ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996 TAG: 9610080046
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: MARK CLOTHIER STAFF WRITER
Having received the Blacksburg Planning Commission's blessing last week, a sweeping update of the town's zoning ordinance enters what is expected to be a lengthy final review tonight.
Town Council is holding a public hearing on the zoning ordinance and five other topics, including an ordinance designed to reduce towing from a town-owned lot. The 7:30 p.m. meeting, in the Municipal Building, at 300 S. Main St., also will be broadcast live on Channel 2 for town cable TV viewers.
The zoning update - the first in more than 20 years - is an effort to clarify an oft-amended document and bring it in line with the new comprehensive plan, adopted in June.
Last Wednesday, the town's Planning Commission recommended approval of the rewrite after two nights of discussion, but not without a series of changes to address concerns raised by property and business owners.
Mayor Roger Hedgepeth said Town Council probably won't vote on the new ordinance until November or December.
"But we're getting there," he said. "I'm encouraged by the changes that have been made so far. I think they were legitimate and not just a matter of appeasing a segment of the public."
Meanwhile, the town is also attempting to address what has become the bane of downtown visitors - towing.
Town Council is holding a public hearing tonight on an ordinance that would reduce the number of cars towed from the town's Armory parking lot, at 211 Draper Road, between the Armory Building and Blue Ridge Outdoors,
According to the Blacksburg Police Department, 66 cars were towed from that lot during the first six months of this year.
The lease would transfer enforcement of the Armory lot's 24 nonmetered spaces from Tek Tow to the Blacksburg Police Department. The Police Department's main method of enforcement would be ticketing, Hedgepeth said.
"We're not trying to restrict the activity of a legitimate business and Tek Tow does meet the legal requirements," he said. "But we're concerned about image and all this towing - especially late at night - doesn't do much for the good image of Blacksburg for out-of-town visitors."
Under the agreement, the town would lease the lot to HCMF Real Estate and Housing Management Corp. for $110 per month for the initial two-year term, beginning Jan. 1.
HCMF would agree that it, or any of the businesses it sublets to, will not have any vehicle involuntarily towed from the spots and won't enter into an agreement with any towing company to involuntarily remove vehicles from the lot.
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