ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, January 28, 1997              TAG: 9701280049
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: MARK CLOTHIER STAFF WRITER 

ZONING LAW, MAP TO GET NEW HEARING

During a seven-hour Saturday work session, Town Council tentatively agreed to set a second public hearing on the town's revamped zoning ordinance and zoning map.

Blacksburg's council is expected to set a March 11 public hearing at a meeting next month. A vote on the proposed zoning ordinance could come March 25.

In the next few weeks, the town will mail letters to property owners about the meeting. Though fairly generic, the notices will include a map of the town quadrant in which their property lies and mention of council's tentative November decision to allow property owners to rebuild nonconforming structures.

Before the tentative agreement, if a building didn't conform to zoning laws and was destroyed in a catastrophe, it couldn't be replicated. It would have to be rebuilt to comply with the new zoning laws.

Council has tentatively proposed removing the special housing overlay from the Roanoke Street area, as well as the south section of the overlay proposed for the Knollwood area, off Ramble Road. Council has also tentatively agreed to move the east boundary of the special housing overlay for the Turner Street area off the lots that front North Main Street.

The town has also tentatively agreed to eliminate a spending cap for improvements and/or renovations to nonconforming buildings.

Now, if someone wants to renovate a nonconforming structure, they can spend up to 10 percent per year of the buildings' assessed value. This issue was particularly relevant to aging fraternity houses along Roanoke Street.

The proposal would put no limit on the amount a property owner can spend to fix up a building, as long as the degree of nonconformity isn't increased.

At its meeting tonight, Town Council is also expected to adopt a capital improvement program for fiscal years 1997/1998 to 2001/2002.

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