ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 1, 1997 TAG: 9702030048
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: a cuppa joe
DATELINE: FOREST
SOURCE: JOE KENNEDY
When you've lived in an area for 50 years, raised five children, operated farms and businesses and paid a pile of taxes, you'd like to think people would keep you informed of changes that will affect you.
Especially government officials.
Especially big changes.
Especially when you've attended the meetings and kept up with developments as they occurred and thought you knew where things stood.
That's why Jack and Leta Lester of Forest would have appreciated a phone call.
That's why they figured the construction work that started last fall across from their home on Perrowville Road was for a parking lot.
That's why they were shocked when structural steel started rising on the site.
The last they'd heard, the new building would be 500 feet off the road and all but invisible to them.
But Barr Laboratories, a New York-based generic-drug manufacturer, had sought permission to change its plan for the 50 acres, saying a steep slope made the original spot too expensive to build on.
Bedford County OK'd it, because the project had been approved under its Land Use Guidance System.
Nobody told the Lesters, who felt betrayed. Hurt financially, too.
What's the price of a sunset?
Barr is building its 100,000-square-foot distribution center right on the road, across from the Lesters' dairy farm and next to an existing 65,700-square-foot structure the company bought.
It's a $20million investment that will employ about 120 people.
Ironically, the Lesters welcomed it.
"The company was clean, and there wasn't going to be a lot of traffic," said Jack Lester, 74. "We told 'em to come on in."
The new building ruined their view of the mountains and took away the sunsets. It may well have devalued their property, which, given the competing trends in growth and agriculture in Forest, could be turned into house lots someday.
The Lesters have lived in the area since 1946.
Jack Lester managed a dairy farm for a decade before buying his own, then expanding into other things.
His bulk-feed outlet and farm-supply store served 50 dairy farms. His farm-management service helped a dozen beef operations from Elliston to Rockingham County.
He played a lead role in establishing the recreation center, the volunteer fire department, a small shopping center and other enterprises, "trying to make our community nice."
Now, sons Greg and Mark operate two farms on a total of 1,275 acres. They lease hundreds of additional acres and employ 10 people to raise crops, milk 500 cows and feed some 400 heifers and steers.
A hard lesson learned
With all of that, plus their support for Barr, they expected at least a telephone call about the change.
With a call, they could have fought it. Without it, they didn't get far.
"We could have done better," said William Rolfe, the county administrator. "Hindsight being 20-20, we certainly said, with a major change like that in the future, we're going to handle it differently."
The Lesters still welcome Barr. They've met with company officials and consider them good people. They are especially pleased by the landscaping plans, which will cover a berm with oaks.
They say they bear no lasting grudge against the county, but they have learned a lesson.
If your local government announces a plan for your neighborhood, Mark said, "you'd better be at every meeting and on the phone on a daily basis, asking, 'Is there any change that we need to be aware of?' Because they're not going to give you a call."
What's your story? Call me at 981-3256, send e-mail to kenn@roanoke.infi.net or write to P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB