ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601170031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
A developer has filed one of the largest rezoning requests in Montgomery County history to create a major, new residential development atop Price Mountain, the dominant landform between Blacksburg and Christiansburg.
William H. Price of Price Real Estate Inc. and Triple J. Investments Inc. has asked Montgomery County to rezone 538 acres to the north and south of Oilwell Road, which runs on the ridge line of Price Mountain.
Price is seeking to rezone 85 percent of the land to a basic residential category and the balance to allow for multifamily housing, such as duplexes.
So far, the developer has filed only the rezoning request and a two-page outline of development plans and promises. The Montgomery County Planning Commission will take a first glance at 7 p.m. tonight at the county courthouse before it considers setting a public hearing for the project. That likely would be held at the end of February.
The rezoning request could have major impacts on the county's landscape, on traffic on Oilwell and Merrimac roads and U.S. 460, on schools and on public utilities.
Along with the 538 acres, a map filed by Price shows an additional 152 acres to the south and west of Oilwell Road that is being reserved for future development. It is unclear how much of the land actually would be developed, given the mountainous terrain. Oilwell Road leads to several existing homes and a series of communications towers.
Montgomery County has special zoning regulations that discourage ridge-top development, but they apply only to the area around the Virginia 177 corridor between Interstate 81 and Radford. Elsewhere in the county, there are no special rules governing ridge-top development.
In his letter, Price outlined several aspects of the plan for the mountain:
The new development would be served with public water and sewer systems, provided there is sufficient capacity available. So far, the developer said he has run into "difficulties" in finding a way to provide water and sewer to the north, or Blacksburg side of the proposal, which includes slightly more than one-half of the request. The county Public Service Authority currently is planning an expansion of the Merrimac sewer system that would reach the Oilwell Road area.
There would be a minimum lot size of 15,000 square feet, or about one-third of an acre, for the 251 acres on the south, or Christiansburg side, of Price Mountain.
Seventy-seven acres on the north side would be zoned for up to 180 town houses or duplexes. This portion would be reached via new roads connected to Merrimac and Oilwell roads.
The developers would donate 20 acres along Slate Branch to the county for use as a park. The land is located near the route of the Huckleberry Trail.
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