Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060014
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Final approval of the project, which is being developed by Charlottesville-based Brantner Limited Partnership, will have to be awarded by Town Council, which will hold a public hearing on the matter Tuesday.
Council approved the initial plans and granted a zoning change for the project as put forth two years ago by Chisholm. But when the Charlottesville group took over, several aspects of the plan changed, and the town's staff decided to seek public approval for the revisions.
Several citizens spoke at Tuesday's hearing on the project, with comments ranging from complete disapproval to suggestions on how the shopping center could be improved by including more open space.
As drawn, the center, which will be located on a triangular-shaped piece of property bordered by Gilbert and Turner streets and Prices Fork Road, would include a three-story building of shops, offices and possibly apartments along Turner Street, a smaller building of shops at the top corner of the site, with parking taking up most of the interior space. The developers also envision another building at Gilbert and Turner streets if they are able to acquire the piece of land that is owned by Harvest Baptist Church, which operates a student center there.
Developers say the revised plan provides a better parking arrangement than the old plan, improves traffic flow and is more aesthetically pleasing.
But Dan Steinberg, who lives on Gilbert Street, said the site needs more patio or lawn space and perhaps park benches.
"It's all parking lot," Steinberg said. "Some kind of park-life atmosphere should be included in the plan."
His comments were heard by Commissioner Georgia Anne Snyder-Falkinham, who said, "Right now there's nothing here," in the way of open space. "They can work with this a lot. They can add benches and all sorts of things."
Don Wagner, president of Great Eastern Management Company, a general partner of Brantner Limited Partnership, also took note, and spoke with Steinberg outside the meeting hall. He told Steinberg the developers "tried to strike a balance" with regard to parking and open space.
Wagner said he would be willing to work with the town on providing more open space, and on another point that the commissioners discussed - whether it would be appropriate to have a bus stop along Prices Fork in front of the center.
Wagner said the developers would pay to construct a bus pull-off lane along Prices Fork if that were asked of them.
The commissioners debated, though, whether it would be safe to have a bus stop, with or without a pull-off, in front of the center, citing heavy traffic along Prices Fork and possible traffic congestion problems at the intersection of Turner Street.
Commissioner Joe Jones thought a bus stop along Prices Fork would be unsafe because of the traffic, and suggested that an already-existing stop on Toms Creek, which intersects with Prices Fork a few hundred yards up from Turner Street, might be sufficient.
A bus stop along Turner Street also was discussed.
Adele Schirmer, the town's director of planning and engineering, said the planning staff would meet with Blacksburg Transit this week to discuss the options and would make a recommendation to council Tuesday.
by CNB