Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160045
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
The town's governing members conducted four public hearings on matters relating to three existing or proposed subdivisions. By meeting's end, council:
Tabled, until its meeting in two weeks, a request from developer James Noonkester to build Hemlock Park, a 13-lot subdivision off Meadowbrook Drive in the northwest part of town near the Jefferson National Forest.
Approved a request to build an assisted-living center near Pheasant Run.
The town Planning Commission and the town's planning staff had urged the request be denied because it would place older residents in the midst of a louder, predominately student population that lives in Hunter's Ridge and Pheasant Run. But several council members said the normally elderly people who would live in such a center shouldn't be isolated and would know the type of area that they were moving into.
Stalemated over a request to amend the town's comprehensive plan to allow a new street entrance off North Main Street north of Woodbine Drive. Developer Walter O'Rourke wants to build a road into the fourth phase of Countryside Estates, but the plan does not allow for such a road.
In a meeting lasting 31/2 hours, council approved a consent agenda of 14 items, conducted eight public hearings, made one appointment and held a work session. A map of the town on the wall was dotted with orange stickers, noting the locations of the various subdivisions in question.
The planning staff initially disapproved of Noonkester's request to subdivide his 16.3 acres for Hemlock Park, citing variance requests by the developer. Noonkester had asked to be exempted from building a 30-foot wide road into the subdivision; constructing sidewalks, or providing public open space. He also wanted to build drainage ditches that the staff believed wouldn't control erosion sufficiently.
However, he later agreed to build the road to the requested width, has offered to construct a private nature trail through the remaining adjacent 49 acres of land that he owns leading to the national forest, and will provide a letter-of-credit to the town, so that if his drainage solution does not work, the town can, within a year, redo the ditches to its specifications.
The request for private open space requires that a homeowner's association be organized to ensure the land is maintained. Noonkester asked for more time to devise association documents, and the council voted 6-0 to table the request until March 28.
David Jones, one of the developers of the Shenandoah planned development which includes Pheasant Run and Hunter's Ridge, asked to build an assisted-living center for 32 people. The town's planning staff report said "a conflict would likely arise due to incompatible life-styles and uses" of the surrounding student population.
But Jones told the council, "I don't think the noise problem is as big as people think it would be."
"I think we spend too much time trying to segregate" people by age, Councilman Waldon Kerns said. "If people want to move in there, they should be aware of the problem" of potential noise, parties and the like. The request passed 4-2, with council members Lewis Barnett and Michael Chandler voting against it.
O'Rourke's request for a road entrance off North Main Street contradicted the 1991 North Main Corridor Report, which calls for only two more entrances, not including his, to be permitted on North Main. O'Rourke could submit a proposal for the entrance, but the council generally does not approve requests if they go against the comprehensive plan.
The town's planning staff suggested alternatives to his proposal, including constructing an entrance across from Woodbine Drive that would run north into a proposed Progress Street extension, or building a pair of cul-de-sacs leading from the same entrance points.
But Mayor Roger Hedgepeth characterized the staff proposals as "reaching," and said they weren't as good as O'Rourke's. "I don't foresee that this is going to cause a major problem down the road."
The mayor's sentiments were reinforced by council members Frances Parsons and Kerns, each of whom voted to approve the request, but were negated by Barnett, Chandler and Lewis, who voted against it. Councilman Al Leighton, who could have cast the deciding vote, was absent.
In other business, council:
Granted a special use request to Appalachian Power Co. to put in an underground power line on property west of U.S. 460. The line would cross under Prices Fork Road, and connect with above ground lines running across the Virginia Tech sheep farm. Apco says it needs the new line to improve service to Tech and western Blacksburg.
Heard a report from Julie Ligon, chairwoman of a cat control task force, that called for the town to create a leash law for felines, to develop a spaying and neutering program, and to work with the county to develop a program to catch stray cats. Hedgepeth said those and other recommendations would be examined later.
by CNB