Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 10, 1995 TAG: 9501100103
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
For nearly 90 minutes Monday, longtime Montgomery County residents and transplants faced off on the merits of Lawrence R. Price's request that 12 acres on U.S. 460 be rezoned.
"Move back to Chicago," a Price supporter said after former Windy City resident Warren Stutzman of Blacksburg urged denial of the gas station.
"While most of you were up north, Mr. Price owned the land," said Price supporter Danny Perdue. "Preserve beauty out in the country, not on a U.S. highway."
The "newcomers," some of whom have been in the county for more than 25 years, pointed to Montgomery's 1990 comprehensive plan, which made it a county policy "to preserve the rural character of [U.S. 460] from Blacksburg north to the Giles County line."
"West 460 out of Blacksburg is a treasure; we need to do what we can to protect it," said Mary Rhoades, a 29-year resident.
Price wants to move Price's Chevron Service, his 37-year-old gas station and towing business, from northern Blacksburg to nearly 12 acres on U.S. 460. His family has owned the land for 90 years.
"We're not asking for a handout. We're just asking for a chance to use something that belongs to us," said Jeffrey Price, one of his sons.
Price submitted a letter Monday offering to limit his use of the land to car repairs, gas and food sales, temporary storage of disabled vehicles, occasional sales of used cars and, in the future, a small-scale farm-equipment sales operation.
The county Planning Commission will discuss the issue at 7 p.m. Wednesday and may make a recommendation a week later. The Board of Supervisors won't decide the rezoning until at least Jan. 23. It is Price's second attempt to rezone the land since 1987, when the board rejected a similar application.
If the comments from the 34 speakers - 13 in favor, one with reservations and the balance opposed - were any indication, the board will be on the hot seat no matter which way it votes.
The been-heres scoffed at the come-heres' contentions that Price's proposal would threaten the county's natural beauty.
At least half the crowd of 90 in the courthouse stood to support Price; 17 letter-writers backed him, as did 220 people who signed a petition.
Blacksburg Mayor Roger Hedgepeth also spoke for Price, though a Blacksburg Planning Commission subcommittee opposed the plan for potential negative visual, traffic and environmental impacts.
"As long as he's not bothering his neighbors, he should be able to use that land for whatever he wants to use it for," said Charles W. Eller to loud applause.
Opponents, meanwhile, challenged the Price supporters' argument that a service station is needed between Blacksburg and Newport, which is just under two miles west.
Some said such a development would hurt the potential for economic development by damaging the region's scenery. They cited the former Virginia Tech horticultural farm at U.S. 460 and Peppers Ferry Road in Christiansburg, which is now a large retail center, as an example of what could happen once strip development starts.
Other opponents, including former Supervisor Lindsay West, had environmental concerns. They worried about runoff from parking lots or leaks from underground storage tanks that could pollute the pond or Craig or Poverty creeks.
Price's son Haven, however, said legal restrictions on gas stations and planned retention ditches would prevent that.
by CNB