Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 28, 1995 TAG: 9507280116
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The county Planning Commission recommended 4-3 Monday against rezoning 27 acres beside Bethel Woods subdivision from agricultural status to a type of residential use that prohibits single-wide trailers. The residents of Bethel Woods, located beside Interstate 81 south of Radford, want the zoning change.
The commission's vote came after a Roanoke lawyer representing the developers politely threatened the county with legal action if it goes through with the rezoning. He said the county seemingly has changed the rules of the development game just to keep out trailers.
"I don't like necessarily talking in legal jargon. I don't like threatening, [but] on the top of it, it looks to me like this is almost arbitrary and capricious or with a single-minded intent," lawyer Ed Natt said.
The Board of Supervisors, which initiated the rezoning attempt, will have the final say next month.
Bethel Woods residents have sought the move since early this year, when Roanoke-based Hough-Nichols Inc. and Christiansburg real-estate broker W.H. Maddy Jr. began selling lots and applied to rezone the land. Hough-Nichols wanted the land rezoned to a residential category that would have allowed the placement of mobile homes. So far, four of 11 lots have been sold and one more is under contract, Natt said.
In March, 17 residents of Bethel Woods and surrounding farms spoke out against the request. Some speakers called the move an attempt to build a trailer park next door. They said mobile homes off Lantern Road would be out of character with their neighborhood of single-family homes. They also turned in a 65-name petition against the rezoning.
In April, the Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected the Hough-Nichols' request. A month later, at the urging of Bethel Woods residents, the Board of Supervisors submitted a request to rezone the land to the residential category that prohibits trailers.
Bethel Woods resident Paul Land said he and his neighbors would make their case again before the supervisors Aug. 14. He said residents are concerned about "dissimilar development" going in next door. Rejecting the rezoning would mean Hough-Nichols could develop the land as an agricultural subdivision. Land said that would mean Bethel Woods' new neighbors could keep livestock and have fewer building restrictions.
by CNB