Christiansburg Town Council began Tuesday’s meeting with three Joint Public Hearings. The first was relative to rezoning property to allow an all-suite hotel at 20 Midway Plaza. This would create approximately 18 full-time positions and up to 12 seasonal jobs. The second item was to rezone parcels on Pine Hollow Road at the town’s eastern-most edge to allow single family residential development on about 4.6 acres.
The third hearing brought out a large contingency of supporters to allow Pathway Christian Academy a temporary home in a portion of the former Hill’s Department Store. The school has purchased land on Flanagan Drive and is currently conducting a capital campaign for the academy’s permanent home. The school has approximately 180 students and has experienced 30% annual enrollment growth, employing 33 staff members. The school serves pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students. Shah Development agreed to provide the space for up to five years, however the academy expects to have its new facility built within three years.
When this item came before the Planning Commission on Monday, members asked several questions relative to safety. Architect Ray Craighead stated modifications conformed to fire safety and building codes, as well as state accreditation requirements. He noted that students typically would not be walking from adjacent neighborhoods and the property was zoned commercial and able to accommodate more traffic than what would be generated by parents, staff and students.
Council is expected to vote on all three requests at the April 21 regular meeting.
Representatives from Blacksburg Transit presented council with results of a public transportation survey recently conducted for extending bus service in the town. Council is expected to review this information and discuss the various options and costs at future meetings.
Harold Shelton addressed council, stating he would avoid doing business downtown and parking on public streets. He said he considered any tire marking by the Parking Enforcement officer to be vandalism of his vehicle. He stated the new parking restrictions were not effective in that the same vehicles were using on-street parking as before. The Town Manager noted this officer is also patrolling other areas of the town, monitoring handicap spaces and ensuring fire lanes are kept open. Council indicated this wasn’t necessarily a final solution to downtown parking and would continue to monitor and take these comments under consideration.
Jean Nelson spoke in opposition of a request to open an unbuilt portion of First Street, stating she owned property that had 400’ of frontage and no intentions of selling or developing it. She stated the request had been made by a resident who wanted to create access to his property, and not by those whose property was contiguous to the paper street. Council subsequently denied the request to build this portion of First Street. A street vacation request can be filed to eliminate this issue, dividing the vacated property among adjoining property owners. This creates a modest tax impact relative to the tax valuation of the apportioned property.
A conditional use permit to allow property owned by Scott and Gregory Wade at 500 Roanoke Street to be used for residential purposes in a general business district was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission. Council unanimously approved this permit, aware the property may be subdivided and additional housing units built on the property adjacent to Wade’s Supermarket.
The development of townhouse rentals in Historic Cambria on Depot Street, approved through a conditional use permit last March, proceeded with council approving subdivision of the property. Kevin Connor of Gay & Neel stated the town’s Building Department would ensure the 11 conditions were complied with and noted the site and stormwater plans had already been submitted and reviewed.
Three Public Hearings were scheduled for the May 5 council meeting, including another rezoning request at 540 Depot Street, amending a conditional use permit for a flea market on Roanoke Street and for the fiscal year 2009-2010 budget.
Councilman Mike Barber, who in Finance Committee meetings had supported a funding request by Brain Injury Services and promoted the moped helmet law, asked council to investigate whether the town could also require helmets for bicyclists, skaters or skateboarders using public streets. This task was assigned to the town’s attorney.
Councilman Henry Showalter reported that he and three other council members had attended the recent League of Women Voters “Downtowns ReVisioned” forum held in Blacksburg. He noted that Planning Department staff members and a Planning Commission member were also present and stated he was impressed by the event. “I was pleased with the comments made about Christiansburg by outsiders,” he said.
The next meeting of the Christiansburg Town Council is scheduled for April 21. Citizens should expect to see the town’s proposed fiscal budget published soon, and comments or questions about it may be directed to any member of the Finance Committee which is chaired by Councilwoman Ann Carter.