At the end of each Christiansburg Town Council meeting, just before adjourning, the Town Manager's "Progress Report" is always scheduled. What may be included for discussion, action or as information is never known until that moment.
At council's Dec. 2 meeting, the "Progress Report" included setting the date for three Public Hearings: on an ordinance relative to parking structures (because of the county's current courthouse plans), recycling (where the Mayor wondered whether the meeting should be scheduled at a larger venue to accommodate a crowd), and the county’s desire to consolidate maintenance garage operations on property it plans to purchase and located behind the County Government Center at 360 Reading Road.
This last item is a bit of a sleeper.
The Town Manager noted the property is currently zoned industrial, yet pointed out since that designation was conveyed many years ago the area had changed significantly and was surrounded by dense, established residential neighborhoods.
What was not mentioned was this request did not conform with Christiansburg's own Comprehensive Plan.
The town's Comprehensive Plan specifically speaks to this property and its future use: "While the area at the east end of Park Street to Roanoke Street, including the Kiwanis Lane area, is zoned industrial and the present uses are stable, expansion of this industrial area should not be encouraged. Available industrial land in eastern Christiansburg and along Route 460 north of the downtown is more suitable for industrial development both in terms of topography and impacts upon adjacent uses. Office/Professional service uses would be less intense and more compatible with surrounding residential uses. Access to major highways and close proximity to the Downtown makes this area ideal for such development" (page 106).
The town's Future Land Use Map is meant to illustrate proposed generalized land use patterns through the year 2023, and is to delineate the extent and appropriateness for the highest and best land use. For the Depot Street area, this document indicates "continued industrial near Roanoke Street but restricted to lands adjacent to railway on north side of Roanoke Street" with "conversion of existing industrial land on south side of Roanoke Street for future general commercial development" (page 109).
What is probably a done deal with the county is the Board of Supervisors (BOS) purchasing this property. The Public Hearing scheduled for January 6th may just be window dressing, so elected officials can say this step was taken.
At numerous closed meetings over the course of 2008, an item denoted as "Montgomery County Government Center" has been listed for discussion by the BOS. The County Administrator indicated "When approaching the Town, I discussed the potential future use of the property for possible site at which to consolidate the General Services Offices at one site. The Montgomery County's Public Service Authority may also relocate to this consolidated site."
"Offices" is misleading, because administrative functions are already located in the county government center. What is being considered is "shop" operations -- which includes heavy equipment, garages, and motor pool (fleet vehicles) -- having a very dissimilar land use from that of the existing owner.
The county is currently embroiled in a lawsuit to stop Norfolk Southern and the Commonwealth of Virginia from placing an Intermodal Rail Facility in Elliston -- initially arguing that use would be incompatible with its own Comprehensive Plan. So why are they asking Christiansburg to ignore their own Comprehensive Plan?
The next posts will continue reviewing the General Services Offices functions, current locations, 2008-09 county budget (was this 5.4 acres, listed for $1.2 Million in the county's budget or relevant to the recent bond rating increases?), as well as other related consideration points.
Since no information about this purchase, uses or impacts have been previously provided during other public meetings, here's hoping the County will be present at Christiansburg's January 6th Public Hearing with specific plans -- which should be disseminated widely to town and all county residents -- before any decisions are made.