ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 24, 1996 TAG: 9611250054
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: New River Journal
SOURCE: ELIZABETH OBENSHAIN
As we celebrate the most American of holidays this week, I'm sure most of us share a profound sense of thanks for this land, for these mountains that truly turn blue in the evening light, for farm fields silver with hoarfrost on cold fall mornings, for those spots in the valley where nature gives us an endless view of mountain ridges.
Most communities, unfortunately, learn to value what they once had only after it is too late.
For this valley, there is still time - but not a lot of it.
This fall, several unrelated actions could provide an opportunity for private and public efforts to protect some of the New River Valley's natural beauty.
One of the actions was individual - a local couple granted a conservation easement on their remote hollow in Montgomery County to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. The land can still be bought and sold and used by future generations, but not developed. Their 150 acres may be a tiny spot in our universe, but their gift may inspire others to protect significant natural areas in our valley.
Another was the creation of a new group - the founding (albeit in Roanoke) of a regional land-preservation trust with a mission to keep development away from ridges, views, animal habitat and historic places. Rupert Cutler, an internationally known conservationist and former head of the Explore Park, will become executive director of the Western Virginia Land Trust. Cutler has shown his skills in working with both the business community and conservation groups. His group could provide another vehicle for preserving the region's distinct views.
It's not just vistas along the Blue Ridge Parkway that we value. Most of us have favorite views along everyday routes. Mine is the crest of Christiansburg Mountain where seemingly endless mountains roll off into the haze before disappearing as my car swoops down Interstate 81.
On my way to work each morning, I also savor the rural scenes lining each side of the U.S. 460 bypass through Blacksburg. Cornfields and pastures with a spring crop of leggy foals or a fall crop of lambs add a moment of serenity to a hectic day.
Such a pastoral view, which has long since disappeared from similar urban highways, is there because of Virginia Tech. The same university that has found itself at the hub of the valley's bitterest environmental battle - the legal and lobbying war over the "smart" road - is also the institution that has preserved this remarkable rural landscape in the middle of town.
But the university, like other property owners in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg corridor, will feel growing pressure to develop. Its Corporate Research Center, one of the fastest growing in the nation, is already anticipating expanding to farmland on the east side of U.S. 460 in the future.
Yet Tech officials are also aware of the value and the irreplaceable nature of these rural views. All you have to do is look at the Marketplace shopping center in Christiansburg, once the university's Horticulture Farm, to realize that such farm land, once sold or developed, cannot be reclaimed.
Tech, concerned about its 600-pound-gorilla image, will probably not initiate action but could be a partner in local efforts to preserve this valley's significant views and natural areas.
Another action that could have a positive impact is the upcoming review of Montgomery's countywide zoning. All the land in the county - outside of Christiansburg and Blacksburg - is going to be reviewed for appropriate use, and planners will be recommending which areas should remain predominantly rural and undisturbed. Why not also ask them what significant areas should be preserved.
It may seem a radical idea for Montgomery, but Loudoun County, long a farming enclave in rapidly growing Northern Virginia, is considering paying farmers for development rights on land considered important to protect as farms or open space. In the Washington-area market, the payments could amount to several thousand dollars an acre - but the tradeoff would be the preservation of rapidly disappearing farmland.
We can't preserve every bit of land in our valley, not if the community wants new jobs, new industries and more homes.
But if we don't preserve some of the most significant land, we'll lose the very character of our valley.
Land is not cheap today, but it will never be cheaper. Views here today will be paved tomorrow.
Preserving our land makes good strategic sense. But it won't happen by itself. Only if local people and elected officials take the initiative will this happen.
At this holiday that honors the spiritual nature of our nation as well as its natural abundance, what gift could be more appropriate to ourselves than the gift of our land.
LENGTH: Medium: 88 linesby CNB