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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 4, 1994                   TAG: 9405040126
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: SETH WILLIAMSON CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FLOYD                                 LENGTH: Medium

FLOYD GROUP WINS POINTS IN FIGHT OVER HARDEE'S BUILDING

A Floyd community organization is claiming partial victory in its efforts to persuade a new Hardee's restaurant to blend into the surrounding architecture in the town of Floyd.

Construction of the new restaurant will begin on Monday. Michael Mosley of Boddie-Noell Enterprises said the restaurant, on the old Floyd Motors site, will employ a lower monument-style sign and will use a ``lighter'' brick veneer exterior.

Floyd veterinarian Meredith McGrath, speaking for a community group called Neighbor for Neighbor, said the measures are the result of the group's talks with Boddie-Noell officials.

McGrath said her group, and not Floyd's Town Council, had discussed the measures and others with Mosley. ``We need credit for a lot of this stuff that we're not getting,'' McGrath said.

Mosley denies that Neighbor for Neighbor had any special influence with Boddie-Noell. ``In talks with all the town folks it was decided that brick veneer would be best, and a monument-based sign,'' Mosley said.

Councilwoman Rebecca Harman agreed ``it was more of a town effort. You can't pinpoint any one interest group. The Town Council talked extensively with officials from Boddie-Noell. There were several meetings with Town Council members privately, especially with the mayor, Skip Bishop, and Councilman Mac McClanan.''

Mosley said the height of the sign has not yet been determined and depends upon surrounding trees. ``We have a permit for 20 feet. We might lower it so the visibility can get under those trees, so the height is not really resolved yet,'' Mosley said. He said Hardee's did not want to cut down surrounding trees.

A sign that's too low might block the vision of restaurant patrons leaving the site, he said.

With good weather conditions, construction of the restaurant will be completed in 11 weeks using local contractors. After an additional week and a half for training, the restaurant will open for business as Boddie-Noell's 353rd Hardee's restaurant - and the first fast-food chain to operate in Floyd.

Mosley said the company hopes to have a grand opening celebration.

by CNB