After a pleasant conversation with the person interested in extending Melody Drive, the view of the requested rezoning shifted a bit.
Bryan Rice is a realtor who wants to purchase land from Kenneth and Darlene Lancaster, basically extending the Windsong Heights subdivision which sits above Radford Road and adjacent to Christiansburg Middle School. An earlier project of his provides a visually appealing gateway to that facility.
In talking with most of the adjoining property owners, his rezoning request (made via the current property owners) has been adjusted in an attempt to accommodate some concerns.
The proffers now state that no more than four (4) building permits will be applied for until the asphalt base course (roadway) is installed; that only a maximum of 17 single family detached homes will be constructed; that these dwellings will be similar to the those presently found in Windsong Heights; that (contingent upon School Board approval) a paved path between Melody Drive and school property will be constructed with a gated entrance to the school property; and that a home owners association will be established to to maintain any storm water retention facilities located in a common area.
This information was not readily available to citizens in attendance at the
Dec. 1 Town Council meeting, yet was verbalized by Rice and the engineering firm working on the proposal. There was some confusion about the building permits, gated access, and even about whether there was an alternate route to this property. There is not. There may be other undeveloped land in the area, but no easements or access to actual or "paper" streets.
Rezonings occur before
subdivision and site plans reviews and approvals, which are typically handled by town staff after council approves a rezoning. During these subsequent steps is when
storm water and erosion considerations are addressed, so council may not see every aspect or the larger picture when considering these requests.
The town's
Comprehensive Plan does speak to storm water and controlling development costs by paving less than a the full right-of-way for roads. This means that an owners property line may be quite a bit away from the edge of the pavement. The Comprehensive Plan also speaks to connected neighborhoods and
several documents show conceptual support to have this occur through pathways for pedestrians and bikes. In this plan, the path is to give area residents a walkable route to the town's
Harkrader Sports Complex -- and the town is also seeking ways to increase revenue generation at its three recreational facilities.
When you look at aerial photos of this portion of the town (which was recently increased due to a
friendly boundary line adjustment between the town and the county), there are numerous subdivision plans in various stages of progress. When potential homebuyers see a road that is just a stub-out or even a cul-de-sac, and undeveloped land adjoining a neighborhood -- a safe assumption is that future development will occur. For
road maintenance and emergency vehicles, it is common to connect these roads for access and managing costs. In this instance, there was concern that this rezoning would allow access to other, possible future roads. This may indeed be the desire or intent of council, yet at this point no one has a crystal ball that shows if or where this might occur.
Council is expected to vote on this request at the
Tuesday, Dec. 15 meeting, and will hold
another Joint Public Hearing on two adjoining projects. Although the period to receive public comment has passed for the Melody Drive project, citizens can still track down council members and bend their ears if they so choose.