Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 24, 1993                   TAG: 9308240535
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FINCASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium

TRUCKS, JOBS EXIT ROANOKE FOR BOTETOURT

It will bring nearly 200 workers and produce an estimated $40,000 a year in tax revenues for the county. Botetourt's supervisors praised the move as another boost to the county's economy, and voted Monday to give final zoning approval to the terminal's construction.

But at least a few citizens - including one candidate for the Board of Supervisors - aren't happy about the move.

Three county residents complained Monday that the company will bring added air and water pollution and will increase traffic hazards. The terminal will be along U.S. 11 between Interstate 81's busy Exit 150 and Troutville.

Bob Barrows, who is campaigning against supervisors Chairman Robert Layman, said the trucking headquarters will be another example of the growth that may soon destroy Botetourt's rural, residential nature.

"We're encouraging companies to move up from Roanoke to take advantage of our lower taxes," Barrows said. "That's a bad thing for Roanoke and a bad thing for Botetourt. We're going to end up having higher taxes. And both of us are going to be losers."

Another critic, James Crosby, said he had talked to several citizens who object to the new terminal, including residents of a trailer park that will be next to it. They're worried about traffic and diesel fumes from the terminal, he said.

Crosby said he was concerned that industrial growth will drive away newer, affluent taxpayers who moved to Botetourt to escape the pollution and crowding of big cities up north.

Crosby, who is from Pennsylvania, said, "I came down here because I wanted to live here, not in the North."

Supervisor G.C. Thompson said he was unimpressed by Crosby's attachment to his new home.

Thompson said the only way the county has made itself appealing to Northern transplants has been by encouraging a balance of residential and industrial development. "We can't just tell them, `No, we've got somebody who wants to come down from Pennsylvania and enjoy our fresh air,' " he said.

Supervisor William Loope said that "growth is not painless," and added, "we have to keep on growing. We can't stay stagnant."

The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to change the site's zoning from agricultural to industrial use.