Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 28, 1995 TAG: 9510300117
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ralph Smith, who owns the Rockledge mansion near the top of the mountain, has suggested that the city turn control of the road over to him - most recently proposing a lease or some other arrangement that would allow the city to retain ownership of the road.
The road, which provides access to Smith's home, was closed to the public about five years ago when it was determined that a bridge near the entrance to Smith's property was structurally unsound.
Smith has said that in return for control of the road, he would repair the bridge and maintain the road at his own expense and would open the road to the public for special occasions on terms negotiated with the city.
At Tuesday's meeting of the Mill Mountain Development Committee, however, city Parks and Recreation Manager John Coates said it would be in the city's best interest to retain control of the roadway for the enjoyment of everyone. The development of a hiking and biking greenway along the road is under consideration, he said.
Coates told the committee - which makes recommendations to City Council about the use of Mill Mountain - that his recommendations would protect the community's interests and satisfy Smith's concerns about maintenance of the road and people who drive up the road late at night and litter his property. Smith is a member of the committee.
Coates is recommending:
That the top of the old over-under bridge be demolished and possibly replaced with a timber-type bridge for which federal grant funds may be available, or that the existing bridge be stabilized, according to recommendations from Hayes Seay Mattern & Mattern, the city's consulting engineers, who recently examined the bridge at the city's request.
That a vehicular barrier on Prospect Road be relocated to a stone archway across the road below the barrier's current location, which would stop the dumping. The new gate, which would be constructed at Smith's expense, would allow pedestrians and bicyclists to pass through but not motor vehicles.
That a formal maintenance program be developed by the city for the upkeep of the stone wall along the road and for cutting of roadside vegetation.
Previously, as an alternative to turning control of the road over to him, Smith, too, proposed erecting a security gate at the stone archway that would allow continued pedestrian and bicycle traffic. He still would prefer to assume the cost of maintenance of the road and bridge in return for closing the road to the public except on special occasions. But if the city would follow through and maintain the road, then Coates' recommendations would satisfy his concerns, Smith said Thursday.
Smith has said he could repair the bridge for $50,000, but Hayes Seay Mattern & Mattern has estimated it would take $78,000 just to stabilize it to prevent further deterioration. According to the engineers' estimates contained in an Oct. 9 letter from city Public Works Director William Clark to City Council, a replacement bridge suitable for pedestrians would cost $225,000 and one that would handle vehicles, $360,000.
Coates said money might be available through federal transportation programs to build a bridge for pedestrians. Coates also said he would request $100,000 for the bridge from surplus city funds that are made available at the end of each fiscal year for capital improvements. That would be enough to stabilize the bridge or possibly could be used as matching funds for a timber bridge under a U.S. Forest Service program, he said.
Smith, however, said he was concerned about altering the appearance of the existing bridge, which was built in the mid-l930s and which he called an "antique." He also said he would object to a timber bridge unless it would permit continued access to his home by home repair vehicles.
He wondered, Smith told committee members, why nobody wanted to talk with him about his proposal to turn the road's control over to him, which he said would save taxpayers' money. Many people have asked him why the city won't work with him, Smith said.
Coates said the city has had phone calls and letters from people with a variety of opinions on the issue but that public sentiment doesn't appear to be strong one way or the other.
Smith got some support from committee member Barry Thomas, who said the situation posed a good opportunity for a public-private partnership.
"I want to know what the city is worried about losing," Thomas said.
The committee delayed its vote on Coates' recommendations until a November meeting when Coates was asked to present them in writing.
by CNB