ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 4, 1996 TAG: 9606040076
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
THE CHAIRMAN for the citizen panel that oversees the city park has called the red star a "depressing signal."
Roanoke City Council on Monday approved a 90-day tryout for an anti-drunken driving campaign that would turn the Mill Mountain Star red after each drug-or alcohol-related traffic fatality in the region.
But the decision came after council expressed concern that city residents might be displeased at the sight of frequent red stars atop Mill Mountain, a complaint that was voiced in the 1950s after a similar campaign was initiated.
The tryout will run Sept. 1 through Dec. 1, and during it the city will accept comment from residents about the red star. Council likely will revisit the issue late in the fall.
The 5-1 vote was a victory for the New Century Council and the Smith Mountain Lake regional chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which already has garnered national attention for its campaign called "Keep the Star White."
Council also cut the period for changing the color in half, to 24 hours. MADD and the New Century Council requested a 48-hour change in a petition delivered to council May20.
Nonetheless, "we're very pleased at having a public, regional symbol," said Brenda Altman, president the Smith Mountain Lake regional MADD chapter. The National MADD organization already has commended the regional chapter on its efforts, she said.
If the public "likes it, they'll tell us," said Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., executive director of the New Century Council, an economic development organization representing nine counties and five cities in the Roanoke and New River Valley areas. "If they don't like it, they'll really tell us."
Some people already have, such as the Mill Mountain Development Committee, a panel of Roanokers that oversees the city park. Chairman Carl Kopitzke has called the red star a "depressing signal." Mayor David Bowers, who supports the campaign, said he has heard some negative comments from residents in the city and Roanoke County.
The only vote against Councilwoman Linda Wyatt's motion for the trial period came from Councilman Mac McCadden. He said he likes the idea of the anti-drunken driving campaign, but not a trial period.
"I say, forget the trial period," McCadden said. "I say, either do it or don't do it."
In other action, council:
Approved, 5-0, a $10,000 historic facade grant to a developer who will renovate two unoccupied buildings at 15 E. Salem Ave., directly across the street from the First Union Tower. The owners, William and Steven Lemon, will renovate the buildings into 24,000 square feet of retail and office space.
Voted, 5-1, to reconsider its own May 20 vote denying a rezoning that would allow a developer to build an $11.5 million, 248-unit apartment complex off King Street in Northeast Roanoke.
The reconsideration vote came after an attorney for the developer announced his client was attempting to quell concerns raised by Thomas and Linda Mann, who live adjacent to the proposed project and who were the only people who objected to it.
Council scheduled another public hearing on the rezoning for July 15 at 7p.m.
Appointed David Anderson as Roanoke city treasurer. Anderson has served as assistant to former Treasurer Gordon Peters, who retired Friday, for 18 years.
Appointed Joseph Nash, an independent who failed to win a seat on City Council during May's elections, to the Roanoke Neighborhood Partnership Steering Committee.
Voted, 6-0, to transfer $75,000 into the budget for snow removal for replenishment of rock salt and for repairs of snow removal equipment damaged after last winter's storms.
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