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

DATE: TUESDAY, July 19, 1994                   TAG: 9407190037
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                 LENGTH: Medium

POOL-TABLE CONTROVERSY TO GET COUNCIL ATTENTION

And even the continuing of billiards at Ciro's will require action by Pulaski Town Council today.

Three business establishments in town, including Ciro's, have received notices that their pool tables violate the town's zoning ordinance and must be removed.

Ciro's is in the Southwest Times building at 28 5th St. N.E. in a B-2 business district, where pool tables can be allowed under a conditional-use permit. Such a permit has been requested and will be considered by council at its 4 p.m. meeting.

The other two businesses are out of luck, pool-wise. They are both in a B-1 business district which bans such activities altogether.

But Ciro's chances to keep its tables look good. The Pulaski Planning Commission recommended approval of the conditional use permit last week. So has Town Engineer John Hawley. The Police Department reports no complaints over the pool tables or about Ciro's in general.

Ciro's is mainly a pizza parlor and restaurant, with 12 dining tables. It does not serve alcoholic beverages. The conditional-use request was made by Medhat Aboukuora on behalf of owner Minor Muncy Jr.

Larry Warden, manager of the Pulaski Market, objected earlier this month to the notice of violations regarding his billiard parlor game room on Valley Road. He said the tables have been in use for years and nobody has objected.

Town Council referred him to the town manager's office to address his concerns.

In other business today, council will hear a rezoning request from Pulaski Community Hospital in conjunction with property owners Truman and Kathy Combiths.

The 18.7 acres at 3010 Lee Highway is now zoned R-1 residential. The request is to rezone it as R-O, residential and offices, to allow medical buildings in it.

The hospital has an option on the property, and wants assurance from council that medical offices could be built on it in the future.

"There are no immediate plans for the property," Chris Dux, the hospital's chief operating officer, said in his letter asking for the rezoning. "However, the current owners are interested in selling it now.... Before we make the final decision to purchase the land, we are seeking some assurance from the town that we would be allowed to use the land for the development of medical office buildings."

The town Planning Commission has recommended approval of the request, and no town departments have objections. But Town Attorney Frank Terwilliger has lodged an opinion that the request is premature.

"The purpose of the conditional-use sections is to provide a mechanism by which specific proposals can be made compatible with the rest of the district through the use of reasonable conditions," he said. "The town should not approve any general category of use for a parcel (such as 'medical office buildings') under the mechanism of a conditional-use permit. Conditions cannot be determined until such time as a specific proposal is presented."