Marty Gordon
Contributing writer
CHRISTIANSBURG–A change in a proposed new development off Peppers Ferry Road in Christiansburg is drawing heat from adjacent homeowners.
Snyder-Hunt Company is the owner of the property, and Stateson homes had hoped to build a combination of single-family and multi-residential along Quin W. Stuart Blvd.
Tuesday night, Todd Robertson of Stateson told members of Christiansburg Town Council loan requirements had caused him to adjust the original plan that had been approved three years ago.
The new request is to rezone approximately eight acres from R-1 to R-3 with a conditional use permit for planned housing in R-3. The developer is now planning 40 single family homes and approximately 82 town homes on the back side of the parcel.
The Christiansburg planning commission recommended approval of the changes.
Two years ago, council approved the rezoning of the same parcel from Agricultural to R-1 Single Family Residential with a CUP for a 76 single family lots.
Adjacent to the development is the Villas residential area, and a large contingent of residents from the Villas spoke against the change.
Spencer Taylor felt the new plan increases the density and is against the neighborhood and what Christiansburg has projected for that area of the town.
“The new design is not complementary to nearby residences and will create a negative impact on the value of homes in the Villas,” he said.
Taylor asked for the rezoning to be on hold until a true impact statement can be brought back to neighbors and the council.
Bob McGhee also presented council with a petition against the rezoning change with 86 signatures.
But there were some neighbors in favor of the change and hoped the development would proceed.
Reed Nicholson said the multi-facet development would provide suited housing for the town’s future, and Katherine Dowling who is a Villa resident said the town home component of the plan would complement the Villas and not hurt it.
But Dowling said the town cannot ignore the ongoing and future road problems in and around Quin Stuart Blvd.
As part of the discussed project, the developer, Virginia Department of Transportation and the town are working to fund a new intersection and signal light at the intersection of Peppers Ferry Road.
Following the public comment, Robertson said if the new rezoning is not approved, the project could be dead in the water. Construction was originally scheduled to start this fall.
Council did not take any action and will discuss the matter at its next scheduled meeting.
Council also gave the okay for a trampoline park in a former skating ring off Franklin Street. Terry Stikes, the general manager of the NRV Superbowl, plans to open the Extreme Trampoline Park at the former site of AdventureWorld Skating Ring near Corning.
“There is a need for this type of family activity in our area, and this is a perfect location for it,” he said.
The trampoline park will include an arcade, Dodge Ball arena, dunking basketball area and an ultimate warrior obstacle course.
A similar trampoline park in Salem has seen a large interest over the past two years.
“Trampoline parks are one of the fastest growing and in some cases number one entertainment attraction in the country. So, I believe it will do well in Christiansburg,” Stike said.
AdventureWorld closed in 2014 and has sat empty for the past two years, except for being used as an auction hall.
The governmental body approved a special use permit by a 5-0 vote. Stike hopes to have the trampoline park open by July 1.
In other matters, John Overton was reappointed to the Montgomery County Economic Development Authority
