Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090032
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Should housing trends continue to cater to relatively affluent families or should more low- to moderate income housing be provided? Where do we put the students?
Where should the sewer go next? How about the "smart" road? Should economic development efforts focus on retail and service industries, tourism and sporting events or manufacturing?
How big do we want to be?
Such questions are only a smattering of the issues the town considers when developing its comprehensive plan, the overall document that town planners, council members and other officials use to help make decisions on the town's growth and operation. Its vision extends from the present to 50 years down the road.
Every five years, according to the state law that requires municipalities to maintain a plan, it must be revised. Now's the time, and the town is seeking input from its citizens through a comprehensive plan survey.
Senior Planner Carol Bousquet has spent many weeks talking to civic groups, explaining the plan and passing out copies of the survey. There's a version on the Blacksburg Electronic Village. Copies can be picked up in the Municipal Building.
The deadline for returning the survey is Wednesday.
"Where are we heading in the town? Where do we want to be? That's what we're trying to get from the community," Bousquet said recently.
The plan, not just a touchy-feely visionary thing, is referred to by the planning staff in virtually all reports on potential developments presented to council. Generally, a project is looked upon more sympathetically if it jibes with the tenets of the plan, although there are times when the town considers amending the overal plan to suit certain projects or initiatives.
The recent - for now, withdrawn - application for the Patton's Grant retirement community is just one example where the town considered adapting its plan to suit a development's needs.
Generally, however, the plan packs weight. It addresses land use patterns, natural resources, waste management, community facilities, housing, transportation and other issues.
Bousquet said the staff wants to streamline the half-inch thick document, and to integrate into the main body amendments on topics such as streets, bike way and walkway plans, and parks and recreation. An advisory committee has been formed to work on the project, public meetings will be held and - "knock on wood," Bousquet said - the revised document should be completed in the spring of 1996.
"It's an enormous, enormous task," Bousquet said.
by CNB