Some people say Christiansburg Town Council never listens to citizens, but that's not always true. Examples of positive changes include a better web site than a couple of years ago and possibly accepting
credit/debit cards for town payments. Plus there's been improvements to publishing
public meeting times and locations.
Another example is where
a citizen asked council to not meet on election days (first Tuesday in November, or May) and council listened. So this month's first meeting is
Monday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 pm instead of Election Day (
Tuesday, Nov. 3rd).
Monday's agenda, then, includes a joint public hearing on a conditional use permit to allow residential rentals in a B-3 General Business district on Hammes Street. That decision isn't expected until Nov. 17 (
another positive change by council to provide time between public comments and a vote on the matter).
The Citizen Hearings portion of the meeting will include the Police Department being recognized for
accreditation by the state, the
aquatic center contractors providing an update on that facility's opening date and status, and representatives of Blacksburg Transit sharing details about the new, disconnected
bus loops meant to expand public transportation options for citizens of Christiansburg. Additionally, an actual contract between the town of Blacksburg and Christiansburg relative to this bus service is to be discussed and/or voted upon Monday evening.
And, the aquatic advisory commission is expected to report much improved (ie, cheaper)
membership and fee structures, leaving citizens to scratch their heads on why such exorbitant prices were ever discussed in the first place and
what changed to make this more affordable.
Fees and hours of operations for this facility are expected to be decided, as well as the revised opening date (previously, it was stated the facility would open precisely 14 weeks after the pool lights were installed and this was presumably finished last week -- so that would make the grand opening by Feb. 1, which is before a scheduled
major competition).
The Planning Commission is expected to have some representatives present, who may
defer to their secretary (now the Planning Director) to actually state their recommendations on rezoning F&B Land on Diana Drive from Agricultural to R-3 Multi-Family. This
recently added 6.47 of land located within the town was first pitched as single family to the county, and is now seeing a rezoning request for high density rentals, slated for
seniors-only. That public hearing was held
Oct. 6. Allowing an expanded daycare, operating in a residential area, is also expected to be decided Monday night.
Another item that rarely shows how dense development can be is in the
Street Committee's work. This meeting will adjust lot boundary lines for the new County
Courthouse and the Falling Branch area of Copper Beech Court and Glade Drive (no public hearings or neighbor notifications required).
If citizens can stand the heat from all these discussions, the meeting will then wrap up with council approving the bills presented for payment and a progress report by the town manager. Council's next regular meeting is calendared for
Tuesday, Nov. 17th.