Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503180023
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Property owners Jeffrey and Laura Maronic had asked the commission to consider rezoning 4.068 acres on the corner of Old Cave Spring Road and Cave Spring Lane so they could strip a private road across the land. The property, part of which includes a flood plain, is largely undeveloped now.
The Maronics plan to build five single-family homes along the lane and four single-family attached dwellings, which will be set back farther on the property. The road is necessary to access the four units in the rear.
Residents told the planning commissioners they are concerned the road and four proposed driveways, all of which will feed onto the lane, will cause dangerous traffic conditions.
Since stop lights were established at the corner of U.S. 221 and Virginia 419, "our neighborhood has become the patented shortcut. That's no secret," argued John Stokes, who lives at 4911 Cave Spring Circle. "Those additional driveways, in and of themselves, create a very hazardous situation."
Stokes said the subdivision's opponents understand the land will be developed. "We don't expect no development to occur on this property, but we expect the development to be consistent with quality of life and the standards in the county's comprehensive plan for low-density development," he said.
The residents, who submitted a petition with 100 signatures from people against the rezoning, are also worried the subdivision's homes will lower property values.
But Maronic, who lives in a home next-door to the proposed $1.6 million subdivision, said he has no intention of devaluing the community. The five single-family colonials will be priced between $179,000 and $200,000, he said, and the rear homes will run about $150,000 each.
"These will actually enhance the neighborhood," Maronic said. "I'm a Class-A contractor, and I will be personally building these homes. They matter to me. They're going to be directly behind my house."
Maronic's attorney, Carr L. Kinder, pointed out that Maronic has an irrefutable right to even more development than he's proposed, given the way the property is zoned currently. Under the zoning guidelines that apply now, a developer could construct as many as eight homes in the area.
"I just don't understand all the problems. We are proposing a subdivision that meets higher standards than what is already included in the zoning ordinance," Kinder said. "This will be better than what they could get now, much better."
The Planning Commission agreed, voting 4-0 with one member absent, and will recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the zoning change. The commissioners' support for the rezoning hinges upon one condition that was reached during the March 7 session and several other proffers stipulated by the developer in his application.
The conditions are: the subdivision will include only the buildings specified; the developers will not petition the commission later for rezoning that would allow for multi-family use; the single-family homes will be no less than 1,800 square feet and the single-family detached units will be a minimum of 1,450 square feet; and a homeowners' association will be established to maintain the private road.
The Board of Supervisors will take up the issue at its March 28 regularly scheduled public hearing and meeting.
by CNB