ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605100081
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
The clock now is ticking on the Virginia Department of Transportation's request to take 140 acres of land out of a protected conservation zone, which it needs to build the proposed "smart" highway.
The formal application process began Thursday when transportation officials delivered a letter of intent to the Montgomery County administrator's office, beginning a 30-day review involving several arms of Montgomery County government.
Ultimately, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors must decide whether the taking of the land would harm the conservation zone. The board can order an additional 60-day review - including a public hearing - if it determines, within the next 30 days, that may happen.
State officials have said that if the smart road land acquisition fails to gain the supervisors' support - as it did initially last fall - they will halt the road project.
Several steps must be taken before the Board of Supervisors can make a final decision on VDOT's request. First, a joint meeting of the supervisors, the Planning Commission, an advisory committee that deals with conservation districts and an advisory economic development commission must be scheduled.
After that meeting, the Planning Commission and conservation district advisory committee will make separate recommendations to the supervisors.
In November, the supervisors voted against VDOT's request to take the land but rescinded that vote a week later to obtain more information.
Montgomery County officials developed a list of 92 questions about the smart road in December - a document VDOT completed last week and circulated to members of the Board of Supervisors.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday. Whether the smart road will be on the agenda will be known today, said Assistant County Administrator Jeff Lunsford.
The smart road, an approximately six-mile link between southern Blacksburg and Interstate 81, is promoted as a proving ground for transportation research and a boost for Virginia Tech. Supporters say the project will relieve traffic and create jobs. Critics say the road is an unnecessary pork-barrel project that will damage the environment.
The full text of VDOT's smart road application is available through the Roanoke Times Online at: http://www.infi.net/roatimes/road.html
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