ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 19, 1996 TAG: 9612190025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: COMPILED BY PAUL DELLINGER AND KENNETH SINGLETARY
* Pulaski Town Council has approved rezoning and conditional use requests that will allow a new dining room at Tom's Drive-In.
The restaurant at 620 S. Washington Ave., owned by Melvin and Rhonda Chrisley, will now be able to expand its eating space with a 24-by-24-foot dining area. Council accepted the town Planning Commission's recommendation Tuesday to rezone the half-acre from R-2 residential to B-2 business, and then agreed to the additional dining room as a conditional use. The only stipulation is that the restaurant not serve alcoholic beverages. Melvin Chrisley said he had no plans to do that, anyway.
Councilman Charles Stewart reported that the Planning Commission is recommending a comprehensive plan for the town's development over the next two decades. Council will study the plan, make any changes, and then adopt or disapprove it within 90 days. A public hearing on the plan will be scheduled for one of council's January meetings.
Mayor Andy Graham, meanwhile, was unable to attend Tuesday's council meeting because of an accident Monday in which he broke his foot.
* Christiansburg has received a request to put a cellular phone antenna on the town's water tower. The appeal prompted the Town Council Tuesday to ask the Planning Commission for an ordinance dealing with cellular phone towers and antennas on town property.
Town Manager Lance Terpenny said the request by a Waynesboro cellular company to put an antenna on a town water tower near Interstate 81 to be "the beginning of what I would anticipate to be a flood of similar requests." Nearby Roanoke County is grappling with a similar issue, in the wake of the new federal telecommunications law that makes it more difficult for local governments to restrict the placement of communications towers.
Council also amended its zoning ordinance to allow for day care centers in agricultural districts. The change came at the request of the Christian Growth Center, which wants to build a day care center.
Council amended its Business, Professional and Occupational License tax to make it consistent with such laws in other localities across the state. The change will not increase the tax rate or enact a new tax. Council also passed a resolution asking a General Assembly joint legislative committee to protect the sovereign immunity that shields localities from some liability.
And, "Hoping to get more interest in young people in town business," in the words of council member Richard Ballengee, a semi-retired school administrator, council OK'd a resolution permitting Christiansburg High School to select one or more students to be representatives to council. They would be required to attend at least one council meeting a month, and would alert council to the concerns of young people and report council actions to their peers.
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