ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604260024
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Michael Chandler
Incumbent Michael Chandler, a community planner by trade, entered town government in 1980 through a newspaper advertisement seeking people interested in serving on the Blacksburg Planning Commission.
Now running for a third term on Town Council, Chandler, 47, is still particularly involved in the town's planning issues. The associate professor, who works at Tech's Institute for Community Resource Development, is known for his ponderous discussions on issues facing council.
After council unanimously approved several measures recently that rezoned and redirected development in Toms Creek Basin, for example, Chandler emphasized the work was far from over. Questions such as where development should occur in the town's largest remaining tract of open land and whether a central sewer system should be installed still have not been fully answered, he said.
The Norfolk native often talks about the link between development and utilities. He illustrated the point during a recent interview by invoking the motto: man is like the rat, he too follows the sewer line.
"That is not a closed book at all," said Chandler, who came to Blacksburg in 1973 as a graduate student. "We have to decide to what extent do we need urban-type services."
If Blacksburg wants to maintain its current rural atmosphere, Chandler said, growth must be selective and gradual. He envisions retention and expansion of current industries such as Federal Mogul Inc. and Litton Industries Inc.'s Poly-Scientific Division and a continued partnership with Virginia Tech as engines for economic growth.
One of Chandler's pledges in his campaign literature is to take a balanced and environmentally sensitive approach to land use in Blacksburg. He also wants to see more neighborhood-specific planning.
But Chandler added that planning does not occur in a vacuum. Because Blacksburg is part of Montgomery County, he said, there must be greater efforts to talk about shared boundaries with Christiansburg and the county. He wants to see a countywide forum held on issues of growth.
Chandler also is proposing an annual meeting where residents can talk to council members about issues facing the town and wants the town's recreation committee to look at a youth center as part of its long-term planning efforts.
Todd Halwas
Todd Halwas is not running against Town Council's general direction, but he does see himself as an outsider. He never attended Virginia Tech - he is a University of Texas graduate - nor does he work for Tech.
But the Raines Real Estate associate broker does not consider himself a "dark horse" either. Halwas, former president of the Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce, instead is running as a businessman with a different perspective.
"All I can say is that ... the voice of a business person will be represented," said Halwas, 32. "Whether that voice can be persuasive enough to swing the rest of council will be a matter of debate. But it's important that voice be represented."
One of Halwas' main concerns is that Blacksburg relies too heavily on Tech. A staunch supporter of the proposed "smart" highway, Halwas believes the way to justify state funding is to promote research that can spawn economic development.
"We're not unlike our neighbors to the southwest who are, a lot of them, little Banana Republics," said Halwas, who added Blacksburg should diversify its economy.
Halwas also is concerned that Blacksburg is sometimes too restrictive with businesses and on certain zoning issues.
For example, the Islamic Center of Blacksburg recently asked for a special permit to use a house on Toms Creek Road. Concerns arose about neighborhood integrity - the area is residential - and the size of a sign and the frequency of meetings. The request was withdrawn.
"By right an investor could go in and buy that [house], and put a kid in," he said. "That kid could then throw a party until 2 a.m. with a keg on the porch. That could go on every weekend. ... What is more adverse, an 8-square-foot sign or an 8-square-foot couch?"
Halwas also has a different view on the controversial Price Mountain rezoning request. Though he is concerned about the physical impact a high density development, Halwas said it is important to consider affordable housing.
Halwas' government experience includes a two-year stint on the greenway committee and an appointment to the county's Joint Industrial Development Committee. He admits he "does not know everything" but says he is a fast learner.
"I'm not running so much as what's in the past but what the challenges are in the future," he said.
Incumbent Frances Parsons, the longest-serving member on Town Council, grew up on a farm six miles outside Blacksburg's boundaries and has lived within the town's borders since 1955. Her knowledge of Blacksburg is rivaled only by her desire to maintain the town's quality of life.
These qualities were obvious when Town Council discussed a request now in front of Montgomery County to rezone 538 acres on Price Mountain for development. Parsons, 61, was often seen shaking her head, saying such development would destroy the landscape.
She also said the growth of the U.S. 460 retail corridor in northern Christiansburg has changed the balance between the small-town feel versus growth.
"It's something we have no control over," Parsons said of the two issues. "People come to Blacksburg because they like the small-town atmosphere."
What the town does have control over is maintaining a neighborhood's integrity. Parsons said neighborhoods are "the backbone of the town," something she always considers when making any decision on Town Council or on the Planning Commission, where she also is a member.
Before running for Town Council in 1972 - she has served consecutive terms ever since - Parsons was active within the school and library systems. Today, she is a member of the Montgomery County Economic Development Commission in addition to her town duties.
Tech is still a key element to Blacksburg's economic development, Parsons said, especially through research that has resulted in spinoff companies in the Corporate Research Center. The future for Blacksburg, she said, is in clean industries such as Litton's Poly-Scientific Division.
Recreation issues also are important to Parsons. She has been working with the town's recreation advisory board, which is discussing the possibility of a civic center and the expansion of a senior center.
Parsons said she will continue to run for council as long as she can make a contribution.
"The town reflects the citizens and their goals," Parsons said. "I think we have very informed citizens who don't hesitate to express opinions. I think the entire council listens, it's not one individual or two individuals. It's the attitude we have as an entire council."
Ron Rordam may be running for a Town Council seat for the first time, but he is not a newcomer to Blacksburg government. For the last four years, the local business owner has served on the town's Planning Commission, most recently as its vice chairman.
He does not see himself as a challenger to the council's current direction, or even, like Halwas, as a businessman offering a separate perspective.
"In general, I like the way we're headed," said Rordam, 41, who owns and runs Health Benefits Services near downtown Blacksburg. "I'm not running against or for radical change."
A native of New Orleans, Rordam came to Blacksburg in 1976 as a graduate student. After graduation, he lived in Salem for a few years but moved back to Blacksburg during the early 1980s and started his own company.
During his four years on the Planning Commission, Rordam has dealt with the town's ongoing efforts to rewrite its zoning ordinance and revamp its comprehensive plan.
Maintaining the integrity of neighborhoods has been an important guideline for the commission - and Rordam - through the years. One example Rordam cited was a zoning ordinance change several years ago regarding apartments in houses.
The commission changed the zoning so that no more than three unrelated people could live in an entire house - even if there was an apartment attached. Prior zoning did not count the apartment in the limit of unrelated people who could live in a house.
"I would not ever want to see it revert," said Rordam, who still hears comments.
Flexibility is also important to Rordam. The commission and Town Council recently passed several measures that redirected development and rezoned Tom's Creek Basin, Blacksburg's largest remaining tract of open space.
Opponents of the measure said the town should protect the area from further development to preserve its current rural character. Some property owners, however, wanted the right to sell their land to developers. And still others wanted to continue farming.
"How do you bring that together and compromise?" he said. "I hope that's what we've done."*
Rordam sees future growth in high-tech small businesses. When talking about economic development, Rordam said it is important to remember why people are attracted to the town.
"What attracts these types of businesses is the quality of life," he said.
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