Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
CHRISTIANSBURG – Christiansburg Town Council welcomed Kim Bowman as a newly elected council member, Tiffany Couch as Clerk of Courts, and recognized reappointments to the town government and the selection of Tanya Hockett as Vice Mayor, at its Jan. 9 meeting.
Couch conducted the swearing in of Council members Samuel Bishop and Johana Hicks, who were accompanied by family and friends. Council member Kim Bowman took the oath in Dec. 2023, according to the Town Mayor Michael Barber.
Randy Wingfield was reappointed as Town Manager by the Christiansburg Town Council during Tuesday’s regular meeting. Other reappointments during the meeting are listed on the agenda at www.christiansburg.org.
Henry Showalter was also recognized for his years of service to the Christiansburg Town Council serving from Sept. 1, 2008 to December 31, 2023, as well as many other areas of service in the community and in the United States Army Reserves.
During the public hearing session of the meeting, two conditional use permits (CUPs), and one street vacation were presented to the council and citizens.
The first CUP request was for Trustees of Blacksburg Church of Christ Missions & Cole Burch Properties, LLC, and Carter Machinery Company, Inc.
According to the agenda listed on the town’s website, the applicant has requested to “allow for machinery and equipment sales, service and storage, and for a contractors equipment storage yard, and for rental of equipment commonly used by contractors, on approximately 5.81 acres located south of Roanoke Street and west of Simmons Road, S.E.”
Max Wiegard, Attorney with Miles and Stockbridge Law Firm, spoke as representative for the applicant.
“We were before council in November, and at that time I told you that this was a two-step process, and the first step was our application to vacate the Alma Street right-of-way, which was I think many decades ago or several decades ago intended to connect what is the area where the VDOT park and ride is located now to Simmons,” Wiegard said. “You all approved that request at that time and here we are in January with the second step in this development process and that is to request a conditional use permit authorizing Carter Machinery to operate a machinery and equipment rental business.”
The facility will be primarily utilized for renting Caterpillar equipment to mostly contractors, according to Wiegard.
Hicks brought attention to Wiegard that there are some concerns from citizens that the proposed facility will produce increased noise to the surrounding community.
“We understand the concerns about noise, we understand the concerns about traffic,” Wiegard said. “We think those are legitimate comments and concerns to be voiced and it’s why we’ve proposed and worked through with the Planning Commission a series of conditions . . . including limitations on use of the exit on to Simmons as well as the hours of operation limitations. However, there is a fine line between agreeing and accommodating which we’re trying to do and subsequently limiting the use of the property in a way that affects operations in a material way.”
James Craig of Christiansburg addressed the council on the CUP request.
“One of the things that I found kind of confusing about this whole process is, and I’ve been to the two meetings with the Planning Commission, is much like today, they say well we want to operate at 7 [a.m.], even though what they had the Planning Commission approve was 7:30,” Craig said.
Additionally, Craig said that the comparable facility being used in this process by Wiegard, located in Del Mar, Maryland, is much smaller than the proposed Christiansburg facility. Overall, Craig said that the noise and the traffic are his biggest concerns.
A second CUP request by HS Development II LLC & STMOB LLC, was presented that would “allow for a planned housing development consisting of 114-unit apartment community on approximately 7.497 acres located at the terminus of Sunset Drive, N.E. zoned B-3 General Business,” according to the agenda on Christiansburg’s website.
The additional street vacation request is associated to the CUP by HS Development II LLC and is a request to “vacate a 0.151-acre portion of the existing public street and right-of-way at the southern terminus of Sunset Drive, N.E,” as stated by the agenda.
Steve Semones of Balzer and Associates, 80 College Street, Christiansburg, addressed council regarding the CUP request and answered questions from council members and Mayor Michael Barber.
Barber asked if fire response has been considered in the proposed apartment dwellings. Semones responded that fire hydrants have been placed in consideration to proximity to the apartment complex as well as fire hose lays to the furthest point of the facility.
It is not clear at this time if the rental apartments will be considered affordable housing, but Semones said that they have been in contact with VHDA. This is a possibility but is not guaranteed currently.
A town council public hearing has been set for Feb. 27, 2024, for a CUP request by Rockstep Christiansburg, LLC, to allow a carnival from April 28 through May 12, 2024 at 782 New River Road, N.W.
In budget amendments, Council members Kim Bowman, Johana Hicks, Tanya Hockett, and Casey Jenkins voted no to increasing the council’s salaries. Funds were approved for the Children’s Wonder Universe in a split vote. Funds were not approved for the Montgomery Museum.
