A professional ruling from the Zoning Administrator
Steve Hundley has a tough job. Blacksburg's Zoning Administrator has to be part engineer and part judge. He has to interpret both technical drawings and laws. Late Monday, he made a zoning determination that was courageous in the face of public controversy, but was quite straightforward as a matter of engineering and law. In a powerfully-argued 12-page letter, he ruled that the developers of the South Main project have not obtained vested rights. They are thus subject to Ordinance 1450, and must apply for a special use permit before building a Walmart, or any retail structure over 80,000 square feet.
There is no indication in the letter whether Hundley is for or against a Walmart on the site, what he thinks of Ordinance 1450, or if he is concerned about the kids at Margaret Beeks Elementary. None of this is relevant to his decision. He studied the South Main plans, the law, and the arguments of the developers, and drew the only logical conclusion. Virginia law clearly lays out the ways in which vested rights can be obtained. The developers of the South Main project did not qualify under any of them.
This decision strengthens our hand in stopping the big box project. But the developers may still appeal Hundley's ruling to the Blacksburg Board of Zoning Appeals. We will be ready if and when action is needed on behalf of Blacksburg's residents.
Wanted - more activists
BURG is working to broaden our scope, involve more people, and become a permanent force for citizen involvment and a real smart-growth voice in Blacksburg's development.
We have set up the following five groups. Each has a chairperson, members, a mission, but we could use more energetic, committed people. Please reply to this mailing to indicate which group you would like to work with, and we will inform you of the next meeting.
Fundraising Committee: Creative idea people and energetic activists to bring in the funds that we still need to pay for our legal effort. Chair: Margaret Breslau.
Publicity/Media Committee: Help keep the issue in the public eye. Now organizing a membership drive and our float in the 4th of July parade. Chair: Richard Rich.
New Initiatives Working Group: This group will review ideas for new ways to encourage growth that are consistent with our vision of small scale, locally-owned, downtown-focused, sustainable development. Chair: Meredith Hampton.
"Citizens' Review Board": This group will get the jump on new development projects, study them, research them, and report to the community on what is worth supporting, what isn't, how we can intervene early to influence the review process. Chair: Mark Lattanzi.
Neighborhood Committee: Providing a forum for neighborhood associations to come together.
This Sunday!:
A special showing of the new film OURTOWN, about a small town in Maine that took on Walmart, and won.
At the Lyric Theatre
Sunday, June 24, 3 PM
$5
The film will be followed by a conversation with special guest, Jenny Mayher, who founded Ourtown Damariscotta, and is featured in the film.
Download our PDF poster.
You are invited to the after-film pot luck reception. Bring food and drink to Gillie's, starting at 7 PM, to talk with Jenny Mayher, and keep the energy flowing.
