Entries for This Week (February 7 - February 9)

Historic District Overlays

Posted Yesterday at 10:06 AM
The Planning Commission is scheduled to meet today, Monday, Feb. 8 at 3 pm. 

The town's website incorrectly shows this meeting as beginning at midnight and lasting three hours; however the commission membership has now been updated (two months after membership and organizational changes were made). 

A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) by Fred Abbot for a communications mono-pole to be located at 1840 Palmer Street returns for this group's recommendation to Council again.  The matter was previously tabled by Council as the Town's minimum set back requirements for this use were not met.

A Joint Public Hearing was held Feb. 2 and provided citizens an opportunity to gather information or comment on two other matters:
  • Community Housing Partners is seeking to use 446 and 448 Depot Street for professional offices, and this item is on the agenda.
  • Another Conditional Use Permit for land previously rezoned on Melody Drive, also addressed at the Feb. 2 Joint Public Hearing, is not on the agenda. 

New business includes a rezoning and CUP request for property at 3295 and 3301 Roanoke Street, for portions of two lots making up approximately 2 acres out of a combined 42 acres to be used for contractor equipment storage.   This is notable for three reasons:

  • It is only applicable to a small portion of total land available to this owner, which may or may not allow significantly different uses based on the proposed project if the entire acreages was considered.
  • This area has been the subject of repeated concerns about stormwater run off in the past.

  • This area serves as a "gateway" into the Town of Christiansburg, which is a priority for Council's attention as denoted in their Vision 2020 plan.

Other items which are expected to come before the Planning Commission are two new tasks, assigned Feb. 2, giving consideration to enforcing the Town Code as regards sidewalk construction and increasing open space in  new subdivisions.

Additionally, the task of writing a report on "historic district overlays" assigned March 2008 sees this group currently seeking input via a questionnaire.  This issue has garnered recent attention of Blacksburg's Town Council, which has such an overlay and review board that's suggested changing its authority from an advisory capacity to being mandatory.

For localities such as Christiansburg, which is just examining possible policy and processes, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources offers numerous grants for rehabilitation or creating planning documents and programs.  Some of these resources share a common filing deadline with the town's questionnaire: March 1, 2010.  A related public meeting, tentatively scheduled for April 5th, is being confirmed. 

Citizens are reminded these meetings are open to the public, yet are not meant to allow comments from those in attendance.  However, this group is fairly informal and often entertains input.  Remember too, the Planning Commission is itself an "advisory" body.  Town Council may or may not accept recommendations as presented.