ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 18, 1997 TAG: 9703180080
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY THE ROANOKE TIMES
It was a loaded word that led to nightmares of earth-moving on Roanoke's revered mountain.
What's the word "development" doing in the name of the citizen panel that advises City Council on plans for Mill Mountain Park?
That's a question citizens and members of the Mill Mountain Development Committee have been asking in recent months, as pleas to keep the revered park as natural as possible reached a near crescendo.
Wonder no longer. "Development" is out.
By a voice vote, City Council on Monday changed the name of the panel to the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee. The recommendation grew out of the committee's recent "visioning" process.
Chairman Carl Kopitzke said "development" is a loaded word that has fueled speculation that there might be plans to do a lot of earth-moving or building on Mill Mountain.
Getting the name changed was one goal of the committee. After a minor hitch over some of the wording, it also has adopted a mission statement:
``To advise Roanoke City Council regarding appropriate maintenance and improvements for Mill Mountain Park, consistent with the Fishburn Grant [under which the land was donated to the city]. We are dedicated to making Mill Mountain as accessible and pleasurable to all persons while preserving the environmental and aesthetic integrity of the mountain. `Progress with preservation.'''
Kopitzke said the committee will focus next on a strategic plan for the mountain.
LENGTH: Short : 38 linesby CNB