Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 22, 1993 TAG: 9310230237
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The proposal now will go before the Montgomery Board of Supervisors at its Monday meeting at the county courthouse.
The Planning Commission voted 5-3 against Frank and Joyce Howard's request to rezone the land off U.S. 460 at Cove Hollow Road, just west of the Roanoke County line. The area, behind Wilson's Restaurant and below Poor Mountain, is now an open field surrounded by several homes.
The commission also postponed action on another major project: the proposed open-space amendment to Montgomery's 1990 comprehensive plan.
Though discussion touched on renaming the plan a ``conservation and development'' initiative, commissioners decided to wait until Monday`s work session to take up the issue again.
On the trailer park controversy, nearby residents once again showed up to indicate their opposition, as they did at the Oct.12 Board of Supervisors meeting and the Sept. 27 public hearing on the proposal.
The commissioners discussed five major concerns with park: that the site is inappropriate because of the narrow road and major railway crossing leading to it; that the park would not fit in with the surrounding area; that traffic backups to turn into the park could cause problems on U.S. 460; that the railroad line would present a safety hazard to children; and that the park would add more children to already overburdened schools.
But discussion also touched on five factors in support of the Howard's rezoning request: that the county needs more affordable housing; that the Howards are working with state highway officials to build turn lanes on U.S. 460; that the park would have a fence to separate it from the rail line; that school capacities are not considered for subdivisions and therefore shouldn't be for trailer parks either; and that the area will be served by public water and sewer service and would be suitable for high-density residential development.
In other business, the commission recommended approval of two new subdivisions. The 20-lot Lawrence subdivision is off Virginia 8 south of Riner. It includes large, three- to five-acre lots and is zoned agricultural. The Deercroft subdivision's phase five includes 36 residentially zoned lots near the proposed intersection of an extension of Deercroft Drive and Nellies C ve Road east of Blacksburg. These recommendations, too, will go before the
supervisors.
by CNB