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

DATE: SATURDAY, October 1, 1994                   TAG: 9410030039
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COUNTIES MAY JOIN IN PARK

Botetourt and Roanoke counties are considering joint development of a 175-acre industrial park that would offer ready-to-go sites for light manufacturers, officials said Friday.

Officials for the two counties declined to identify the site, because they don't own it, but said it sits in both localities.

It's a piece of property Botetourt officials have had their eye on for several years, but the asking price was prohibitive, said Robert Layman, chairman of Botetourt's Board of Supervisors.

But recently, he said, "We've had some indication they might be more willing to work with us." Negotiations with the owner are under way, Layman said.

The two boards of supervisors held an unusual joint closed session this week to discuss the industrial park while holding a scheduled meet-and-greet get-together. Roanoke County supervisors have been having joint meetings with the other valley governing bodies in recent months to promote regional cooperation.

Botetourt and Roanoke counties already jointly operate the Jack C. Smith Industrial Park, which covers land in both jurisdictions. But there is only a small parcel left in that park, said Lee Eddy, chairman of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.

"We keep hearing that we need more ready-to-go sites," Eddy said.

County Administrator Gerald Burgess said Botetourt has gotten more calls in the last year for this type of site than ever before. Brian Duncan, Roanoke County's assistant director of economic development, said a lack of shell buildings and sites ready for building - with utilities and already graded - sends prospects elsewhere.

"If you don't have ready-to-go sites, you're not considered anymore," he said.

Layman said he's "cautiously optimistic" about being able to buy land for the proposed park, but doesn't expect to before spring.

It makes sense for the counties to do this together, he said, because the site has better access from roads in Roanoke County than from Botetourt. Roanoke County would apply for state funds to prepare the site.

by CNB