ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 22, 1996 TAG: 9611220046
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PEMBROKE
SOURCE: CLAYTON BRADDOCK STAFF WRITER
A proposed low- to moderate-income housing development near Pembroke ran into pointed criticism from some 25 would-be neighbors Wednesday night.
The Giles County Housing & Development Corp., based in Pearisburg, came armed with Executive Director Ann Angert, color charts, black-and-white architectural drawings, an engineer and support from Randi Lemmon, the Pembroke town manager.
But the neighbors of the planned Castle Rock Road development launched a volley of vocal resistance that was almost more than the proposed plan and speakers could handle.
The meeting at the Pembroke Town Hall followed an initial announcement of the plan last week and another meeting of other neighbors and nearby residents Tuesday.
Some of the Tuesday residents "supported us and attended Wednesday but did not speak out," Angert said.
The nonprofit corporation was created to build "decent, safe and affordable" housing, Angert said. A preliminary plan shows 25 lots, including 18 single-family homes, mostly for first-time home owners. Although some of the homes could be purchased, the basic plan is to accept families to lease the property over 20 years with an option to eventually own the homes.
Selection of the Pembroke home sites was the result of surveys throughout Giles County to determine residential areas of choice, Angert told the Castle Rock Road neighbors.
The "low to moderate" income description means that potential home owners must meet income criteria for households at 80 percent of area median income or lower, Angert said. The income range for such homeowners range from $17,000 for a family of two, up to $28,000 for a family of eight, she said.
The neighbors spoke out strongly about the aim of the plan, given continuing weak water pressure in the area, flooded yards, poorly maintained roads and other problems common in the area just outside Pembroke's corporate limits.
Yet they criticized Angert, Lemmon and Michael Gay of Gay Engineering for problems of "housing density" of as many as eight persons per unit. They also focused on the perceived threat of crime, sex, alcohol abuse, drunken driving and other social problems.
Some also criticized the absence of recreation facilities, though the Treasure Island Playground, a widely promoted facility, stands just a short distance away in Pembroke.
Lemmon drew some fire when he told the crowd "it is just human nature to oppose" any such plan because it represents change.
Despite opposition to the proposed housing proposal, Lemmon said it will continue through a series of debates and reviews, including the Dec. 2 Pembroke Town Council meeting, rezoning and another review by the Giles County Board of Supervisors. Most of the review process is based on the Giles County Comprehensive Plan, adopted in May 1991. The housing proposal could even wind up in court, he said.
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