The week of July 19, 2010 may be a pivotal week for Christiansburg. Time will tell whether this marks a new beginning to living up to the town motto of "progressive small town living at its best" or continues business as usual.
Note first that Vision 2020, created in the Fall of 2009 by Town Council, contains some good ideas. Importantly, it should be noted these are goals similar to those found in the Comprehensive Plan. The key difference is one is optional and the other is required by State Code, meaning it has legislative imperatives.
Monday at 4 pm, the appointed Planning Commission will refocus on sidewalk and open space requirements and historic district overlays. Council made the first assignment February 2nd after three members indicated a preference for higher standards. The Mayor diverted the issue to the commission for study and a recommendation, after expressing concerns about higher costs for developers.
Council requested a report on historic district overlays in March 2008. This appears deliberately mismanaged from day one with few residents -- those situated in existing historic districts or those who could benefit from tax incentives for qualifying structures -- with a lot of misinformation. The "report" or recommendation(s) are not expected to provide any surprises. It was already reported (before this meeting or a report is presented) that Council will do nothing.
Forecast: Developers 2; Citizens 0.
Tuesday at 7:30 pm, Town Council has a full agenda for what is expected to be Town Manager Lance Terpenny's final meeting. Notable items include a Joint Public Hearing for a fourth request to rezone about 22 acres off Peppers Ferry for more residential subdivisions, with what appears to be a nonexistent access road seizing a private right of way (videos of PC meeting, plat sheet and deed available here). Another interesting item is a "game room" and then a conditional use permit for a family day home in a residential area (one which had traffic safety concerns before the last subdivision/rezoning was approved).
Other significant items are an update on the BT bus service, where the Mayor and Councilman Vanhoozier approved initial service routes. Because these are disconnected and don't readily serve commuters and have been poorly promoted, Council is questioning their value. Still, the Mayor happily accepted a VTA award for redesigning and expanding transit service tailored to the needs of Christiansburg.
Then there is an update on the Huckleberry Trail -- was the June 18 matching grant applied for, doubling a gift to the Town of Christiansburg? The engineering firm which was once recognized by Council for donating expertise to this project, and later identified as the estate's engineering firm, will provide an update. Some Council members have basically stated "To heck with our Comp Plan, to heck with the estate's wishes. Use the money on building sidewalks in neighborhoods where developers didn't, or repairing old ones."
Then Council will revisit budget cuts. A seven percent meals tax effective August 1 (current collectors of this tax were given less than 3 weeks to plug it into business plans and educate customers) is what Council is betting will stop the deficit bleeding. Will they ask for monthly reporting on actual collections, to closely track whether projected revenue is really coming to the Town's budget?
Forecast: Cloudy, with a chance of thunderstorms.