Likes

1. New Post Office (Elliston)
2. Proposed New Fire Station (Elliston)
3. Proposed New Library (Crozier & 460)
4. Low Crime
5. Low Population Density
6. Active Community Groups (eg. Village of Elliston; Shawsville Ruritan)
7. Good Transportation Corridors

1. Mobile Homes & Mobile Home Parks
2. Mobile Classroom Facilities (lack of classroom space at both Elliston/ Lafayette Elem. and Shawsville Elem.)
3. Lack of Recreational Facilities (build schools to accommodate recreational facilities)
4. No Community Meeting Facility (like to use old Elliston Fire House for community meeting space and satellite county offices)
5. Lack of Library Facilities
6. Maintenance of Collection Sites (Elliston/Lafayette--Road/Parking Area)
7. Maintenance of “Greenbox” Site (Allegheny Springs)-- “Clean up of site”
8. Junk Cars; Zoning Enforcement (like to see proactive enforcement)

Issues

Traffic

1. Concern about the US 460/Rt 11 Corridor, especially in light of increased traffic from three primary sources: 1) Commuters to places like Rowe Furniture, 2) Increased population, especially with the expansion/ encroachment of Salem; and 3) Drivers avoiding I-81 either due to road conditions, hazards, or concern over accidents.
2. Concerned about Secondary Roads, especially Northfork, Lafayette (Gardner), and Allegheny Springs Rds).
3. Impact of Rowe Furniture on traffic in Lafayette.
4. Traffic enforcement (esp. speed)

Solutions

Traffic

1. Light at Meadowbrook.
2. Addition of more traffic lights
3. Lower speed limits in heavily residential areas, as well as in school zones and near parks.

  Representation/ Government Services

1. Greater and more effective representation for the C District. Participants expressed some concern over redistricting, especially in terms of the potential of an expanded territory.
2. Distance from government services.
3. Equal distribution of county funds, services, and facilities among the seven legislative districts.

1. Creation of a satellite government office (including community meeting rooms) where local residents in Elliston, Lafayette, Shawsville, and Ironto can purchase dog tags, register to vote. Satellite office would include a sheriff’s substation.

1. Concern about the expansion of Salem towards eastern end of county.
2. Unsightly number of utility cables and lines.
3. Lead to or result from increase in population in the eastern end of the county.
4. Increased number of residents who commute to either Roanoke, Blacksburg, or both moving to the area.
5. Increased numbers of new residents, due to commercial economic development = need for increased services and expanded educational and recreational facilities. Chicken and egg.
6. Suitable locations for development, esp. in light of an equal desire to preserve prime farmland.
7. Increase in the provision of basic economic services: gas, groceries, etc. Increase economic development will bring increased economic services

1. Require that infrastructure (water/sewer/ roads/schools, etc.) to support new development be in place prior rezoning parcels.
2. Require buried utility cables (excepting electricity) for new construction and for cable replacement.

1. Concern over rapidly disappearing “prime” farmland (cropland) to residential and commercial development because of its relative ease to develop (less site preparation, location on flatter land, proximity to road systems)

1. Promote economic/business development in Shawsville/Elliston/Lafayette without impacting prime farmland. Prime farmland is defined as primarily “crop” land.
2. Use of tax incentives; tax reduction to encourage and support farming activities.
3. Restrictions on landuse must be more flexible.
4. Develop alternative sewer treatment methods in order to accommodate residential/commercial development on marginal lands (greater slope; less likely or unable to perk) and save the cropland for crops.

Schools/Education

1. Use of mobile classrooms; inadequate facilities
2. If there is an increase in younger families, what will be the impact on the schools in S/E/L
3. Quality of schools.
4. Recognition that residential and commercial development is directly tied to the quality of the schools.

1. Expanded recreational opportunities.

Recreation

1. Expand/extend proposed trail from Shawsville to Ironto via Elliston and Lafayette.

1. Loss of community identity (esp. in places like Lafayette and Ironto which have lost their post offices). Participants were especially concerned over the merging of distinct towns into single entities (Lafayette becoming part of Elliston) rather than being allowed to maintain their own unique community character and identity.
2. NOT EASTERN MONTGOMERY! Communities in the eastern portion of Montgomery County would prefer to retain their unique identities and characters rather than be unceremoniously lumped under a general name.

1. Promotion of historic resources and districts.
2. Use of historic structures to help maintain community’s identity.
3. Introduction of community signs for the small individual communities in the eastern portion of the county.

1. Concerned about lack of regulations concerning abandoned/vacant/unused/ or uninhabitable structures. (cf. Greenhill). Participants questioned whether structures should be replaced, rehabbed, torn down, or razed. Questioned who would be responsible for the cost.

1. Tax incentives for renovating/maintaining older structures
2. Tax credits for renovating/maintaining older structures
3. Requirement that owners be required to maintain structures at at least a minimum level. Must be kept in reasonable repair.
4. Tax incentive for taking care of failing buildings.

1. Concern over the social problems created by mobile home parks, esp. in light of increased crime (police calls), complaints, lack of upkeep, and maintenance.
2. Moderate/Low Income Housing

1. Uneven, inadequate, or delay in enforcing zoning ordinance, especially when dealing with junk cars, junk machinery, unlicensed vehicles, and inoperable vehicles.
2. Mobile Home Parks

1. County should take more proactive approach to code enforcement.