Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 20, 1993 TAG: 9301200242
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
FRANKLIN BOARD BACK TO SQUARE 1 ON ZONING
A thousand people filled the auditorium. They booed once. Three minutes later, they left.The anticipated second clash between Franklin County zoning opponents and the Board of Supervisors ended before it started Tuesday when the board reversed its position for the third time in a month.
This time, the board decided to go ahead with its Dec. 15 vote to ask the General Assembly for advisory referendums by precinct on land-use zoning.
"That's where we went wrong," Supervisor Page Matherly said of the Dec. 15 decision, which overturned an earlier decision to zone the entire county. "After we did that - two wrongs don't make a right - maybe tonight was the best thing."
At a board reorganizational meeting on Jan. 4 Gills Creek Supervisor Charles Ellis said the board should have stuck with its first position at the December meeting. The board had first voted 4-3 for countywide zoning, then backtracked when a crowd of 200 protested.
After Ellis opened the topic for debate again at the Jan. 4 meeting, zoning opponents quickly organized. They formed Franklin County Citizens for Democratic Action. They held two meetings and issued a call throughout the county for a big turnout at the board's next meeting.
Warned of a large turnout, the supervisors moved the meeting to Franklin County High School auditorium. Even with 900 seats available, people were standing in the hall.
Ellis began by saying, "I am very much for zoning for the whole county . . . "
A rumble of booing interrupted.
"But after discussing this among ourselves," Ellis continued, "we had decided that we are going to table this till after the state legislature."
Then the meeting ended, leaving many in the crowd even more disgruntled with their county government.
"I think all those on the Board of Supervisors need to be voted out," said Rocky Mount resident Lisa Alley. "I think they should've settled it, one on one with the people."
Though zoning foes got what they wanted - a possibility they can vote on the matter - they didn't like being called to arms without getting a chance to speak.
Lester Thompson is the man who got three area legislators to sign a letter agreeing to introduce a bill to allow referendums in the county's three unzoned districts.
If the board doesn't stop flipflopping on its handling of zoning, Thompson said, the newly formed citizens' group will clean house during the next election.
"It's bad for the county that this is happening," he said. "I don't want zoning, but I don't want a bad name for the county.
"Some may get out of hand if this keeps going on; that would be the worst thing that could happen."
Zoning opponents may have more battles ahead. By the end of next month, the General Assembly will have decided whether to allow referendums in the three unzoned precincts: Blue Ridge, Blackwater and Snow Creek.
Even if the legislature gives the go-ahead, and zoning is defeated, the referendums would be only advisory. The supervisors would have the final decision.
Jerry Hodges, chairman of the citizens' group, said the group would be ready. He vowed to organize countywide.
Hodges was clearly pleased that zoning opponents could deliver 1,000 people with just two weeks' notice.
Even though none in the audience spoke, Rocky Mount resident Don Hutcherson said the turnout was important.
"Any way you cut it, that's a victory for the people tonight."
\ NOTE: SEE MICROFILM FOR DATELINE OF ZONING DISPUTES.
\