ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310012
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: COMPILED BY MARK CLOTHIER AND PAUL DELLINGER
* Blacksburg Town Council approved an ordinance Tuesday to rezone 15.77 acres in a development known as The Glen, at the southern end of Oriole Drive next to the Karr Heights subdivision beside the U.S. 460 bypass.
The 4-to-1 decision came after a group of Karr Heights residents had their concerns addressed at an earlier meeting with developer Jeanne Stosser.
Councilman Al Leighton called it an, "excellent example of a developer and neighbor getting together and discussing their differences."
The rezoning - from Rural Residential 1 to Rural Residential 2 - allows up to two dwellings per acre. Rural Residential 1 has a density of one unit per acre.
Town Council also agreed to postpone discussion of a request from GTE Mobilnet to allow construction, operation and maintenance of a 150-foot cellular phone tower on property between North Main Street and Giles Road, near New River Cement Co.
A GTE representative requested consideration of the permit request be postponed until Town Council's Dec. 10 meeting.
Town Council voted 5 to 2 in August to delay a vote on whether this is the best site.
* Plans to expand the Train Station landmark in Pulaski took a step forward Tuesday at a meeting between the town's Finance Committee and a task force of community leaders.
Architect Tom Douthat outlined plans prepared by students at the Virginia Tech Design Assistance Center to add a 10,000-square-foot structure to the existing depot building, or renovate about 10,000 square feet of the neighboring Maple Shade Plaza buildings mainly in the former skating rink.
The complex is planned as a "Gateway to the Town of Pulaski" with the New River Trail being extended to the depot and an expanded rail museum planned for it. The expanded complex would include more museum space, an 1890s model ticket office, information center, rest rooms and parking lot. Dora Highway Park and Jackson Park would become "theme parks" including wayside stops and commemorative markers.
Dr. Milton W. Brockmeyer has said he would consider donating his quarter-inch scale model of the Pulaski Railway Station and downtown Pulaski as it existed in the 1950s if suitable facilities were made available at the depot. "If we seize this unique set of opportunities, we can bring this vision to reality," said Mayor Andy Graham.
* The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors scrutinized cable television service in the county Monday. Supervisor Bruce Fariss noted complaints from Adelphia Cable customers that other localities served by the cable TV provider get more channels at less cost than those in Pulaski County. The board approved Fariss' motion to appoint a citizens' advisory committee of three or four people to study the service being provided and make recommendations to the board. Adelphia has a franchise to provide service to the county and both its towns. Customers in the town of Pulaski recently made similar complaints about the variety and cost of cable offerings.
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