breakfast inn on East Main Street.
Tuesday night, council approved a request for a conditional use permit from Rocco and Barbara Capozzi to operate a five-bedroom bed and breakfast in their home at 201 E. Main St.
The permit allows a maximum of five bedrooms, and stipulates that the Capozzis can serve no meal other than breakfast. The building must be inspected by the Health and Fire departments, and parking will be permitted only in the driveway and parking area.
About 60 people signed petitions and wrote letters supporting the bed and breakfast. Town Manager John Lemley said he heard from no one against the plan.
Rocco Capozzi said he has talked to at least half of the people who live in the East Main Street area. About 20 nearby residents signed the petition.
A. Paul Thomas, who lives across the street from the house, told council Tuesday night that "our neighborhood and town are indebted" to the Capozzis for the work they have put into the building. Their efforts improve the entire area, he said.
The Capozzis have opened their home for community affairs and events on many occasions, he said.
Thomas pointed out that owning an old and large Victorian house can be expensive. "Income is the clue to the problem, and income is the need," he said.
David Shanks, who lives nearby, said the bed and breakfast is "a good and proper use of the zoning," and the plan "is not overtly commercial." He added that such a business may attract visitors and tourists to Christiansburg.
The Capozzis hope to open in August. But if they can get the necessary permits and approvals, they will try to take in a few guests during Virginia Tech and Radford University's graduation weekends in May.
In other action, council approved a request by Roanoke Mayor David A. Bowers to support a proposal to extend Amtrak service from Washington, D.C., through southwestern Virginia and into eastern Tennessee. Bowers wants representatives from communities along the line to meet in Wytheville later this month to talk about ways to lobby Congress to support the plan.
If the idea is implemented, Amtrak trains would again stop at Christiansburg's Cambria Station, something every council member supported Tuesday.
Several said the trains could be an economic boost for the town, and Lemley said the proposal would cost the town nothing.
Mayor Harold Linkous said the plan could boost ridership on the bus system between Christiansburg and Blacksburg, and indeed, council members hope the trains would attract area residents and Virginia Tech students to Christiansburg.
The last Amtrak train stopped in Christiansburg in the early 1970s, Lemley said, and then the service was discontinued because of poor ridership.
"It sure was handy. I used to ride it to Northern Virginia and back," said council member Scott Weaver.
Council also decided to change the name of the town's Deerfield subdivision to Forelmount Estates. Another Deerfield subdivision already exists in Blacksburg.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB