Brisk and business-like describes Town Council's meeting on Jan. 20th. And closing scoop on the Wilderness Trail Festival being continued by a new group.
A Joint Public Hearing brought out the developer who was asking for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow two quad-plexes to be built on land zoned B3. This was proposed as two buildings with four apartments each, all having about 1,000 SF with 2 or 3 bedrooms. The Planning Commission will meet to discuss this request and make its recommendation to Town Council, which is expected to vote on the request at their Feb. 3 meeting.
A number of property owners from the adjacent Slate Creek Commons neighborhood were present to speak in opposition to this CUP, pointing to incomplete yet continuous construction projects in the area, unrented and vacant townhouses already present, traffic concerns, and promised green space being converted to rentals.
Although the town's agendas now instruct speakers to direct comments only to council and speak for no more than five minutes, the project's developer got up after the neighbors commented, and again spoke. He addressed those in attendance, rather than council, explaining why "maximizing density" or assuming no more than two car per apartment would be an enhancement for them and the town.
Citizen Lisa Lucas Gardner asked council to be cautious in expending dollars for a part-time downtown Parking Enforcement Officer or to replace the Cemeterian, reminding them of the recession.
Wayne Booth, a current member of the appointed Planning Commission and former Town Council member, spoke passionately about his faith in the current council, its attorney, and the directors of the Parks & Rec and Aquatic Center. He stated he believed the town would be well served in moving ahead as quickly as possible on the new pool facility and that council should not be sidetracked by any criticisms.
By unanimous vote, council granted a CUP to the county Board of Supervisors for a parking garage at First and Pepper Streets. Three conditions apply and include landscaping complementing the downtown area, street level access area architecture compatible with the proposed new courthouse building and final construction in substantial compliance with concept drawings presented.
Councilman Mike Barber pointed out this parking structure meets only the needs of the court today, and this requires council begin looking at instituting time limits in its municipal lot. This recognizes that without time limits, courthouse visitors may abuse the town's lot which will be closer to the front doors of that building. He alluded that in doing this, violators may end up paying the salary of the part-time downtown Parking Enforcement Officer.
Councilman Jim VanHoozier had asked that two old business items be addressed. First was the status of a feasibility study requested Sept. 16 for a pathway (walking / bicycle) from Sleepy Hollow Drive along Cambria Street, up to the Rec Center. The town manager reported that, using town personnel, this was estimated to cost $96,000, presuming a 10' paved pathway, separated from the public roadway and related drainage. Discussion transitioned to whether all town residents would pay for this, if it were to be added to the Capital Improvement Plan, or if special assessments for certain neighborhoods could pay for it. Paving alone was estimated to cost $32,500. No action was taken.
The second item was on the tourism dollars retained from the regional partnership. The town requires that 7% lodging tax is collected and retains 6% for itself. One percent had been dedicated to the joint initiative since July 2005, with council voting Nov. 3rd to reduce this 1% by 15% for its own tourism efforts. The partnership contract required six-month notice, so the 1% will be paid until June 1, 2009. Previously, the Mayor had said no town tourism plan existed but that list of past efforts could be provided. Thus far, no such list has materialized. At this meeting, the Mayor indicated he would not establish any committee to work on this plan and that it was council's responsibility to determine how to spend these funds, as no town staff was tasked with this. Discussion went to a new, citizen lead "Events Committee" that was born from summer 2008 downtown events to promoting the town's recreation facilities (Rec Center, Harkrader Sports and new Aquatic Center). This suggests the new "tourism" funds would supplement department budgets.
Councilman Barber also brought the moped-helmet ordinance back, which had been "tweaked" by the town's attorneys because somewhere a judge had been ready to throw out a ticket because the local ordinance didn't specify that the helmet had to be worn on one's head. Council passed this ordinance to go into effect Feb. 1, with Councilmen Ernie Wade and VanHoozier opposing (they wanted a later effective date to allow time to get the word out, but otherwise supported the ordinance). Police Chief Mark Sisson indicated his officers would first educate moped riders, issuing a warning. Once warned, a second traffic stop would produce a related summons or ticket.
And the meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm. Hearing conversations afterwards, it appears the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met recently. They had been seeking new "owners" for the 36-year old Wilderness Trail Festival, held each September in Downtown Christiansburg. Word was that the Christiansburg Kiwanis had expressed interest and would become the proud new parents of this annual downtown event.
Town Council's next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Tuesday, Feb. 3rd at 7:30 pm, Municipal Building, East Main and Roanoke Streets.