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I have to really question his leadership and vision, or lackthereof. For example, the decision to construct the skate board park was a HUGE mistake. It's only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or god forbid, killed. Who in the world approves a empty swimming pool with NO attendant on Town property??

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8/3/07

Reflections on my decision for the BZA.

First, I must state clearly that these are my opinions only. I speak for myself, not for the BZA or for any other member.

Responses to items in Section 2.2 of the A. Muldrow Assoc. Marketing Study of 6/4/07

To Jane Goette and the Downtown Revitalization Committee:

A selection from a brief and compact statement I had sent to the council just before the double hearing May 29 contains some of my relevant thoughts about downtown:

As I had suggested to the Blacksburg town council in time for the May 29 double hearing, certain planning principles need to be followed and implementation steps taken post haste to save downtown life.

Various recent highly expensive superficial decorative efforts installed downtown cannot hide its moribund condition from thinking people. You're not very special when you're dead.

Indications are that these thinking people (all kinds) and their families have not been served well enough by recent town installations and omissions.

Please use this forum to share your vision of a vital Downtown with us.

How important is this issue to you and why?

What's working and not working downtown? Where do you see the problems and the solutions?

If you have information that might help expand the public's understanding of this issue and assist the downtown revitalization process, please share your knowledge, ideas and/or experiences.

Anyone can access the forum and read the comments that have been posted, but in order to post a response or a new comment, you must first login. Should you have difficulty registering, request contact info for our web site administrator.

You will find Documents relevant to Downtown revitalization here - Please download yourself a copy

Here is a link to the Blog that the Comprehensive Plan Task Force used to develop the adopted 2046 version.

Useful Links:

Comp Plan Development Blog

I would like to believe that all of the opposition to ordinance 1450 are just mal-informed about its intended application to developement in Blacksburg. Ordinance 1450 gives Blacksburg the power to keep large format retailers and other massive structures from being built in a location that will cause a negative impact on the surrounding businesses, infrastructure, and so on. The special use permit will be granted to such an operation if it is deemed an economically and environmentally positive step in the responsible growth of our community. It is not designed to inhibit growth. It is designed to promote intelligent and responsible growth.

Here is a copy of a letter that I sent to all members of Town Council. I implore others to let Town Council know that we will support them in passing Ordinance 1450 and in their support against the changed development plans that now include a Big Box store behind Margaret Beeks Elementary School.

Dear Town Council Members,

Let me begin my letter that in opposition to what others are saying, one can be both for growth and development in Blacksburg yet opposed to a “Big Box” store being planned for the area behind Gables Shopping Center and Margaret Beeks Elementary school. I am very excited about the development that was being planned for South Main Street – that area has been an eyesore for years and I am pleased that something will be done with it. However, I must also admit that I have had some concerns about the traffic and transit issues that will ensue from it. Now I realize that those concerns were nothing compared to those same concerns for the area around the proposed Big Box.