Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 28, 1995 TAG: 9502280070
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A.M., Salem
A: A statewide moratorium on annexation by cities is in effect until July 1997.
The moratorium is only half of Roanoke County's double-barreled protection from annexation, though.
A law passed 16 years ago allows Roanoke County and five other urban counties total and permanent immunity from city-initiated annexation.
That's total and permanent immunity until government changes the law, of course - but this law probably will last as long as county-based legislators outnumber their city counterparts.
And the statewide moratorium? It's an institution that the General Assembly keeps renewing every couple of years. One means of annexation remains, though: A majority of voters or landowners in a territory adjacent to a city can petition to be taken into the city.
This was done by residents of the Red Lane area in 1987, and Salem even paid their legal expenses.
A county can make a similar request.
The procedure is much like running a gantlet; the annexation case must be presented to the state Commission on Local Government, and again to a special court.
The residents must show they need services the city provides and the county does not.
Counties that don't want to give up territory can string out the proceedings for years, and counties win more than half the time.
Towns, such as Vinton, are not affected by these annexation bans. Government consolidations such as the one proposed in Bedford are permitted with voter approval.
Light subject
Q: The traffic light on Brambleton Avenue at the entrance to Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. operates 24 hours a day. Many times, only one vehicle comes out, and yet it will stop traffic in both directions. Many neighbors in this area believe that light should be put on a timer and operated from 7-8:30 a.m. and 4-4:30 p.m. Also, since that light was installed, it has become legal in Virginia to turn right on red. Most people coming out of Shenandoah Life do turn right, but between 5 and 6 p.m., traffic backs up to the bridge in Fishburn Park. Something should be done about this light.
W.H., Roanoke
A: The city will take a look at the right-turn matter, said Bob Bengtson, traffic engineer.
It may be possible to adjust the signal's detection equipment to make this right turn less disruptive to Brambleton traffic.
The off-peak relief is harder to accommodate, though. Bengtson said it's bad traffic engineering practice to send varied messages by signal light.
"You really want to be consistent in the display you give to the motorist," he said, and it's not good to have a signal that's stop-on-red only during peak hours.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
by CNB