Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409290085
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The commission voted 7-1 Monday in favor of rezoning 14.5 acres of farmland into a residential neighborhood of nine lots. Member Richard Daub, who lives in that area, cast the dissenting vote.
The site is located just northeast of Blacksburg at 1740 Mount Tabor, between Slusser's Chapel Church of God and Coal Bank Hollow Road. Developers Nick Romantini and Allison Wilson bought the land from Warren Hale, whose family had owned it for 50 years.
The rezoning will go to the county Board of Supervisors next month for the final say.
Blaine Keesee, a Gay Engineering employee who spoke for the developers, said the lots in the subdivision will be big enough to have safe septic systems. The state Health Department is reviewing the septic applications and is expected to approve them, he said. Keesee said the developers were sensitive to the area's rural character and planned the subdivision to avoid interrupting ridge lines. He said the development will include a pathway to the Hale family cemetery.
On Monday, four men who live near the proposed development attended a public hearing on the rezoning and three of them spoke out against it.
James Lafon, who lives just 500 feet from the site, said he was "bitterly against the housing development" because he believes Mount Tabor Road will not be able handle the increased traffic load. The Hercules retiree and hay farmer also questioned whether another new development would strain the local electrical system. Lafon has lived in the area since 1940.
Cecil Underwood, who also lives next door and grew up in the area, said residents already are having problems with contamination of their wells. Adding nine new septic systems and wells would only worsen the situation. Underwood said he had had to install a purification system because of contamination. He said he wouldn't object to the development if it relied on public water and sewer, which is currently unavailable.
Lafon, Underwood and Rador W. Vaden are all longtime county residents. But the most outspoken opponent was Ted Settle, who said he moved to the Mount Tabor area two years ago to take advantage of the rural lifestyle. He objected to the bucolic property's conversion to a residential neighborhood.
Settle, who is Virginia Tech's director of continuing education programs, said he believed the land-use system needed to change so a subdivision couldn't go in over the objections of nearby property owners.
He told the developers to stay out of the area because they are not wanted and their methods are resented.
In other business Monday, the Planning Commission recommended approval of a special-use permit for the New River Valley's first family entertainment center. Chuck and Jane Jones of Blacksburg plan to open the Fun Challenge center on two acres behind the Wal-Mart store at the Market Place shopping center. The playground, arcade and restaurant will cater to children ranging from toddlers to 15-year-olds and their parents. The special-use permit for a "public amusement facility" now will go to the supervisors for consideration.
by CNB