Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 7, 1994 TAG: 9412070111
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Worrisome to some neighbors are several multistory buildings that will contain apartments or condominiums. Developers plan to construct them on the highest hills in the 300-acre area, where they will have the best views of the surroundings countryside, but where they also will be most visible to surrounding residents.
"What you're doing is taking away the pristine view we're accustomed to and giving it to your people so they can have the view," said Michelle Lowe, who lives on nearby Rucker Road.
A five-story building near the Harding Avenue entrance to the community is "not a skyscraper, but that's what it'll look like," said neighbor Paul Ruszler.
"I think their concerns are genuine, but I don't know how to address an answer to them," said Supervisor Joe Gorman, who represents that area of the county.
The area's "rural character is respected" in the plans, he said. "I think they worked hard to make this plan compatible."
In response to the feedback, project manager Wendell White, at the end of a two-hour information session at the town's community center, promised to "relook" at the Harding Avenue building.
The developers had previously modified their plans after hearing from residents during a series of informal meetings this fall, both sides say. Helping with the plans is architect Bob Rogers of Blacksburg's Architectural Alternatives. William Farr and Joseph Edone, both of Floyd County, own options on the land.
The community will feature nine villages to be built during 10 to 15 years. It will have 110 single-family dwellings, 557 town-house units and 725 units in multistory buildings. An assisted-living center also is planned.
Monday, the developers revealed the project's name - "Patton's Grant," after Col. James Patton, who owned the land during the 18th century - and gave answers to questions neighbors had during a September information meeting:
At least one resident in each unit must be at least 55 years old, and the population of the community will not be more than 3,000.
More than 100 acres will be devoted to open space such as ponds, walk- and bikeways and slopes. The figure exceeds the requirement, which is 75 acres.
The community probably will not open onto Georgia, Murphy or Hoyt streets. "The developers have no interest in ever seeing such a linkage occur as it would defeat the concept of a 'self-contained' community,''' the developers wrote in an information handout.
Most of the units will be owner-occupied, rather than rented.
Areas of the development within town limits will connect to Blacksburg's water and sewer system. The town may supply such services to the areas in the county as well.
The developers estimate that each unit will generate less than one vehicle trip per day, partly because of the shopping and social facilities that will be available in the community.
No commercial development will occur at the Harding Avenue entrance because of community concerns. The North Main Street entrances will feature a sales and information center and specialty and service shops.
A detention pond will catch run-off heading for the Woodbine subdivision.
by CNB