Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 7, 1994 TAG: 9406070080
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: |By KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
William "Bill" Matthews, who has acted as agent for property owners of the 27-acre tract off of Peppers Ferry Road , underwent triple bypass heart surgery Wednesday. His daughter, Jane Jones, said on Monday that he is recovering well, but will not attend the hearing.
"There will be someone there," she said, though she did not know who.
Tonight's public hearing will center on the question of whether to rezone to business use 17 acres in a tract zoned for agricultural use. The other 10 acres already are zoned for business.
Since the request was filed April 20, speculation has abounded that the shopping center will feature a Wal-Mart Superstore that combines a grocery with a pharmacy and retail store. Neither Matthews nor Wal-Mart officials will confirm that.
However, recently filed in Christiansburg town offices is a letter from Dan Brugh, the Virginia Department of Transportation's resident engineer, to CEI Engineering Associates in Bentonville, Ark. Bentonville is headquarters for Wal-Mart. The letter answers the firm's questions about traffic on U.S. 460.
Brugh, who was not available for comment Monday afternoon, said in his letter to CEI that Patton Drive just down from Triangle Lanes could be moved to align with Laurel Street across U.S. 460 near Kmart. A new traffic light would be required, and eastbound lanes would need to be raised, Brugh wrote.
Also recently filed with the town is a letter from Bill Ellenbogen of Friends of the Huckleberry, a proposed bike/pedestrian trail that would link Blacksburg and Christiansburg. His letter notes that the proposed shopping center lies on the route for the trail.
Ellenbogen said Monday that he has spoken with Matthews, who he said seemed receptive to the trail crossing the site, perhaps near Norfolk Southern's railroad tracks. The bike trail would count as open space in the shopping development, Ellenbogen said.
Christiansburg officials have said they generally are supportive of further development near the U.S. 460-Peppers Ferry Road intersection, though in interviews virtually all have said they have many unanswered questions.
"I think [the developers are] waiting for tomorrow" to supply answers, Town Manager John Lemley said Monday.
The hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Christiansburg Town Hall.
by CNB