Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 19, 1995 TAG: 9508210023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
The First National Bank of Christiansburg approached Dublin several months ago after the town announced plans for developing the center, and inquired about locating a branch bank there.
On Thursday night, Dublin Town Council authorized Mayor Benny Keister to offer more than 1.9 acres to the bank for $120,000. The proposed agreement now goes to the bank, which is subject to federal regulatory authority and must get federal permission to proceed.
None of that is expected to take too long. First National Bank President Sam Tollison said a ground-breaking will be scheduled soon, and Jeff Irby, a lifetime New River Valley resident, has been named to manage the future Dublin branch.
Keister said he was pleased that First National had agreed to locate a branch in the town, providing both employment and services for the area.
"I think it's something we'll really be proud to have in the town of Dublin," Town Manager Gary Elander said.
Council outlined the concept of the Dublin Town Center earlier this year. It would be planned with greenways and be the site for a new Dublin municipal building, which also would rent space to some Pulaski County offices so citizens at the eastern end of the county wouldn't have to travel to Pulaski.
A new post office also is planned on 2.2 acres in the Town Center, to replace one in downtown Dublin which is running out of parking space and located in an aging building.
Council members took a series of actions Thursday night to make all that official.
They held a public hearing on plans for a $1.2 million general obligation bond issue to help fund the center. Nobody spoke for or against it. The money will pay to install water, sewer and roads, make site improvements and construct the 700,000-square-foot Town Center municipal building. The issue will have to go back before Town Council for a final vote.
The town also has obtained a $276,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to renovate a warehouse building in its industrial park. Some of the bond issue money will serve as the town's match for that grant.
Elander said the bond issue will be repaid with revenue from the Town Center and industrial park. Other warehouses on the former Burlington property are already occupied by various businesses.
Council members also approved revisions to its zoning district map to establish manufacturing and general business zones in the newly-incorporated area. They adopted subdivision plats designating nine tracts for development and establishing road and utility plans.
Council now will move on contracts for clearing, utilities, road construction and site improvements.
The 18 acres is part of the former Burlington Industries property, acquired by the town in the past year and made into an industrial park. In an annexation agreement with the county, Dublin made its new property part of the town this year and also took in a connecting corridor linking the previous town border to the additional territory at Virginia 682 and Virginia 100.
by CNB