Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
CHRISTIANSBURG -Two public hearings concerning requests for conditional use permits for the purpose of constructing residential areas in locations that are now zoned as B3 General Business occurred during the Christiansburg Town Council meeting on Feb. 13, 2024.
One of the two public hearings was conducted to discuss a CUP for multi-family apartments in Christiansburg.
“The applicant is seeking approval for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow residential use, specifically multi-family apartments, within the B-3 General Business zoning,” the Council’s agenda stated. “The proposed development will adhere to the R-3 Multi-Family Residential development standards and the B-3 residential density standards, with an assumed 96 units at 20 units per acre. No plans have been submitted with the application, and there is no additional information regarding the designs of the proposed development. On Jan. 16, 2024, the Planning Commission voted 4 to 0 to not recommend approval of the request.”
Rebecca Hubble of Forelmont Street was the first of four citizens to address the Christiansburg Council during the public hearing listed second on the agenda.
“My family is opposed to this; it would back up to my property. A couple concerns that we have is of course traffic at the light at the Rec Center. I go that way every morning to go to work,” Hubble said. “Our property value with apartments right behind us, privacy, I’m sure they would go up, people would be looking down in my yard, noise at night or anytime during the day and also safety. My children do walk to high school and back, just concern for their safety.”
Tonia Winn, of Forelmont Street in Christiansburg, also spoke in opposition to the request.
“I’m concerned regarding the density; it’s 4.8 acres of land and you can probably put around 96 units. I’m concerned about the number of cars and the size of the lot. I’m concerned about aesthetically what that’s going to look like butting up to our neighborhood where it’s, which is a single family residential, how it will obstruct our views, it will change the character of our neighborhood. I’m concerned with the traffic, the trash, the runoff, the safety concerns,” Winn said.
Winn also shared that the current vacant lot has had issues in the past with a lack of maintenance such as mowing and upkeep. According to Winn, when she had previously called the property owner about concerns, he responded with inappropriate language and hung up on her.
The council was urged by Ryan Hubble to forego waiting until the next Council meeting to decide on the CUP and vote during the Feb. 13 meeting. Council members rejected this request and will, therefore, vote on the CUP in two weeks.
Another conditional use permit requested to allow the construction of two single-family dwellings.
According to Christiansburg Town Council’s posted agenda at www.christiansburg.org, “The applicant is seeking approval for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow residential use within the B-3 zoning district. The proposed development includes the construction of two single-family housing units, conforming to the R-3 Multi-Family Residential development standards. On January 16, 2024, the Planning Commission voted 4 to 0 recommending approval of the request.”
Kevin Connor of Shah Development, LLC, addressed the Council and present audience concerning the CUP request.
“Liberty Street is a residential street, just happens to be zoned B3 so we’re here. We’re going to build two single family homes, two lots. One home will be a one-bedroom, 800 square foot home and the second will be a two-bedroom, 1000 square foot home,” Conner said. “I think it will complement the neighborhood and the rest of the development on Liberty Street and I would request under, I think it’s Section 8, discussion by Mayor and Council, if possible, I know it’s protocol that you wait until the next meeting to make your vote, but I would request if you could consider voting tonight. We are ready to pull permits.”
The request to vote at the Feb. 13 meeting did not receive a second motion and was denied by Council members.
Citizens were invited to speak on this request, but none came forward.
In other town council meeting business, New River Valley Regional Commission Executive Director Kevin Byrd provided an update on the collaborative New River Valley pandemic response timeline, including the Task Force After Action Report.
“Dr. Bissell and retired Police Chief Anthony Wilson were co-leaders of this and that really helped a tremendous amount in guiding the day-by-day, hour-by-hour decisions,” Byrd said.
According to the report, the New River Valley Public Health Task Force was the first to have drive through testing, the first general Covid-19 Call Center, they had the first Regional Vaccine Call Center, and the first to move through vaccine groups.
Additionally, joint collaboration with local universities, county groups, and town organizations happened through active and consistent communication, media release, equipment, de-escalation locations, and a myriad of other pooled resources that made the New River Valley’s response time to citizens’ needs premier in the state of Virginia.
The full presentation of the New River Valley Regional Commission’s pandemic response report can be viewed as part of the Christiansburg Town Council’s recorded meeting on You Tube.
