Christiansburg's Town Council meeting on Tuesday began with a formal presentation by the Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Billy Hanks presented the unit's new flag while recognizing retired Captain James "Jimmy" Epperly who had served as a volunteer from 1972 and then in a full-time capacity since 1988. In front of an audience of fellow firefighters and family members, the symbolism of each element within the new flag were detailed as members in full dress blues installed the flags of the United States, Commonwealth of Virginia and Town of Christiansburg.
Councilman Brad Stipes then presented a Resolution of Appreciation to town employee and VFD member Roy Redd, noting his numerous awards and service to the community. The Redd family now represents three generations as town employees and volunteers.
Council member Ann Carter was absent, as she continues to recuperate from an illness.
Joint Public Hearings for a rezoning and conditional use permit (CUP) requests for property located at
3295 and 3301 Roanoke Street were then held as regards allowing contractor equipment storage in the B-3 General Business District. The town's Future Land Use Map has this area scheduled for Mixed Use Residential-Limited Business.
The applicant was present and provided proffers for the rezoning to council, which were not read aloud during the hearing. There were no other speakers and Council is expected to receive a recommendation from the Planning Commission and vote on this matter during the March 2 meeting.
The Planning Commission has this item on their agenda for Monday, Feb. 22 at 5 pm. A Public Hearing for a zoning permit for property at
895 Park Street was then held, with resident Joseph Simmons being the only speaker Simmons stated he was the person who constructed the building in the late 1990s, noting it had been in continuous use since that time. He said ownership had changed, that he held no vested interest in the property. He asked Council to explain why this hearing had been scheduled at all and a "permit" was now being required. Council did not respond and the matter is not included on the Planning Commission's upcoming agenda.
Police Chief Mark Sisson made a presentation on his department's
Crime Prevention Certification. As detailed in a related
press release, the program has 12 criteria a locality must meet and the certification provides applicants preference for state criminal justice grants (when available), and may be used as a marketing tool.
There were no speakers during the
Citizens Hearing portion of the agenda.
The Council meeting was then called to order at 7:50 pm with the agenda being amended to add a fourth item under recommendations from the Planning Commission with a subsequent motion and vote by Council. This was related to a CUP request for a communications tower on Palmer Street which had been referred by Council back to the Board of Zoning Appeals on
Dec. 15 as the request was not in compliance with Zoning ordinances. A Joint Public Hearing on that matter had been held on
Dec. 1 with one adjoining property owner stating his opposition. Council subsequently approved the request by unanimous vote.
The Planning Commission also recommended approval of a request by
Community Housing Partners for property located on Depot Street, with Council voting unanimously to approve this.
On a request by B & B Storage to allow a planned housing development on Melody Drive, it was noted the Planning Commission vote was 4 in support, one absent (Carter) and one abstaining. The developer, Bryan Rice of
Rice Realty & Landsales, had been working with an engineering firm which employs one of the commission members, presenting a conflict of interest.
Council was not unanimous on this vote. The motion to approve was made by Ernie Wade and seconded by Jim Vanhoozier. Councilmen Henry Showalter and Stipes opposed it, with Stipes stating it was time for Council to signal developers more was expected as regards sustainability.
"My grandmother said, and I believe, if you always do what you've always done then you'll only get the same results," Stipes said. He pushed for Council to move towards the maximum 10%
greenspace allowed by code (without needing to provide developers compensation) exclusive of this being used to meet
stormwater management minimums.
Had Councilwoman Carter been present, it is possible this vote could have resulted in a tie the Mayor then would have been required to break. With her absence and the support of Councilman Mike Barber, the motion to approve carried.
Council unanimously approved two
Memorandums of Understanding for Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA) grants, with Montgomery County serving as the fiscal agent. The goal is to establish a stand alone entity for a regional consolidated dispatch center, possibly located in the
existing courthouse after construction of the new one is completed. Partners include Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Montgomery County and
Virginia Tech.
The Street Committee recommended approval of an internal boundary line relocation for property at
1600 Roanoke Street. After addressing a question from the Mayor about whether this affected a
controversy at "the old Hills facility" and being informed that it did not, Council unanimously approved the new plat.
Stipes also reported ongoing
downtown parking issues were being addressed via the Street Committee, in partnership with County personnel. He indicated a proposed solution was anticipated for Council to consider during a March 2010 meeting. Also related to downtown construction, the Town Manager reported he had received requests to consider prohibiting left hand turns out of the Post Office corner of the Town Square due to the new configuration for stopping at the traffic light.
Problems there are now backing traffic up along East Main, all the way to Roanoke Street at some times of the day. The number and sources of these requests was not discussed, and the matter was referred to the Street Committee.
Vanhoozier suggested that before the next
Aquatic Center update the Council, as a body, tour the new facility and do a walk through so they each had a better sense of where the project was in the construction process. He indicated that if the
architect or contractor were not available, he was willing to conduct this tour and suggested this occur on Saturday or Sunday,
Feb. 27-28. The Mayor was concerned this would not match up to the schedules of the contractors, to which Councilman Mike Barber retorted, "
For what we're paying them, they'd better make it fit." Given a consensus of Council to proceed with this suggestion the Mayor indicated he would attempt to schedule a tour.
Councilman Showalter asked that the next Town Manager report include an update on the status and direction of the regional
Tourism Development Council. He indicated the County Administrator and both Blacksburg and Christiansburg Town Managers had been looking at "
possibly creating" a new tourism authority.
(There has been no public discussion on
establishing a schedule for the town's
Finance Committee or Council Work Sessions to meet and develop a fiscal year
2010-2011 budget. These budgets require adoption before the new fiscal year begins on July 1. There was
no public report on
Council's trip to Richmond Feb. 10-11 to meet with elected officials during the Virginia Municipal League Legislative Day. These items are also absent on the town's web site.)
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm.
Council's next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Tuesday, March 2.