Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 14, 1993 TAG: 9307140233
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The county Board of Supervisors authorized the planners Tuesday to combine traditional zoning procedures with Bedford County's 3-year-old LUGS system in drawing up a proposed zoning ordinance for Wythe.
The supervisors had directed the commission to look at both traditional and LUGS approaches, but the planners wanted permission to combine the two.
Plans for a halfway house in a residential section of Wythe have prompted new enthusiasm for zoning protection. When the supervisors first suggested zoning several years ago, speakers criticized it at public hearings throughout the county.
Attorneys for the county and Secor, the company that had planned a halfway house for nonviolent felons about to be released from prison, met Monday over county allegations of building permit violations. The charges stem from work done without permits to begin conversion of the Trail Motel to a halfway house.
The matter was continued in Wythe County General District Court until Aug. 16.
Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, has assured Wythe residents the project is dead. Federal corrections officials have said Secor failed to meet the governmental requirement of letting the community know its plans and getting support for the project.
"They have a license, and they have a contract to operate down there," County Administrator Billy Branson said, but Secor has not met state building code requirements.
Supervisors Chairman Tom DuPuis said Bedford County officials assured him and Vice Chairman Alan Dunford on a recent trip that there was no public disenchantment with LUGS despite recent newspaper stories about it. DuPuis said Bedford County continually modifies its zoning system.
County Attorney Willard Lester is planning a trip to Bedford County in August to meet with legal officials there on LUGS.
The supervisors also approved negotiations for private financing Tuesday on a solid-waste transfer station on which work will start today.
The Wythe-Bland Joint Public Service Authority will break ground at an 11 a.m. ceremony at the site north of U.S. 52 and 11 off Interstate 81-77 between Wytheville and Fort Chiswell.
The supervisors authorized Branson to negotiate for the best rate for private financing for the station, from which solid waste generated in the two counties will be hauled to a private landfill.
"We'd like to avoid private funding and 26 cents per ton, but we may not have the time," said Supervisor Olin Armentrout. "Everybody knows we've got a deadline to meet."
by CNB