ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 8, 1996 TAG: 9606090005
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
The fate of the "smart" road could be decided Monday night as the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors takes up the controversial project once again.
From the stage of the Christiansburg High School auditorium, the board will vote to grant, deny or delay a request to take about 140 acres of land out of an agricultural and forestal district that falls within the path of the smart road route.
A crowd is expected at the supervisors' meeting, which has been moved from its normal location in the courthouse. Although it is not a public hearing, people may sign up to speak during the normal public address portion of the meeting. Comments during this 30-minute period are usually limited to three minutes per speaker.
Transportation officials have said plans for a smart road in Montgomery County, which would link Blacksburg directly with Interstate 81, would be scrapped if the board votes against the request for land. If supervisors vote to take the land out of the protected district, the Virginia Department of Transportation will move ahead with the road project, which would also be used for transportation research.
A delay vote would kick off another 60-day waiting period and a public hearing would be held.
Monday's vote comes about nine months after the Board of Supervisors initially took up VDOT's request. The board voted against the request but rescinded that vote a week later and set up a more detailed application process for VDOT.
Two main issues will be considered by the board on Monday: the road's effect on the county's agricultural and forestal district policy and whether the project serves the public in the most practical and economical manner.
Three advisory committees already have made recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. The Planning Commission and Montgomery County Economic Development Committee recommended the board accept VDOT's request, while the Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee said it should be rejected.
Agricultural and forestal districts are formed to conserve farm and forest lands for production of food and other products. Landowners, who voluntarily enter these districts, gain tax benefits as an incentive.
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