Marty Gordon
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A proposed 105-foot-tall manufacturing facility could become Christiansburg’s next industrial development, with town officials set to begin the public review process.
This past week, the town’s planning commission discussed the exception.
The town will consider a conditional use permit request for a structure greater than 70 feet to be built in the Falling Branch Corporate Park. The manufacturing facility is planned to have a footprint of 8,500 square feet and will be located on approximately 38 acres of land.
The height request, according to economic development officials, only deals with a part of the building and is necessary for a part of that company’s manufacturing process.
The exact type and name of the business has not been released. In several closed meetings, it has been referred to as a number. This is typical when a company looks to a locality but does cause residents to scratch their heads on what it could be.
In many localities, these questions have centered around the term “data center”.
The property in question is located adjacent to a FedEx distribution center along Technology Drive.
“It is not a data center, it’s manufacturing,” said county Economic Development Director Brian Hamilton. He did not specify what kind of manufacturing facility — or the company involved — because he said there are nondisclosure agreements between the economic authority, county board of supervisors and the prospect.
In order for the manufacturer to consider the area as a place to build its facility, Hamilton said the board of supervisors had to first acquire the property and then develop it to a tier-5 site according to the standards of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the state’s economic development arm. That includes a site that has access to roads, water, sewer, fiber, natural gas and electricity.
The Christiansburg Planning Commission did not vote on the exception and requested more information about the need for the higher structure before making a decision.
