Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 2, 1994 TAG: 9407040103
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Short
The supervisors on Monday received an overview of proposed changes to the county zoning ordinance under the Route 177 Corridor Agreement reached with Radford last year.
The innovative agreement, under which the county and city will share tax revenue from the area, avoided an annexation battle. Last year, the two governments changed their comprehensive plans in accordance with the agreement. The next step is changing zoning rules.
Radford Community Hospital is slated for relocation in the area around the highway later this decade. Other growth is expected to follow.
The proposed modifications cover five major areas:
Making sure water and sewer service is extended to the entire corridor. In order to develop land in the 3,000-acre area, property owners will have to wait for the extension of utilities or help pay for an earlier extension.
Limiting the number of entrances and crossovers on Virginia 177, also known as Tyler Road outside city limits.
Beefing up regulations that affect aesthetics, such as landscaping and parking lot standards, signage rules and regulations on intrusive lighting.
Minimizing the impact of new development on natural features such as wetlands, streams, steep slopes and sinkholes.
Requiring rezonings for all new development in the corridor.
The supervisors forwarded the proposed changes to the county Planning Commission, Public Service Authority and Montgomery Regional Economic Development Commission for comment.
by CNB