ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 13, 1996 TAG: 9606130071
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
The long-running controversy of fraternity and sorority housing in Blacksburg put a snag into efforts to pass the town's comprehensive plan Tuesday night, prompting Town Council to delay its vote until June 25.
Several residents spoke against the addition of a proposed Greek housing district on a land use map that accompanies the comprehensive plan. The town is considering designating a certain area of Blacksburg suitable for fraternity and sorority houses as part of an overall effort to rewrite its zoning ordinance, a separate issue that will reach Town Council for a vote in the fall.
Possible locations for the special designations - formally called "Greek Overlay Districts" - include Roanoke and Turner streets and Ramble Road. The housing plan, which still is being hashed out in two advisory committees, is favored by Virginia Tech's Greek system but is opposed by some nearby permanent residents.
The specific proposal is not mentioned in the comprehensive plan itself. But including the districts on the accompanying map "makes it seem almost like a foregone conclusion," said Sara Thorne-Thomsen, a resident who spoke at Tuesday's meeting.
Adele Schirmer, director of planning and engineering, said the districts were included on the map to identify the areas that would be appropriate for Greek housing if the plan ultimately is approved by Town Council in the fall.
The disagreement, combined with the absence of two council members Tuesday night, was enough to persuade council to delay its vote on the entire comprehensive plan.
The Zoning Ordinance Rewrite and the Long Range Planning committees will decide next week whether the districts should be removed from the map.
The comprehensive plan, which must be renewed every five years, maps out Blacksburg's growth and planning goals. Housing, transportation, utility services and information technology are some of the issues tackled in the plan.
The document was reviewed in 1991. During the last two years, the town has been revamping the entire plan so it's more specific and easier to read in this latest renewal.
More than 1,450 residents participated in countless meetings to develop this updated plan. Council member Al Leighton said additional time should be taken to evaluate the Greek housing issue to ensure the town "comes up with a plan we all feel confident in."
Most fraternity and sorority houses within the town fall under a grandfather clause that does not allow them to make significant renovations on the property because of a 10 percent cap on the amount of money that can be spent on the house each year.
The town was hoping the limitations would force fraternities and sororities back onto campus. Instead, many of the houses have fallen into disrepair and the Greek organizations have not abandoned their off-campus locations.
Fraternities and sororities within the special districts could apply for special permits to renovate, expand or in some cases move into the area if they follow certain rules and restrictions, according to the plan now under consideration.
Thorne-Thomsen, a member of the Townscape Committee, does not want Roanoke Street to become predominantly Greek because the area is close to downtown. Instead, she favors a mixed neighborhood of housing for the elderly and Greeks and light commercial uses such as artist studios.
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