The Virginia Supreme Court has decided: our appeal will be heard

On August 27, along with attorneys for the Town of Blacksburg, we were scheduled to present oral arguments to a 3-judge panel of the Virginia Supreme Court. In addition to a petition we had filed, this was a chance for our attorneys to convince the court to grant our appeal and hear the case.

But, instead of oral arguments, our attorneys, and the town's, were informed that the panel had already decided, on the basis of the written petitions, to grant the appeal! Of course this does not indicate whether the court will overturn the January 24 decision of Circuit Court Judge Bobby Turk. But it confirms what we had contended all along, that the decisions of the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Circuit Court had ventured well beyond existing Virginia law and court precedent.

In a few weeks, the Supreme Court will set a date for a hearing. We expect a court date some time in late Winter or Spring of 2009.

Blacksburg's zoning ordinance is due for an update, and your input is welcome

Recent experience with "First and Main" and other developments in town have pointed to the need to update and strengthen the town's zoning ordinance. Citizens need protections for neighborhoods and environment built into the ordinance. And developers need a clear set of ground rules. The candidates elected to town council this year all stressed the need for a review of the zoning ordinance.

Now, only four months after the election, the process is getting underway. And all citizens are invited to get involved. This is a fantastic opportunity to build smart growth principles into the town code.