Montgomery County

Planning Commission Minutes

15 December 1999

AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION HELD ON DECEMBER 15, 1999 IN THE BOARD ROOM (#327), THIRD FLOOR, COUNTY COURTHOUSE, CHRISTIANSBURG, VIRGINIA:

Mr. Wells, Chair, called the meeting to order and Kathryn Brennan, Secretary, established the presence of a quorum.

Present: Malvin Wells, Chair

Joe Draper, Vice-Chair

Mary Biggs, Board of Supervisors Liaision

Mr. Wells opened the Public Address Session.

There being no speakers, Mr. Wells closed the Public Address Session.

None.

Amendments to the Montgomery County Subdivision Ordinance was added to the Agenda. Mr. Elgin requested that the November 17^th minutes be removed from the Consent Agenda for corrections.

1. Kathleen Stewart (Agent: Anderson & Associates, Inc.) request for a Special

Use Permit amendment; (Tax Parcel Nos. 104-A-27A,104-A-28, 104-4-46) to allow a Professional Office served by a septic system. Property is located at the Northeast corner of Barn Road and Route 177 Intersection in the Riner Magisterial District. The property lies in an area designated residential in Comprehensive Plan.

2. Oral T. Linkous request for a Special Use Permit; (Tax Parcel No. 64-5-4A)

to allow a repair garage. Property is located adjacent to 4976 Price's Fork Road the Price's Fork Magisterial District. The property lies in an area designated rural in the Comprehensive Plan.

3. Quorum Holding Company (Agent: Christopher Tuck) request for a Special

Use Permit; (Tax Parcel No. 067-A75) to allow performance space for community theater. Property is located at 805 Triangle Street in the Price's Fork Magisterial District. The property lies in an area designated commercial in the Comprehensive Plan.

4. Quorum Holding Company (Agent: Bill Tuck/Trula Tuck) request for a Special Use Permit;(Tax Parcel No. 67-5-6) to allow mini-warehouses.

Property is located at 3956 South Main Street in the Price's Fork Magisterial District. The property lies in an area designated commercial in the Comprehensive Plan.

5. Triple J. Investments (Agent: William H. Price) request to rezone 280 acres

from A-1 (Agriculture) to R-1 (Residential) (Tax Parcel No. 66-A-1).

Property is located on Price Mountain off of Oilwell Road and Merrimac Road in the Price's Fork Magisterial District. The property lies in an area designated rural and conservation in the Comprehensive Plan.

6. Amendments to the Montgomery County Subdivision Ordinance

Harry Neumann and Kathryn Brennan reviewed the Route 177/Tyler Avenue Corridor Background Summary. Mr. Neumann reported on the sewer and water and transportation issues. Ms. Brennan stated that the infiltration/inflow seems to be a significant issue. Discussion followed concerning the adequacy of sewer capacity to permit additional growth in the Rt. 177 corridor.

Mr. Powers stated that the pay phone at Pandapas Pond issue came up driving to the New River Valley Planning District Annual Dinner meeting in Giles County. A member of the Planning Commission asked about the possibility of moving the Public Telephone located at the old Pandapas Pond entrance. Kelly Boyers mailed a letter to Mr. Collins, Forest Ranger. Mr. Collins responded with the reasons why he does not wish the telephone moved. He said it is a good location between two parking lots. The phone is used by truckers and moving the phone would block the entrance into the park area. He requested that the phone not be moved. Discussion followed. The Commissioners decided to take no action on moving the pay phone.

Mr. Powers reviewed the draft Planning Commission & Planning Department 2000 Work Program and major projects in priority order. Discussion followed.

Mr. Powers reviewed the draft 2000-01 budget for Planning & Inspections Department. He stated that an addendum has been made for a Part-Time Inspector and Digital Soils Map for all of Montgomery County.

PLANNING COMMISSION & PLANNING DEPARTMENT

2000 WORK PROGRAM

MAJOR PROJECTS IN PRIORITY ORDER

• Prepare and adopt Subdivision Ordinance amendments to match new Zoning

• Conduct one-year evaluation of new Zoning Ordinance for Board of Supervisors.

• Implement the revised Zoning Ordinance including record keeping system for sliding-scale zoning, sign inventory and permit system, intensive agriculture inventory, information meetings and handouts for engineers, surveyors, developers, farmers, general public, etc.

• Interview and hire Planning Consultant.
• Pick up where the Commission left off last February with work on Plan Elements and Planning Areas. Liaisons aide in gathering existing plans/studies of note since last Comprehensive Plan. Hold first round of public meetings in each Planning Area by fall.

• Prepare Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire Planning Consultant.
• Conduct-in-house work on Plan Elements and Planning Areas.

• Continue work with Radford Planning Commission and the NRVPDC staff to update the Route 177 Corridor Area Study (1992) and then amend the joint Comprehensive Plan for the Corridor Area.

• Continue work with Radford University Applied Anthropology class on the design of a historic interpretive center and recreational facility for Coal Miner's Park in Merrimac. Community meeting to present report to be held in early 2000. Develop grant applications for park funding.

• Work on the concept of a Heritage Park and Trail system. It would consist of a series of interlocking parks highlighting the historical, cultural and natural features across the entire county. Investigate potential funding sources.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT

• Work with county consultant to develop Planning & Inspections Department

• Foster use of Internet tools for public communication and interactions such as e-mail, IPLUS (Internet Parcel Look Up System), etc.

• Review pre- and post-census maps and population data for Census Bureau.

• Review and recommend draft CIP with respect to Comprehensive Plan. Hold public hearing if deemed necessary.

• Provide staff for CIP process and the Technical Review Committee

PLANNING DEPARTMENT

• Hire GIS Coordinator.
• Add digital mapping layers for zoning, special use permits, agricultural & forestal districts, etc to completed tax parcel mapping.
• Continue development of a geographic information system (GIS) for the county using ArcCAD and ArcVIEW software.
• Work to insure that the county's GIS can be used by other departments and agencies such as Real Estate, Sheriff, Public Service Authority, Economic Development.

• Prepare and adopt guidelines for 2232 review process
• Review streets, parks or other public areas, public buildings or public structures, public utility facilities, etc. for compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, Hold public hearings as required by the Board of Supervisors.

• Coordinate E&S Program as an interim measure until County Engineer is hired. Employ outside consultants to perform all plan review and inspection functions.

Mr. Powers reviewed the following draft amendments to the Montgomery County Subdivision Ordinance:

DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE

Planning Commission Public Hearing on January 12, 1999

Additions shown in bold underline, deletions shown in bold strikethrough

Section 8-111. Definitions

Subdivision, major means any subdivision that either:

1. creates eleven (11) or more lots or tracts; or
2. requires construction of a new street, or
3. requires a private access easement. serving a total of four (4) or more lots or tracts.

Subdivision, minor means any subdivision consisting of ten (10) or fewer lots or tracts and which does not require construction of a new street and which does not require a private access easement serving a total of four (4) or more lots or tracts.

Section 8-134 Certification of plat

Section 8-151. Design and arrangement of lots

(b) Street Frontage, major and minor subdivisions. In minor subdivisions and major subdivisions, all lots, including remainders, must abut on:

1. An existing public street
2. A proposed public street to be constructed in accordance with the provisions of this article; or
3. A proposed private street, approved by the board of supervisors and to be constructed in accordance with the provisions of this article. or
4. A proposed private access easement at least forty (40) feet in width providing access from the lot to an existing public street. and to be constructed in accordance with the provisions of this article.

Section 8-152 New Streets

(b)(1) Single-family housing developments. Private streets may be permitted only if the subdivision has a median lot size of three (3) acres or greater, and a length of street per lot ratio of one hundred fifty (150) feet per lot or greater. Such streets shall have a maximum grade of eighteen (18) percent and a minimum width of all weather surface or pavement of eighteen (18) feet. Approval will be based upon review of an access plan that shall include construction specifications, as well as a maintenance plan or agreement. The subdivider shall require a statement to be included on the subdivision on plat and in each deed stating that the streets are private streets and that the streets do not meet state standards, if applicable, and will not be maintained by the state or county.

(bb) Private Access Easements. Private access easements at least forty (40) in width may be permitted in the Agricultural A-1 zoning district. When permitted, the subdivider shall require a statement to be included on the subdivision plat and in each deed stating that the access easements are private access easements and that the access easements do not meet state standards, if applicable, and will not be maintained by the state or county.

Section 8-173 Preliminary plat, major subdivisions

(14) Table listing acreage and frontage for each lot.

(15) Table of assignment of lots under sliding scale, if applicable.

(16) Location of lands within the one hundred-year floodplain.

Section 8-174 Final plat, minor subdivisions and family subdivisions

(7) Table of assignment of lots under sliding scale, if applicable.

(8) Location of lands within the one hundred-year floodplain.

Discussion followed.

Ms. Biggs reported that the Board of Supervisors approved the Zoning Ordinance on December 13^th. She thanked all Planning Commission members and Planning Department Staff for their work on the Revised Zoning Ordinance. She also reported that the James Radford /R&V Properties Rezoning and Special Use Permit request was denied by the Board of Supervisors because of the proposed increase in traffic close to Bethel School.

Mr. Neumann reported that a public hearing on the Blacksburg United Methodist Church for a Special Use Permit request, Agricultural & Forestal District were items discussed at their meeting. He also attended the Women League Voters meeting concerning alternative type sewer systems.

Ms. Brennan reported that child care issue was approved by Town Council for R-1 (Residential) and R-2 (Residential) up to twelve kids subject to state regulations.

None.

Mr. Daub reported that the Belview Sewage project was discussed at their meeting.

None

Mr. Linkous reported that the pool renovation, Elliston Recreation Park, Coal Miners Park and Plum Creek Recreation Park were items discussed at their meeting. Bobby Parker, Public Information Director, made a report on Plum Creek. He said another community meeting would be held on January 13^th in Plum Creek and they would move forward with development of the park and consolidated waste collection site on the Hornsby Drive property.

None.

Mr. Wells, Chair, thanked staff and Commission members for the work they had completed this year. He stated that a good job had been done.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

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