Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 18, 1993 TAG: 9308180176
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Several residents told council the housing would mar the single-family neighborhood adjacent to the site, potentially bringing noise and trash and decreasing property values.
James Stewart, representing Peppers Ferry Road Investments, has applied to rezone the 1.7-acre tract at 450 Peppers Ferry Road, known as the "Big Yellow House".
Seven people spoke against the plan. Valorie Shrader, who lives next door with her husband and two children, gave council a 65-name petition opposing the proposal.
"It's quite clear to me why he bought the land. He thought he could make money on it," Shrader said. "He just wants open zoning, which could be anything."
Stewart read aloud parts of the town's 1972 zoning code and said council may rezone property as conditions change.
"I would suggest that conditions have changed," he said, citing the nearby New River Valley Mall and adding that the property was zoned for agricultural use when it was annexed in the 1970s.
In response to concerns that student housing might be built on the property, Stewart said he is willing to restrict students and to provide buffer areas. He also said that 35 percent of the residents of Christiansburg live in multifamily housing.
Rezoning the land would "provide for the most suitable and best use of this property," he said.
Other speakers said the proposal would detract from the "theme and spirit" of the area, which contains houses valued between $80,000 and $100,000.
Jack Via, Planning Commission chairman, said the commission would study the concerns raised at the meeting and decide on a recommendation for council on Aug. 30.
In other action, council approved a resolution in favor of making the intersection of the proposed Christiansburg Bypass extension and Interstate 81 into a full-service interchange.
The Montgomery Regional Economic Development Commission had asked the town to pass the resolution so that a proposed industrial park south of the interstate would have better access.
Don Moore, secretary and executive director of the commission, said the full-service interchange, which would be located about a mile south of Exit 118, would also serve the Falling Branch Elementary School and nearby residences.
"It would serve a whole lot of purposes on the south side of the interchange," Moore said.
Council passed the resolution despite worries that it might divert traffic from the businesses along Roanoke Street, near its intersection with I-81 at Exit 118.
"[The interchange] is needed, but we can't have anything that will negatively affect what we need in Christiansburg," said council member Truman Daniel.
by CNB