David McGee
Staff Writer / Bristol
Herald Courier
April 15, 2009
BRISTOL, Va.
– Plans for a new city technology park adjacent
to Sugar Hollow Park
moved forward Tuesday when the City Council voted to rezone the land.
The unanimous vote – to rezone the 83-acre city-owned tract from
agricultural to the office and institutional designation – was the first of two
required readings before the change can take effect.
The rezoning is necessary to make the site appealing for development, Mayor
Jim Rector said.
“This is another step in the process,” Rector said. “Hopefully, when the
economy begins its upturn, we’ll be ready for development.”
Earlier this year, the council approved amending the office and
institutional zoning to include colleges and universities, research and
development centers, corporate and company offices and headquarters and data or
call centers.
The area, which is currently landlocked, wouldn’t be used for traditional
commercial or retail development.
No member of the public spoke during a joint public hearing with the
Planning Commission, which also gave its unanimous blessing.
A project to develop the park includes establishing a new road along the
park’s western border, installing a bridge across Beaver Creek, adding a Lee Highway traffic
signal and realigning the intersection with Mount Vernon Drive.
Site preparation work is expected to begin later this year.
“I hope to see dirt flying up there soon,” City Manager Bill Dennison said
after the meeting. “Work should begin this spring.”
The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board previously approved $3.2
million in funding for the project – including the road, bridge and
realignment.
The city already has lined up an appraiser and is prepared to acquire a
small amount of right-of-way on the south side of Lee Highway, Dennison said, adding that
design work is under way.
In other action, the council held another public hearing to entertain
requests for federal Community Development Block Grant funding.
The city still doesn’t know the amount of its allocation, CDBG Coordinator
Donna Malone said.
“We have been advised by HUD [Housing and Urban Development] to base our
allocations on last year’s entitlement amount, which was $280,423,” Malone
said.
The mayor appointed a committee comprised of Malone, Dennison, City Clerk
Steve Allen and Councilman Ernie Sprouse to review all applications and make
recommendations.
Rector said he hopes the committee can complete its work by next month.
