ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 28, 1996 TAG: 9602280068
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Land for the new school wasn't the only Riner-related issue up Monday.
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors also voted 6-1 to rezone 5.6 acres along Virginia 8 and beside the Lawrence subdivision for a farm-supply store. Supervisor Mary Biggs, the lone "no" vote, said she had concerns about the way the commercial development would look from the subdivision, even with a buffer of Norway spruce the developer, Xpress Market Inc., has promised to plant.
But board Chairman Henry Jablonski, who represents the Riner area, said the land is in a county-designated "rural expansion area." Moreover, the future Xpress Market development was clearly marked on the Lawrence subdivision map and home buyers should have been aware of it, he said.
"It seems like everything that comes up with regard to Riner is controversial," Jablonski said.
Lawrence residents urged the board not to rezone the land last fall. They are worried it will become a truck stop because it will sell diesel fuel. Xpress Market officials say aside from the farm supply store, they have plans for professional offices.
Stanley Moran, the secretary/treasurer of Xpress Market, said Monday there's currently no set schedule to develop the farm-supply store. Xpress Market operates the nearby Riner Food Center.
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