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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-17-70~~a`~ Minutes of the regular meeting of the Pulaski Town Council, held February 17, 1970, at 7:00 P. M., in the Pulaski County Circuit Courtroom. There were present: Mayor C. Robert Edens, presiding. Councilmen: Glen K. Aust, Mason A. Vaughan, A. L. Graham, J. H. White, S. G. Frye, Wm. A. House, W. D. Macgill, Raymond F. Ratcliff Also present: Town Manager: J. E. Marshall Clerk: Gladys R. Dalton Town Attorney: Alan Groseclose Town Engineer: R. Lloyd Mathews Chief of Police: C. E. Comer, Jr. Members of the Planning Commission: Mr. John R. Powers, Chairman Mrs. Charles Settle Mr. A. D. Clark The invocation was given by Councilman Macgill. Mayor Edens welcomed the visitors present, and thanked them for taking time to attend the meeting. Minutes of the regular meeting of February 3rd and special meeting of February 10th were approved as recorded. Mayor Edens stated that as had been advertised in the local newspaper, this was the time and place for a joint public hearing by the Pulaski Town Council and the Pulaski Town Planning Commission on the application of Claremont Corporation to rezone from R-2 Residence to B-2 General Business Zone along Bob White Boulevard, extending from Thomas JOINT PUBLIC Street to the south line of the new Aldersgate United Methodist Church HEARING REC RE-ZONING ON Property and belonging to the Claremont Corporation, in the Town of Pulaski, BOB WHITE BLVD. Virginia. Mayor Edens stated anyone who wished to speak for this proposal would be heard at that time. Mr. Jesse Hopkins, one of the partners in the Claremont Corporation, advised that the Corporation's request had been set out in detail in the letter requesting the rezoning, and he was present to see if there were any objections and the nature of same. Paul Roop, another partner in the Corporation, favored the rezoning and asked that the record show the 50 ft. strip to be 250 feet in length rather than: 200. This was noted by Town Manager Marshall. Mayor Edens then asked to hear those who opposed the rezoning. Mr. Paul Ferguson stated that at a previous meeting of Council it had been discussed that the fifty foot space would be used for parking. Mr. Ferguson was advised that space must be provided for parking but that it could be on either side of the strip. .~~:~~ February 17, 1970 A written petition of protest, signed by approximately thirty property owners in the vicinity of Bob White Boulevard, was PETITION OF presented by Mr. J. R. Boult, and filed with the Clerk, in which it was PROTEST TO RE-ZONING stated they opposed any change in the commercalzoning restriction or bounds on Bob White Boulevard; that removal of this commercial zone would lower the value of their property as well as increase the value of the land owned by the Claremont Corporation. Further, it was their feeling that Claremont Corporation should have requested a different commercial zoning boundary bef ore the Corporation developed the sub- division in which these property owners had invested between $20,000.00 and $30,000.00 a piece in their homes. Mayor Edens advised that the Council would receive a COUNCIL TO GIVE ITS recommendation from the Town Planning Commission at its next regular DECISION AT NEXT MEETING meeting, March 3~d, at which time the Council would give their decision on the matter. Mr. J. B. Warner stated that in July 1969 the Council had been petitioned to do something about the hazardous traffic conditions on Peppers Ferry Road; that it appeared the same conditions existed and wondered when some results could be expected. Mr. Warner also stated J.B.WARNHE that at the same time mention was made of the rumor that the YMCA had purchased a tract of land from the Bones Estate and that this would HAZARDOUS TRAFFIC create more traffic in the area; that these rumors have now become fact CONDITIONS ALONG and wondered if Council would go on record as not approving the opening PEPPERS FERRY RD. of Oakhurst Avenue for YMCA traffic. Mayor Edens advised that the Council fully realizes the hazardous traffic conditions on Peppers Ferry Road and that steps are being taken to improve this situation; that the widening of Peppers Ferry Road would be almost impossible, and that access roads to Peppers Ferry Road would relive some of the situation. He further stated the State Highway Department is making a survey relative to developing a street from the vicinity of Allison Lane and Route 11 (Dublin Road) and it was hoped this would relieve some of the heavy traffic on Peppers Ferry Road. Mayor Edens stated further that this situation on Peppers Ferry Road had been policed, and some speeders had been caught. But as to '~5 February 17, 1970 making a statement about the opening of Oakhurst Avenue, the Town had not been requested to do this, but it was felt with the new street at the upper end, which would be an access to the "Y", would probably help the situation. Mr. Warner then asked if Council had approved the new subdivision NO REQ. to be placed on the Bones Estate and if the "Y" had made application for a FOR APPROVAL OF SUBDIV. building permit. Mayor Edens advised that the Town had not been requested ON BONES ESTATE to approve a new subdivision, the opening of Oakhurst Avenue, or a building permit. Mr. Warner then requested that the situation be referred to the Street Committee authorizing a study be made, and suggested sidewalks be installed from Walnut Avenue to the Pulaski High School and Mashburn Avenue to Newbern Road, for the protection of the school children. SIDEWALKS Councilman Frye moved that in view of the specific request ALONG PEPPER FRY.RD. & asking that sidewalks be considered. to the Pulaski High School along Peppers MASHBURN AV E. .REF. Ferry Road, and on Mashburn Avenue to Newbern Road, that the matter be TO ST. COMM. studied by the Street Committee and Town Manager, which motion was seconded by Councilman Ratcliff, and carried. At this point Paul Cox, Jr. brought to Council's attention the traffic situation on Newbern Road, on which he lives. Councilman House reported that with reference to the approaches to the Northwood School, a meeting with the Pulaski County ST.COMM. REPORT School Board had been requested. He further stated it was felt some coopera- ON NORTHWOOD SCHOOL tion with the Board is necessary in order to solve this problem. TRAFFIC Mr. House also reported that the traffic situation at the corner of Main and Washington Avenue had been discussed many times, and ALSO MAIN & .that many. suggestions-have-been made regarding this heavily traveled WASH.AVE. intersection, but none favorable enough for making a change in the traffic light at this time. Mr. House also reported that the Committee had recommended that "parking meter holidays" be referred to the Town Manager for administra- TOWN MGR. TO DECIDE tive handling, and suggested that the Retail Merchants Association be con- ON PARKING META taated relative to the most logical days to be observed as "free parking HOLIDAYS meter holidays". `-. February 17, 1970 Councilman Ratcliff reported that a study is being made on ALUM SPG. the request for a sewer line extension on the Alum Spring Road, and it would SEWER CONTD. appear that several easements would have to be secured. The matter is still pending, no action was necessary at this time. Reporting for the Land Buildings and Parks Committee, Councilman Ratcliff stated that for several years the Town of Pulaski has been talking about a building sufficient to take care of the needs of the Town Government, and the Committee at this time offered the following report on what has been done up to this time: NEW PLAN FOR MUNICIPAL BUILDING BEING STUDIED The Town Council over the last several years has been studying the need for a Municipal Building and approximately one year ago the present Council revived the studies and the matter was placed in the hands of the Land and Building Comm- REPORT OF ittee of the Council to develop and report with single line sketches to be submitted for consideration by the entire NEW PLAN FOR Council. MUNICIPAL BUILDING ~ October 21, 1969, the firm of Eubank, Caldwell, Dobbins, Shertz and Franklin, Architects and Engineers of Roanoke was authorized to prepare preliminary sketches for consideration., After several study sessions where some basic changes were made by Council, it was generally agreed that the proposal would serve the needs of the Town of Pulaski and Council authorized the Architects to proceed with working drawings and specifications to be presented when complete. The Council in their overall consideration is looking for a building that would be functional for years to come, would provide the public with an easy access building where the Town's business would be conducyed and would be within the economic possibility of the Town. In the plan development these ideas have been foremost. Also, the Council in looking at t the overall operation of the Town Government feels that the consolidating under one roof of most of the Administrative Departments will lead a more efficient and less fragmented local government. The working drawings have been reviewed with the Architects by Council and the proposed building would be two stories, constructed of concrete, block and brick. It is presently proposed to be located on First Street to the rear of the Post Office and will face to the South. It is pro- posed to be seventy-five (75) feet wide and one hundred twenty-nine (129.5) and one-half feet long and is proposed to have a total floor area of 18,648 sq. ft. Mr. Ratcliff stated that no formal action had been taken up to this' time, and only shared the report with the public, that it was felt a point had been reached whereby a cost estimate was necessary bef ore any action could be taken. ~~~~ Febrmary 17, 1970 At this point Mr.Warner asked if the Town would be 1 complying with the Town Ordinance relative to the parking situation J.B.WARNER QUESTIONS ~ the new building was constructed on First Street. He was advised PARKINGB AT NEW that the zoning ordinance would be complied. with at this site. MUN. BLDG. Councilman Ratcliff moved that the Architects be BIDS ON authorized to proceed to advertise for bids for the construction of the NEW BLDG. TO BE proposed Municipal Building. The motion was seconded by Councilman Macgill, SECURED and carried. Town Manager Marshall reported that a request had been received from Mr. James Covey, Sr. for a non-conforming use permit covered by Section 12-4 of the Town Zoning Ordinance, to operate a neighborhood grocery store in a building owned by Mr. Covey at the 1 corner of Martin Avenue and Chestnut Street in the Town of Pulaski. Mr JAMES COVEY REQ. Marshall stated the :Town Planning Commission had considered this request ZONING CHANGE FOR at its meeting on February 16th and there were no objections to this OPERATION OF GROCERY non-conf orming use by the Commission. He stated the procedure now STORE PUBLIC would be for Council to hold a public hearing to see if there was any HEARING TO BE HELD neighborhood objections. Councilman Aust moped that a public hearing b e set for.~the next meeting of Council, March 3rd, which motion was seconded by Councilman Vaughan,_and.carried. Town.Manager-Marshall advised that work is still being done on-the Garbage Collection Survey and it was hoped a report could be made before too long. There being-no°.further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:55 P.M.~ ~~II ~J APPROVED: ... p - ~ ' /L~--G~2.~ - ~~~~ Mayor ACTT T : ; _ ~1 , Jerk of the Council . ,. .~ .: ..