A joint Public Hearing for rezoning property at 910 Peppers Ferry Road, a lot smaller than half an acre and owned by Medhi Hazer from Agricultural to B1 - Limited Business, was held. Questions floated about whether a deceleration lane would be required and built, and if the lot provided enough potential parking for a proposed 5000 SF professional office at some point in the future. A neighboring property owner brought pictures of a trash-strewn lot overrun with weeds, asking if the rezoning should suggest the property would receive better maintenance.
Council recessed while the rezoning went to the Planning Commission for its consideration and recommendation to council on the matter. This discussion was preempted by new information on a conditional use permit application (CUP), which had already been recommended for denial at the Planning Commission's regular meeting the previous day. After further discussion and giving consideration for the newly suggested conditions, the committee did not revisit their previous vote to deny. The rezoning was then discussed and recommended for approval, noting an adjacent larger property had also recently been rezoned and could allow both parcels to be combined.
The regular council meeting was then called back to order with the next item on the agenda being the Citizens Hearings, including three previously scheduled topics. Council accepted the Planning Commission's recommendation for the property rezoning on Peppers Ferry by unanimous vote.
Council rejected the Planning Commission recommendation to deny the CUP for 655 Depot Street, and through a new motion approved the conditions as defined and provided that evening by the developer's agent, John Neel of Gay & Neel.
Council directed the Planning Commission research "overlay" districts and report back. No other instructions or timelines were provided for that task.
Donald and Naomi Agree then addressed council, requesting the sewer line on Elk Drive be built, indicating it had been funded within council's annual budget for over five years. This lack of sewer service prevented them from proceeding with residential construction on the property.
Council did not solicit any further comments from those in attendance, moving from Citizens Hearings to its discussion on tax exemptions for the elderly and handicapped. Council approved these exemptions, using the same requirements as applied by Montgomery County for this relief (which may be related to federal or state grants as reimbursement).
Council approved participating in the
Virginia Municipal League's "Go Green" initiatives, and for sending the Mayor, Assistant Town Manager Barry Helms, and Councilman Huppert to a seminar on the topic.
Transfer of assets of the Sunset Cemetery Corporation to the Town was discussed with the final bill of transfer for the deed in process. The Town Manager noted the corporation was reserving $40,000 of its assets for meeting any short term liabilities. The Mayor and other council members recognized Ann Carter and Scott Weaver for their many years of dedicated volunteer service managing the cemetery.
The Street Committee presented a relocation/vacation of boundary line and a subdivision of property owned by Guy Ellett for three lots on Roanoke, Miller and Robert streets. This was approved.
A closed meeting was called and subsequently certified. No action was taken as a result of this closed meeting.
The Mayor noted that Shane Adams, President and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce was scheduled to update council on the Tourism Development Council's initiatives at its April 15 meeting.
The Town Manager reported that Thomas Noss, business operator, and Don Bailey, property owner, had been called to this council meeting to explain why they remained out of compliance with a previously issued conditional use permit (CUP) at 10 Badger Lane. The property owner did not appear and council directed that the Commonwealth's Attorney be asked to seek action, requiring the parties appear before a judge. A CUP may be revoked at any time by council and the town administration had already been very lenient in providing adequate time for the involved parties to remedy the violations.
The
next regular meeting of the Christiansburg Town Council will be held at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 1 (no fooling) in the Town Hall.