Christiansburg's Town Council meeting on Tuesday, August 4th began with a Joint Public Hearing. A realtor from Long & Foster asked for a "continuation of the B3-Business zoning" relative to 985 Cambria Street. The site of a bank that left the Christiansburg market is under contract with plans for a church to be established there.
Another citizen suggested this area, predominately zoned industrial although situated in a floodplain, should be examined. Carol Lindstrom suggested that rather than these matters continuously coming to the Planning Commission and Council for review and approval parcel by parcel for spot zoning or conditional use permits, it may actually take less time to consider a more appropriate zoning classification for the Cambria business corridor. Council is expected to vote on this rezoning request at the August 18 meeting and the Planning Commission is expected to make a recommendation on the matter at their next meeting.
Another hearing was relative to updating the town's Zoning Chapter on Floodplain Districts. A speaker stated the report and mandated updates had not considered changes to impervious area due to growth experienced over the past couple of decades, and noted the State DCR requirements where minimum standards which the town could exceed. The speaker said too often it appeared sedimentation was impacting storm drains and natural waterways because wider impacts were not being considered during rezoning or development projects.
Councilman Mike Barber, a member of the town's Finance Committee, introduced the new Treasurer/Finance Director, Valerie Tweedie.
There was spirited discussion during the Citizens Hearing about the town's computer capabilities as regards accepting online payments. Concerns about past purchases and current functionality were left for the new Finance Director to sort out.
Again, several citizens attending asked council members and the town manager to speak up so their comments could be heard. Council chambers only provide a microphone for citizens to address council, leaving much of what is being said at meetings inaudible to the audience.
Council unanimously adopted the CDBG Action Plan and an amendment to the new bike helmet ordinance (allowing exclusion of this requirement for motorized wheelchairs). Council also authorized the Town Manager to proceed with a feasibility study for a Joint E911 regional authority.
The Mayor reported that Christiansburg had "entered into an agreement with Blacksburg Transit" to extend mass transportation in the town, indicating a group had met a couple of weeks ago. While funding was approved in the current fiscal year and options provided to Council this past spring, no meeting notice where this agreement was reached was made public. A work group including representatives of BT, the Town Manager, the Assistant Town Manager, a Planning Department employee, the Mayor and Councilman Jim Vanhoozier will work on details including the color of the buses, fares and routes which will be brought back to Council. The targeted implementation of October 2009 is not expected to be a deliverable.
Appointees to the Agency on Aging and the VT/Montgomery Executive Airport were reappointed and a recommendation for lot lines to be modified for property on Liberty Lane was approved. Councilman Barber opposed this request and staff was unable to provide details of development plans which may result from this action.
Councilman Henry Showalter reported on a Tourism Development Council meeting and expressed optimism this group would work through concerns.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm and Council's next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18th at 7:30 pm.