ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603060090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
A LONG-DEBATED development proposed for along the Blue Ridge Parkway took a step toward Roanoke County approval.
The Roanoke County Planning Commission gave the first official nod Tuesday toward approval of Len Boone's proposed 315-acre development along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The commission unanimously recommended rezoning of the land to Planned Residential Development, which gives the developer more flexibility in exchange for allowing the county to control much of the design.
More than three years after Boone proposed the development, planned for off Cotton Hill Road in the Back Creek area, the plan is now only two steps away from being approved.
The county Board of Supervisors will consider the proposal as early as March 26.
The National Park Service's approval also is needed for water and sewer lines that would run under the parkway. An environmental assessment is expected to be completed this month and to be reviewed in April, county planner Janet Scheid said.
County staff, developers, architects and Blue Ridge Parkway officials and preservationists have considered the development for more than three years.
When Boone first shared his plan, it caused an uproar among parkway lovers and others who feared the development would spoil one of the last open spaces along the scenic highway in the valley.
Architects and parkway officials were called in to help preserve the mountainous views.
After a January 1995 work session, a plan was unveiled that included more than 59 acres of open space and strict architectural guidelines for houses there that could be seen from the parkway.
Boone also changed his plans of a traditional subdivision to a planned residential community of more than 1,000 homes. The community will be named Wilshire.
A 5 1/2-acre commercial strip could include a country store, bank or child-care center. The plan limits the type of businesses that can open.
Commercial development will not be allowed until 25 percent of the residential units are complete, Scheid said.
Construction has started north of the parkway under the land's existing residential zoning. Boone says he will not build south of the parkway until around 2000. Completion isn't expected for 15 to 20 years.
Most of the controversy over the impact to the Blue Ridge Parkway seems to have been resolved, but some residents of Cotton Hill Road and nearby streets are still skeptical.
``I don't know of anyone I've spoken to along Cotton Hill Road that is anxious for commercial property,'' said Fran Morrano, who lives off Cotton Hill Road.
Morrano said she is worried that it will be difficult to limit the types of businesses that can open within the development.
Planning Commission member Don Witt, who made the initial motion to recommend the development, said he also has concerns.
Planners estimate that 8,000 to 11,000 vehicles a day would use Cotton Hill Road once the development is completed.
Cotton Hill Road is narrow and unmarked, with scattered S-curves.
``I am surprised there hasn't been more comment [from the public] on traffic,'' Witt said. ``Right now, there is only one main route out there.''
But Witt said that he's convinced that once development occurs, the Virginia Department of Transportation will see more of a need to improve the road.
``In my opinion, unless you get traffic on that road, we'll never get it improved,'' Witt said.
The county has placed a stretch of Cotton Hill Road on its six-year secondary road construction plan with the Virginia Department of Transportation. That stretch goes from U.S. 221 to a parkway underpass.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: map - showing location of Parkway land staffby CNB