Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511100088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But the more than 100 residents who gathered Thursday at Glenvar High School for an informational meeting called it a threat to their way of life.
It's not that they're against economic development, said Glenvar resident Charles Landis. It's just that they don't want it in their back yard.
And that's exactly the location of the largest of the four Glenvar sites the county wants to rezone. And that same 457-acre tract off Glenmary Drive is the county's top site for a new industrial park.
Director of Planning and Zoning Terry Harrington said the same rolling pastures that make the land ideal for a backyard view also make it prime developable land, because it's some of the flattest around.
"Most of the undeveloped land is in the western part of the county," said Tim Gubala, director of economic development.
David Shelor, whose 2,800 acres back up to the land the county is eyeing, said Glenvar residents have had enough.
"Certainly, we're for economic development, but why do they always have to come to West County to do these things? They put the landfill out here and the waterline [from the Spring Hollow Reservoir]. Enough is enough," said Shelor, who hovered over a map with a group of more than 20 and fired questions at Harrington.
The residents of the Glenvar Heights neighborhood, adjacent to the land, had questions about their property values, what type of industry might move in, the environment and traffic along their road. There are only two existing entrances to the land - one at Glenmary Drive and the other at Glenvar Heights Boulevard.
Harrington said it was too early for him to answer those questions.
"We're trying to get you involved as early as possible to help us decide should it be done, and if it should be done, then how should it be done," said Harrington, who admitted that he didn't expect the crowd that turned out Thursday evening.
That wasn't the response S.M. Pridemore was looking for.
"I moved out here for privacy and because I didn't want to be close to town," said Pridemore, who lives in Glenvar Heights. "To me, it would ruin the whole area."
Albert Prunty, who lives on the other side of the site, echoed Pridemore's concerns.
"The people that have been located in that area don't want to be disturbed," Prunty said.
Gubala, however, had a copy of the county's just-completed vision statement handy. He pointed to residents' desire for more jobs in Roanoke County in the year 2010.
"Tell us how we are supposed to promote economic development. We have here some citizens who say they want us to create jobs," Gubala said, referring to the statement.
He noted later that none of the meetings in the county's five-month visioning process drew as many people as Thursday's.
Martin Gallimore said he realizes that another business would help spread out the county's tax burden. He just doesn't want an industry next door.
"Who wants somebody to come up here and stick a business in" a residential neighborhood, said Gallimore, who favors allowing the land to remain residential.
Catawba Supervisor-elect Fenton "Spike" Harrison said he was "not yet convinced" that the Glenvar site was ideal.
"I think it's just great that it was brought out in the open. People on this side of the county say things are done behind our backs - well, not tonight," said Harrison. His former opponents for office, Warren Brown Jr. and Robert Crouse, also were on hand.
Gubala, who declined several requests to make a presentation to the crowd that had gathered, said he would schedule a meeting in January for such a presentation.
by CNB