Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 15, 1995 TAG: 9506230001
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Their aim is to develop land, accommodate people, make the town more attractive and avoid overcrowding.
This philosophy was behind recent action by Town Council in adopting an ordinance increasing the lot size for duplex houses from 7,000 to 9,000 square feet.
Anita McMillan, Vinton's town planner, said many of the duplexes in town are too close together, prompting complaints about too many people in too small an area.
More people are likely to cause more noise, parking problems and could put a strain on water and sewerage systems, she said.
Also, McMillan added, many duplexes are rental property, and there is a general belief that rental property decreases the value of nearby single-family houses.
That is one of the reasons, she said, that there is a desire by town officials to have more control on the growth of multifamily housing.
Town officials, she said, don't want to restrict duplexes. They want to prevent overcrowding. Increasing the lot size will assure more space between the buildings and enough space for off-street parking and yards.
Vinton has 308 duplex and triplex units in the town, she said. Overall, there are about 2,400 single-family houses. During a Vinton Planning Commission discussion of the duplex question, McMillan produced statistics showing that the town is losing population among young people but gaining more people aged 65 and older.
Bureau of Census figures show that between 1980 and 1990, Vinton's population of people age 18 and younger decreased 18.7 percent while the 65 and older population increased 9.2 percent
Overall, the town's population decreased 4.5 percent during that decade.
McMillan said figures also show that the area in Roanoke County east of Vinton is increasing in population.
Census figures also show, she said, that 1980-90 owner-occupied housing units in the town decreased 1.5 percent but renter-occupied units increased 5 percent.
McMillan said that at the end of 1993, the town's 2,048 acres was 52.5 percent residential, 30.1 percent parks and open spaces, 9.8 percent commercial and 7.6 industrial.
Compared with 1970 figures, residential, commercial and industrial development increased and parks and open space land decreased.
McMillan also said the town has only 171 undeveloped acres that would be suitable for residential development, 39 suitable for commercial; 33 suitable for industrial; and 26 suitable for parks and open space.
This means, she said, that Vinton must develop its remaining land carefully.
by CNB