Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 24, 1993 TAG: 9308240338
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Short
The vote followed a joint meeting with the town Planning Commission, which recommended the conditional zoning for the former L.A. Joe department store building in the Pulaski Mall.
Renfro makes fashion socks, and currently operates from two buildings in the town. It wants to relocate its seaming operations to the vacant store building, freeing space at the other buildings for new jobs in dyeing, shaping, boxing, inspecting and knitting.
Renfro employs 1,131 people, 579 at the Jefferson Avenue plant it bought in 1986 and 552 at the Newbern Road plant it built in 1989.
Council changed its zoning ordinance about a year ago to allow light manufacturing and other operations in B-2 general business zones with conditional-use permits, if there was no negative impact on nearby businesses.
James "Doc" Reagan, Renfro's Pulaski plant manager, was the only speaker at the hearing.
He said the company has arranged a one-year lease with HCMF Real Estate for the L.A. Joe building, with the option to renew for another year.
by CNB