Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 14, 1993 TAG: 9307140311
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The mayor said he likes the premise of the ordinance and believes it will be passed after a little fine-tuning.
"I'm not convinced we have all the words we need in this particular ordinance . . . and I don't want to vote for an ordinance to just get it on the books," he said. "As an engineer, I don't want to use the community as a laboratory."
Single-family homes with accessory apartments are scattered throughout Blacksburg's neighborhoods, most built decades ago when housing was needed for Virginia Tech students.
No new accessory apartments have been allowed since 1976, but those already existing could continue to be rented.
In recent years, however, a number of the homes with the accessory apartments have been used entirely as rental units. The owner moves and rents the house and apartment to separate tenants.
Town Council drafted the ordinance after a number of citizens complained that the accessory apartments were "destroying the integrity" of single-family neighborhoods.
As proposed, the ordinance would require the owner to live in either the house or the apartment if either portion of the structure is used as rental property.
The ordinance also says that if renting an accessory apartment causes "a change in character" from the house's present use, the owner loses the right to rent the apartment.
About a dozen speakers - the majority in support of the ordinance - turned out to voice their opinions.
"In order to preserve Blacksburg as a special place, we need to support this ordinance," said Louise Kassem.
Dave Carroll, of 540 Edgewood Lane, said he and his wife probably wouldn't have bought their home if they had know the surrounding houses with accessory apartments caused so much disturbance.
"This is a step in the right direction," he said.
Opponents argued that the ordinance would penalize every home with an accessory apartment when only a few cause trouble.
"The principle of this ordinance is wrong," said John Skelton. "Every meeting I come to I get more confused."
The ordinance was first drafted in December and has been rewritten four times. Council will discuss it at a work session Aug. 2.
by CNB