BURG appeals the BZA ruling

From our press release:

BLACKSBURG CITIZEN GROUP APPEALS BIG-BOX RULING

Blacksburg , Virginia , August 30, 2007 – Blacksburg United for Responsible Growth (BURG) has filed an appeal of a July 31 Board of Zoning Appeals decision that rewarded vested rights for the construction of a 186,000 square foot retail supercenter. Listed on the appeal are 21 residents of Blacksburg, most of whom live near the site of the planned store.

In June, the Blacksburg Zoning Administrator, Steve Hundley, determined that the developers of the project, Fairmount Properties of Cleveland, Ohio, and the local owners, Jeanne Stosser and Georgia Ann Snyder-Falkinham, were subject to a new ordinance that requires a special use permit for any retail structure over 80,000 square feet. The developers had received a rezoning in May, 2006, based on plans for a small-scale, mixed-use development featuring residential units above specialty retail. The ordinance was passed after it was discovered that the developers had scrapped their proposed project in favor of a suburban-style “lifestyle center” anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter .

The big box store would be located adjacent to Margaret Beeks Elementary School .

The developers appealed Hundley's decision to the Board of Zoning Appeals, which reversed the decision and ruled that the ordinance did not apply to their project.

“The board's decision went way beyond existing law and Virginia Supreme Court rulings. It aggrieves homeowners near the project, who deserve protection from such out-of-scale development,” said Daniel Breslau, chair of the BURG steering committee.

According to the Institute of Traffic Engineers, “retail supercenters” generate about 60 percent more traffic per square foot than do specialty retail stores. Local residents, such as Lauren Coble, who lives near the development and is among those appealing the board's ruling, are concerned about the project's impact. “Our neighborhood cannot stand the addition of more cut-through traffic generated by a big box retail store,” said Coble.

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Read the appeal here.

The BURG legal fund needs your help

Finally, the residents of Blacksburg will be weighing in as full parties to the legal proceedings. The judge will hear our perspective on the case, which will emphasize the damaging impacts on our neighborhoods and the questionable conduct of the developers.

We now know that our legal bill will exceed our initial goal of $20,000. So please, if you have not yet donated, please help us to make the strongest case possible for reversing the BZA ruling and forcing Fairmount Properties to abide by Ordinance 1450.

Visit our donations page for information on how to contribute.

The 2nd BURG Book Sale - Saturday, September 1

We have amassed a huge number of great books, and will be selling them in front of Gillie's, at 153 College Ave., on Saturday, September 1, starting at 8:00 AM. Please come by our table, browse the books, and catch up on our work. All proceeds will go to the BURG legal fund.

Rally!

We are preparing a huge rally, to keep our efforts visible, energize the community, and have some fun. The date will be determined to coincide with developments in the legal case. We're thinking big and festive. Contact Carol Guest if you want to help with this event.