
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 22, 1994                   TAG: 9402220234
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: DUBLIN                                LENGTH: Short

NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS OPPOSE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

A low- to moderate-income housing development planned for nearly 10 acres near the Staff Village area outside Dublin is drawing opposition from people who already live there.

Residents who spoke at last week's Dublin Town Council meeting worried that the 61 proposed housing units would not be properly maintained by their occupants and would lower the value of surrounding homes.

The speakers expressed their concerns at a public hearing on the $700,000 Community Development Block Grant being sought by the town to pay for utilities and roads for the project. The application deadline is March 3.

Mayor Benny Keister said the housing development might never happen, or that it could be smaller than projected. But he said the improved water system that would be part of the project would benefit the entire area.

Bob Rogers, representing Architectural Alternatives which is planning the development, said a buffer zone could be created between the housing development and Staff Village.

Residents also disliked the idea of using nontraditional zoning for the housing development. Instead of regular residential zoning, a less-restrictive planned unit development zoning has been proposed.

The Pulaski County residents fear that such zoning would encourage more commercial development than they would want in that area.

by CNB