Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 6, 1993 TAG: 9308060331
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With respect to the proposed re-zonings in the vicinity of Cotton Hill Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway, his understanding of the comprehensive planning process and its relationship to the Roanoke County Zoning Ordinance is inaccurate.
The Comprehensive Plan is not a law, but a guide by which to measure land use requests. State law requires that this plan be general in nature. The zoning ordinance, however, is a law. It must be developed with reasonable consideration of the Comprehensive Plan, along with the suitability of property for various uses, trends in growth and other items. The county's new zoning ordinance did just this.
Southwest Roanoke County, with its access to public water and sewer, subdivision activity, close proximity to fire and rescue facilities, and adequate major streets, has become an urban service area. The services have followed the people moving to that area, and the county did not encourage or initiate the growth. Route 221 was recently upgraded by the state of Virginia, based on plans which date back to 1978, and this will spur even greater growth in that area. The county recognizes this, and is working responsibly and diligently to provide protection to the recreational, cultural, economical and natural resources which the Parkway provides to us, while planning for the future citizens of the area.
Sligh's comments concerning the county's Erosion and Sediment Control Plan and the Smith Gap Landfill are equally erroneous. Since the beginning, county staff has worked with the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority, Olver Incorporated, and Thomas Brothers, to make sure that all county ordinances are met. The landfill is a large undertaking, which involves extensive coordination with various state and local agencies. It involves the clearing and grading of 100 acres and is one of the largest active excavating projects in Southwestern Virginia.
When violations of the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan were noted, proper notices were issued, including "stop work orders," to bring the project under compliance. Unfortunately, the off-site erosion problems that have been experienced in the area are the result of large storms which caused flooding in that area. The first time the property in question was flooded, the Resource Authority, at its expense, had the house, basement and yard cleaned and repaired. After the second strom, both the Authority and the owner of the property agreed that it would be best for the Authority to purchase the property to prevent a re-occurrence of the situation. County staff continues to monitor the development bi-weekly, and also visits within two days following any run-off producing storm event.
The county's Erosion and Sediment Control Program has obtained certification of its staff through the state Division of Soil and Water Conservation. In a 1991 document entitled "Evaluation of Virginia's Local Erosion and Sediment control Programs," the Division of Soil and Water Conservation stated that of the 171 local programs, " . . . 23 percent met the 15 point standard for adequacy." Roanoke County's program was one of these.
The county staff is professional, responsive and dedicated to making sure that everyone is treated fairly and equitably. In the future I would hope that Sligh, who is an employee of the State Water Control Board and a neighbor of the landfill, would call the county and disuss his concrens with us.
\ Elmer C. Hodge is Roanoke County Administrator
by CNB