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| Affordable Housing |
According to the Fannie Mae Foundation, housing costs should represent
no more than 30% of a family's adjusted median family income (assuming a family
of four). The formula applies to rental costs and mortgage costs. According
to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median price of a home in Montgomery County is
$114,600, and the median household income is $32,332. The median income required
to purchase the median priced home in Montgomery County is $55,000. The required
median income was calculated using the Fannie Mae Affordability Calculator,
with the following assumptions: 1) 20% consumer debt service, $10,000 downpayment,
6.5% interest, and 30 year mortgage. The level of required income drops when
calculated without the consumer debt service. Finally, it should be noted that
the census data is based on the county as a whole (including Blacksburg and
Christiansburg) and that the statistics are impacted by the inclusion of a large
student population. In the time since the initial definition was written, Montgomery
County has reassessed local real estate values. According to the County Assessor,
the median price for a home has risen to $132,500. |
| Agricultural Businesses, Local |
Agricultural and related businesses. Local agricultural businesses
includes both the creation of local markets and products and agricultural tourism
(agri-tourism). Local examples include the Wall Creamery (under development)
between Blacksburg and Prices Fork and the Pumpkin Festival between Christiansburg
and Riner. |
| Agricultural-forestal districts |
Rural zones that have been reserved for the production of agricultural
products and timber. Established as a local planning tool in the 1970's by the
General Assembly, they are established according to state guidelines with the
approval of the local governing body. A district constitutes a voluntary agreement
between landowners and the government that no new, non-agricultural uses will
take place in the district. An agricultural/forestal district provides much
stronger protection for farmers and farmland than does traditional zoning, because
it assures that the Use Value Assessment will continue to be available to landowners
within the district. |
| Agricultural preservation |
As the Agriculture Report
indicates, agriculture is a threatened industry in Montgomery County (as well
as in most rural jurisdictions in Virginia). Agricultural Lands are the same
lands which are ideal for residential development because of the terrain and
access to water. Agricultural preservation relates both to the preservation
of agriculture as an industry and to the preservation of agricultural lands,
making it both a planning issue and an economic issue. See, also, Open
Space Preservation. |
| Agricultural runoff |
A form of stormwater runoff. Main contributors to agricultural
runoff are soil disturbances, excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, and
animal concentration in feedlots. |
| Algal blooms |
Conditions which occur when excessive nutrient levels and other
physical and chemical conditions facilitate rapid growth of algae. Algal blooms
may cause changes in water color. The decay of the algal bloom may reduce dissolved
oxygen levels in the water. |
| Aquatic buffers |
See riparian buffers. |
| Aquifers |
An underground layer of rock or soil containing ground water.
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| Bedrock |
A rock formation that underlies a surface covering such as soil.
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| Best Management Practices (BMPs) |
The collective measures and practices used to control a particular
set of problems. For example, there are BMPs for controlling non-point sources
of pollution which commonly fall into three categories: land use planning, design
and management; pollutant source controls; and stormwater control and treatment. |
| Buffer |
An undeveloped or relatively undeveloped land area that separates
two areas with conflicting land uses. For example, a riparian buffer may separate
a waterway from agricultural land. A buffer is intended for the purpose of reducing
or eliminating harm brought by one use on another. A buffer may include trees,
plants, or other devices to further shield one use from the other. |
| Channelization |
The modification of streams, often by straightening, widening
or deepening, to increase channel capacity and speed water drainage. While such
modifications can benefit those living near them, they can increase the volume
and velocity of water carried by the stream and thus cause greater peak flows
downstream. Channelization can also destroy natural channels, their aesthetic
qualities and their ability to support aquatic and riparian life. |
| Civic Center/ Fairgrounds |
A centrally located, county-wide meeting space, large enough to
allow for concerts, special events, agricultural fairs, 4-H events, and other
community gatherings. Similar to the Salem Civic Center. |
| Cluster development |
A residential subdivision or a tract where, instead of subdividing
the entire tract into house lots with conventional dimensions, a similar number
of housing units may be clustered on smaller lots, thereby increasing green
space on other areas of the site. Clustering is both visual and spatial with
the dwellings scaled and sited to maintain coherent relationships to each other
and the surrounding landscape. The open space accounts for the overall lower
density of the site and may serve to preserve environmentally sensitive areas
while catering to active or passive recreational uses and fostering the rural
character by promoting agricultural, forestal, or other rural economy uses.
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| Coliform bacteria |
See fecal coliform bacteria. |
| Commercial Growth |
Commercial development refers to businesses which sell either
goods or services at the retail level. Some distinction is made between commercial
development (Lowes, H&R Block, or Burger King) and cultural development
(movie theatres, gallaries, for-profit museums and attractions, or activity
based companies). |
| Community Development Authorities (CDAs) |
Similar to Special Service Districts but are allowed specifically
to raise funds to purchase easements and development rights. The other key difference
is that Authorities can take on long-term debt allowing them to issue revenue-generating
bonds as a means of producing income. |
| Compact Development |
Compact development is a method of designing residential developments
which preserves the character of the land. Lot sizes, typically, are much smaller;
can be clustered or grouped, requiring far less infrastructure, including impervious
(paved) surfaces; and, more recently, are designed to look like more traditional
concepts of neighborhoods (new urbanism). |
| Comprehensive Plan |
The general plan for the County and its supporting components.
Every County in Virginia must have a Comprehensive Plan, which spells out policies
for future development in order to ensure orderly growth and the protection
of the public health and welfare. The Comprehensive Plan may consist of a number
of components, such as local area plans, service plans, and specific land-use
related resolutions of the Board of Supervisors. |
| Conservation easement |
An easement granting a right or interest in real property that
retains land or water areas predominately in their natural, scenic, open, or
wooded condition, preserving such areas as suitable habitat for fish, plants,
or wildlife, or maintaining existing land uses. |
| Conservation tillage |
Any tillage and planting system that maintains at least 30% of
the soil surface covered by residue after planting for the purpose of reducing
soil erosion by water. |
| Crop Nutrient Management |
A BMP designed to minimize the contamination of surface and ground
water by limiting the amount of nutrients (usually nitrogen) applied to the
soil to no more than the expected crop use. This may involve changing fertilizer
application techniques, placement, rate, or timing. The term fertilizer includes
both commercial fertilizers and manure |
| Cultural Facilities |
Public or private facilities which contribute to the cultural
life and identity of Montgomery County, including historic structures and districts,
libraries (Montgomery/Floyd Regional Library), museums (Coal Mining Heritage
Park, galleries, and live performance venues (a civic center or a fair grounds). |
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| Development |
is any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate including,
but not limited to, construction or alteration of buildings or other structures,
the placement of mobile homes, streets and other paving, utilities, filling,
grading, excavation, mining, dredging or drilling operations. |
| Drainfield |
is a soil absorption trench fed by underground pipes for dispersion
of the liquid portion of sewage from a septic system. |
| Education, Adult Opportunities |
Adult educational opportunities include traditional university
and community college programs, worker retraining and skill programs, and non-traditional
programs (art, computer, life-skills, literacy, etc.), as well as the facilities
inwhich such programs are housed (existing educational institutions, new community-based
facilities, or expanded use of existing facilities--i.e. libraries, fire and
rescue halls, or other publicly or privately owned structures). |
| Education, New Facilities |
New educational facilities refers to both traditional (new schools)
and non-traditional (heritage parks, science centers, learning centers, libraries,
art centers, public computer or job training centers) facilities which fulfill
an educational purpose. |
| Education, Opportunities for Children |
Public, quasi-public, or private educational programs and facilities
which provide expanded educational opportunities for children. |
| E-Government |
E-government refers to electronic access to government information
and services. Currently, both Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Planning
Department maintain extensive websites designed to provide public access to
government information. The Montgomery County website will eventually provide
citizens with a method of conducting business without having to make a trip
to the County Government Center. |
| Environmental Quality |
Relates, primarily, to air and water quality and the protection
of fragile environmental features (karst terrain and wetlands), groundwater
(aquifers, springs, wells), and surface water (rivers, lakes, ponds, streams,
creeks, etc.). |
| Existing Roads |
Primary, secondary, and private roads which are either currently
in the VDoT road system or which are eligible for inclusion through the Rural
Additions program. |
| Fire and Rescue Services |
Fire and rescue services are provided by a number of stations
located through out Montgomery County and staffed, primarily, by volunteers.
Stations are currently located in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Longshop-McCoy,
Riner, Elliston-Lafayette, and Shawsville. |
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| Government Outreach |
Government Outreach is characterized by an open approach to government
and government information, including extensive distribution of public information.
It also includes the development of educational materials to help bridge the
knowledge gap between government agencies and the citizens they represent. Government
outreach programs are generally designed to provide usable and accessible information
to citizens in order to increase the understanding of issues, programs, and
ideas while promoting increased citizen awareness of and involvement in local
government. Outreach programs may include, but not limited to, newsletters,
information pamphlets, email listserves, citizen "townhall" meetings,
and surveys. |
| Groundwater |
The water held beneath the earth's surface between saturated
soil and rock and that supplies wells and springs. |
| Healthcare Facilities |
In previous meetings, participants expressed concern over access
to healthcare facilities. This was especially true in the remote areas of eastern
and south central Montgomery County (Allegheny Springs, Shawsville, Elliston,
Lafayette, Ironto, Pilot, and Rogers). Health care facilities are public, quasi-public,
and private facilites providing medical services. Current facilities include
the Free Clinic, Carillion hospital and satellite clinics, and the Montgomery
Regional Hospital. See, also, Fire and Rescue. |
| High Tech Growth |
Many of the comments from previous community meetings dealt with
economic development in Montgomery County, including individual comments focusing
on agri-business, commercial, industrial, and high tech growth. High Tech Growth,
which could also be included in other categories, is, here, treated separately
and refers to those companies or businesses focusing on new technologies. Current
examples of high tech companies range from the call center for Echostar to many
of the small companies housed at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. |
| Historic Preservation |
Historic Preservation refers to the preservation of historic structures
(Cambria Depot or the Do Drop Inn), neighborhoods (East Main and the Park area
in Christiansburg), districts (Riner, Prices Fork, and Lafayette), and viewsheds
(Merrimac--Coal Mining Heritage Park, McDonald's Mill, Whitethorne). In Virginia,
historic preservation plays a significant role in the state's economy, especially
in light of historic tourism, which represents one of the single largest tourism
draws in the state. |
| Human Services |
Human Services is something of a catch-all category covering a
broad range of services and facilities provided by public, quasi-public, and
private agencies. Comprehensive plan considerations in this category are diverse
and include the provision and placement of daycare and adult care facilities,
group homes, mental health facilities, homeless and other types of shelters,
professional offices, and human service agency facilities. |
| Individual Recreation |
Individual recreational opportunities refer to facilities and
programs which can be utilized by individuals on a irregular schedule (bikeways,
walkways, trails, etc.), rather than team-based programs (softball, basketball,
etc.) or scheduled activities. Individual Recreational facilities include the
Huckleberry Trail, nature trails or arboretums, heritage parks, and exercise
courses. |
| Industrial Growth |
Industrial growth refers to more traditional forms of economic
development in which specific products are being manufactured. Local examples
of industrial development include Corning and Rowe Furniture. |
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| Law Enforcement |
Law enforcement refers to facilities related to the sheriff's
department (technology infrastucture, offices, and regional/local jails) and
to the court system located in the Montgomery County Courthouse, in downtown
Christiansburg. Currently, Montgomery County provides court and jail facilities
for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, Blacksburg Police Department,
and the Christiansburg Police Department. |
| Local Cooperation |
Local cooperation is defined as cooperative or collaborative efforts
between the local governments (Montgomery County, Blacksburg, Christiansburg,
and Radford), the universities, citizen groups, and individuals. Examples of
cooperative efforts include the Free Clinic and the Huckleberry Trail. |
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| New Roads |
There are two types of new roads: 1) those constructed by the
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDot), such as the Smart Road or the
new by-pass; and 2) those constructed by private developers, primarily for subdivisions. |
| Old/ Failing Septic Systems |
Participants in prior meetings expressed concern about septic
systems which are either old or not properly maintained, their location in heavily
karst areas, and their potential threat to the county's surface and groundwater
supply. |
| Open Space Preservation |
Open space preservation refers to the preservation of open space
features and view sheds, including ridgelines, agricultural and forestal areas,
and other types of green space. Open space means any open land which is predominantly
lacking in built structural development. Open space includes natural areas,
wetlands and open water, wildlife habitats, areas of managed production of resources
such as farmlands and grazing areas, open areas requiring special management
or regulation to protect public health and safety, and outdoor recreational
areas. The term "open space" does not imply public access or ownership. See,
also, agricultural preservation. |
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| Police Facilities |
See Law Enforcement |
| Public Involvement |
Public involvement can best be described as the basis for participatory
democracy and occurs on both a large scale (elections) and a small scale (Planning
Commission and Board of Supervisors hearings) and in both formal settings (public
hearings) and informal settings (work groups, community meetings). Public involvement
is closely tied to both local and regional cooperative efforts and government
outreach programs. |
| Public and Alternative Transportation |
Refers to both traditional forms of public transportation (e.g.
the Two-Town Trolley, operated by Blacksburg Transit) and alternative transportation
forms or routes (the provision of bikeways and walkways, such as the Huckleberry
Trail). Past participants have expressed an interest in the expansion of public
transit, as well as the provision of rail service. Data concerning trails, bikeways,
and walkways have been included in both the Transportation and the Parks and
Recreation portions of this report |
| Public Water and Sewer |
Public water & sewer is provided by Montgomery County (through
the Public Service Authority), Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Virginia Tech.
With the exception of Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Residential, all
zoning districts in Montgomery County require access to public water and sewer.
The three rural districts rely, primarily, on private septic systems and wells
(see Environment: Septic Systems for more information). |
| Quality of Mobile Home Parks |
In the past, manufactured housing parks were referred to as trailer
parks, involved little more than providing lot space for manufactured homes,
and often offered only minimal amenities. The 1999 Zoning Ordinance changed
the way Montgomery County treated manufactured housing parks, by requiring quality
of life amenities to be included in park designs, including recreational open
space. |
| Regional Cooperation |
Regional cooperation involves cooperative or collaborative efforts
with the jurisdictions with which we have a common border (Craig, Floyd, Giles,
Pulaski, Radford, Roanoke Co., Roanoke City, and Salem), common interests (expansion
of the bikeway system), or common issues (corridor planning or water quality).
Many issues do not stop at the county border, sometimes creating externalities
(unintended impacts on neighboring jurisdictions) or creating opportunities
(New River Community College, the airport at Dublin, and regional approaches
to economic development). Many of the regional projects are currently coordinated
through the New River Valley Planning District Commission, which represents
Montgomery, Floyd, Giles, and Pulaski Counties and the City of Radford. |
| River Access |
Many of the comments from earlier community meetings dealt with
public access to the waterways in the County, including the New, Little, and
Roanoke rivers. Currently, only one of the County's proposed parks, at Elliston,
provides river access for fisherman and others interested in related activities. |
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| Sheriff's Facilities |
See Law Enforcement |
| Special Use Parks/ Facilities |
Special use parks refer to recreational facilities with a specific
intended use, e.g.. golf courses, pools, skate parks, etc. They may represent
separate facilities or specific facilities located in a traditional park (e.g..
The Frog Pond in the Mid-County Park). |
| Sprawl, Unplanned Growth |
A word that most people use in reference to unchecked suburban
growth; however, sprawl is more closely related to either unplanned or unchecked
development which may be either in opposition to current land use patterns or
which create a substantial, albeit often unintentional, change to the surrounding
area. In Montgomery County, the mall area and newer residential developments
in rural areas are often cited as examples of sprawl. |
| Surface Water |
Water that naturally flows or settles on top of natural landforms
and vegetation, often as rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and other bodies of
water. |
| Tourism |
Past participants expressed an interest in the development of
a tourism industry in Montgomery County by focusing on the county's historic,
environmental, and agricultural assets.Tourism also implies a combination of
publically and privately funded enterprises, from parks and publically owned
cultural facilties (such as museums) to cultural and tourism based development
(theatres, restuarants, hotels and bed and breakfast establishments, recreational
activities, specialty shops, and attractions).Tourism is generally included
in descriptions of sustainable economies because it brings in outside dollars
that are more likely to be spent with locally owned and operated businesses.
Local examples include the Natural History Museum at Virginia Tech, the gallary
space in the Montgomery County Government Center, the Pumpkin Festival near
Riner, the Cambria Emporium, and the Huckleberry Trail. |
| Traditional Parks |
Multi-use facilities which provide a range of activities for both
individuals and groups and often include sports facilities (baseball and soccer
fields), picnic and public gathering facilities, playgrounds, and walking or
exercise trails. Currently, Montgomery County has a number of traditional parks,
including two in the Plum Creek area, Mid-County Park (located between Blacksburg
and Christiansburg), the Miners Park at McCoy, and the proposed park, adjacent
to the Roanoke River, at Elliston |
| Traffic Congestion |
Refers to the rate of movement through specific intersections
and portions of roadways, based on the VDoT level of service (LOS) standards.
Roads and intersections which are rated A or B are characterized by either underutilization
or acceptable rates of movement. Roads and interesections rated C or D have
moderate to heavy congestion. Roads with an F rating are characterized by absolute
gridlock. Aside from occasional construction zones, none of the highways and
intersections in Montgomery County have an F rating. |
| Trash and Solid Waste Collection |
While house-by-house trash collection exists in the urban areas
(Blacksburg, Christiansburg), Montgomery County residents are required to take
their solid waste to collection facilities scattered around the county (e.g.
Rogers, Elliston, Riner, and Ellett). The solid waste collection facilities
are operated by Montgomery County's General Services Department and offer county
residents the option to recycle, although recycling is not manditory. The solid
waste is taken from the collections facilities to a transfer station, adjacent
to the Mid-County Park, and from there to a regional landfill in Pulaski County. |
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| Zoning, Zoning Ordinance |
Zoning is a planning tool which is meant to, at least in part,
provide the legal apparatus for implementing the Comprehensive Plan. While many
people don't particularly like zoning, it does minimize the possibility of nuisance
uses being located near residential and agricultural areas, offers some protection
to property values, and helps guide growth by designating areas according to
their suitability for development while providing legal protection for those
areas where development should be limited. The Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance
was passed in 1999 and introduced a number of new features to the planning landscape
in Montgomery County, including the cluster development option, planned unit
developments, special overlays, and the use of the sliding scale in Agricultural
and Conservation Districts. |
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©2003, Montgomery County Planning Department
Last updated: 13 June, 2003
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