My, how time flies.
According to Christiansburg's Town Code, Zoning - Chapter 30, when an application for a change in zoning is denied by council, another petition for the same change "shall not be reconsidered sooner than one (1) year after the previous denial" (subsection 10, item e).
Why then does the Planning Commission (PC) agenda for Monday, and council's agenda for Tuesday, include a business item stating it is "council's intention to adopt an ordinance in regards to a rezoning request by MEH, LLC for property at 2880 Roanoke Street"?
A public hearing for such an application was held March 3 (the PC agenda for the May 18 meeting has this date listed incorrectly, or maybe it was also heard previously on March 18, 2008?). The PC rubber-stamped this request, even though it seemed apparent the property had been subdivided and rezoned piecemeal in order to avoid higher stormwater standards. At the public hearing neighboring property owners expressed concerns about stormwater run off and flooding -- something they've certainly been experiencing with all the recent rains. At their March 17 meeting, council rejected the PC recommendation and voted against this rezoning.
Yet two months later, here it is again -- with proffers (which, we've been informed, must be made in writing before the public hearing).
And then the cycle continues. Again, on both the PC and council agendas for next week, one finds another item stating "council's intention to adopt an ordinance in regards to a rezoning request by Albert Land, LP for property...at the end of Sage Lane."
A rezoning request for this property had been denied in November 2007, with a re-application approved by the PC 4 to 1 this Feb. 17. This followed a public hearing on Feb. 3 with over two hours of comments. The town's zoning chapter defines cul-de-sacs as permanent, but stub outs are to be constructed where roads will be extended in the future.
After receiving the PC's approval, the developer withdrew his application. The Town Code, Zoning - Chapter 30 states: "Withdrawal of application. Applications for a change in zoning which are withdrawn after first publication shall be considered as denied for the purpose of the one-year limitation on reconsideration..." (subsection 10, item d).
Yet three months later, here it is again. Both of these items are scheduled for another round of joint (with PC and council) public hearings this coming Tuesday.
What special rules or circumstances will our town leadership pull out of their hats to explain why the Town Code's Zoning regulations are not being applied as written and published?
If you want a seat at Tuesday's council meeting, come early. If you want to park in the town's municipal lot, come even earlier.