Health, Safety, Welfare & Convenience

Throughout the Code of Virginia and Christiansburg Town Code, readers find references for the provision of public health, safety, convenience and welfare for citizens. 

Through these codes, the Town is empowered to guide and facilitate "the orderly beneficial growth of the community and to promote the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare" and more specifically to "provide for the harmonious and economic development of the Town." 

Whenever the Christiansburg Planning Commission makes a recommendation to Town Council, the decision is always proclaimed as being based upon consideration of the "interests of public health, safety, convenience and welfare." 

Public health seems pretty straightforward.  As an example, you would think this could include the expectation your home would not be subjected to being flooded by raw sewage. 

Safety seems to have fairly objective measurements, too.  These may be directly linked to public health and welfare, including things as simple as ensuring subdivisions provide built-in traffic calming measures or yards won't wash away. 

Convenience seems like something that brings us back to former President Clinton asking us to "define 'is'."  Whose convenience?  The town's, so that fees and developed property values increase, bringing in some portion of new tax revenues?  A developer's, so they can maximize the density of a subdivision and potential profits?  Or town citizens, who expect a certain level of service and want to enjoy a wide variety of amenities.

Given that Town Council is ultimately making the decisions, they are accountable.    Their decisions affect our immediate and long-term comfort.  Council is responsible for taking a wider, longer view -- coordinating all aspects of how growth occurs in order to prevent "injury or annoyance from anything dangerous, offensive or unhealthy" and to establish "certain subdivision standards" including the establishment of "minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect properties, safeguard(ing) the general health, safety and welfare of the public."

Take the time to review the public minutes of the Town Council, see how they have voted to rezone or subdivide property, or approve variances.  In doing this, readers will see a pattern of issues or complaints being brought before council -- yet little in the way of what adjustments are being made to eliminate or correct these problems from reoccurring or expanding. 

After approval is granted, these activities disappear from the public minutes and it is then the responsibility of the Town Manager and staff to interpret, enforce and inspect all related development within the town's boundaries. 

When any element is not well done or fully coordinated, problems may appear -- especially given some time.  Like urban flooding, sewage backups, mudslides, contaminated public waterways, unsafe streets, minimal greenspace....add your observations here.  Looking at one request or application, one parcel or phase at a time, is no longer feasible.  What happens on one piece of land can affect hundreds of other property owners. 

It is possible for Council to do a better job, requiring higher standards and that a more comprehensive approach is taken by staff.  It is the community's right to expect that most of these issues are preventable in the first place, but that when they occur, they are corrected.