Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 20, 1990 TAG: 9006190279
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PLUM CREEK LENGTH: Medium
They fear that the proposed Twin Creeks Estates could crowd schools, strain the water and sewer system and possibly displace some of the families living in the six trailers already on the property.
"We cannot recommend approval of this development," School Superintendent Harold Dodge wrote to the Planning Commission concerning the proposed development on Rock Road in Plum Creek.
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors has accepted the general concept, said Jeff Scott, county zoning administrator, but final approval has not been made.
The Planning Commission is processing the application and preliminary plans for Twin Creeks, submitted by Norwood Development Partnership.
A public hearing on Norwood Development's request for rezoning and a special use permit is scheduled for Monday at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Christiansburg starting at 7 p.m.
The objection already made by Superintendent Dodge came in response to evaluations sought by the Planning Commission.
Larry Schoff, director of maintenance and transportation for Montgomery County schools, said Bethel Elementary already is near its ideal capacity of 174 and more enrollment would spill into Christiansburg Elementary, which is overcrowded.
"We're assuming that it [the development] will generate young families with school-aged kids. And we don't really have the room for them," Schoff said.
He recommends that a fee of $100 to $200 per lot be established as an escrow account for future land purchase in the area for school construction.
Norwood Development co-owner Doug Hardymon said he's willing to discuss money and will do his part.
"We're right there with the community and want to work with everyone," he said.
Another concern, according to Gary W. Gibson, county utilities director, is water and sewer service.
His report said water and sewer services are available from the Plum Creek Wastewater Pump Station, but it has limited capacity.
Because connections are made first-come, first-served, there's no guarantee when the two-year project is completed that new residents could hook onto it.
Phil Schirmer, project manager for Twin Creeks, said the problem isn't anything that can't be "remedied by some engineering."
Finally, Twin Creeks Estates could displace existing residents if they cannot meet future requirements or afford rent increases.
Schirmer said no one will be "displaced unneccessarily" if certain standards are met, such as the trailer's age and skirting around the bottom.
Although criteria have not been set, Schirmer said these trailers are "not the kind of development we're looking for."
Lot rent will increase from $75 to roughly $85 to $95 a month for a 50- by 110-square-foot lot.
Developers will spend more than $1 million to turn the 26 acres into a modernized environment, with landscaping, recreational facilities, on-site property managers, larger lots, a playground and maintenance, Schirmer said.
It will take about two months for Norwood Development to demolish old buildings and remove debris on the site that has been there for years.
"This will be the ultimate in mobile home living," said Hardymon, whose company bought the property from the Brezeale family of Radford for $80,000 in April. "This isn't going to be trash."
by CNB