Tuesday, March 27, 2007
A parking garage on Mill Mountain?
Gail Burruss
Burruss lives in Roanoke.
It required a little research to find the answer to a critical question about the Rockledge Inn development proposal: how Valley Forward proposes to assure sufficient parking. Although the information appears not to be on the Valley Forward Web site, here's the answer, Roanoke: a parking garage! On Mill Mountain.
Other information also seems to be missing. Where's the research supporting Valley Forward's claim that Mill Mountain is largely unused by most Roanoke Valley citizens? About 52,000 people visited the Mill Mountain Discovery Center in 2006. Thousands more citizens use the mountain without entering this facility. My observation, shared by others who are frequent visitors, is that the mountain is used gently and quietly by many.
Valley Forward claims there is little to do on Mill Mountain, "and thus, no reason to visit for all but a small segment of the population." In a world that is increasingly noisy, aggressive, cluttered and stressful, there is a profound need for accessible, open natural space that invites people to experience the calming of nature, the joy of silence, the rejuvenation of fresh air.
People use Mill Mountain for reading, conversation, meditation, reflection, bird-watching, star-gazing, introspection, prayer, photography, writing, creating, biking, hiking and simply, but so importantly, finding peace through keeping company with nature.
Valley Forward also reports that there is "virtually unlimited green space around us," but it appears to minimize the value of easily accessible green space in the midst of our city. I can easily take lunch to Mill Mountain, but not to the national forest.
Explore Park is a few miles north of the mountain. We await word on what proposal a developer will present for this precious natural resource. We currently have two accessible, delightful green spaces that are threatened. Yet, green space attracts tourists.
Roanoke College President Sabine O'Hara, whose academic specialty is regional economics and sustainable economic development, has presented the results of research she led on the quality of life in the Roanoke Valley. This study, requested by the Roanoke Business Council, recommends making our strongest asset -- our beautiful natural environment -- readily accessible through connecting trail systems, bike paths, and excellent signage directing residents and visitors to well-marked trails. The study recommends developing a more urban atmosphere downtown, not contaminating our public green space with urban features.
Recognition of Mill Mountain's value as green space is reflected in several documents. The Fifth Planning District Commission developed the Roanoke Valley Open Space Study in 1999. Citizen input indicated a high level of support for preserving views of forested ridgelines and mountain slopes. Views of Mill Mountain from the city and surrounding region were specifically mentioned as important.
Vision 2001/2020: Planning for Roanoke's Future Economic Development, Neighborhoods, and Quality of Life is our city's vision for this 20-year period. It identifies the city's natural environment as one of its most valuable assets and recommends the protection of environmental, historical and cultural tourist attractions from visual or physical encroachment by incompatible uses. It calls for a comprehensive regional marketing strategy that promotes Roanoke as an outdoors destination offering such attractions as the Blue Ridge Parkway, Carvins Cove and Mill Mountain.
The city's 2005 Mill Mountain Management Plan, part of the city's comprehensive plan, called for keeping the mountain natural and for the summit to be limited to civic and recreational uses. This document also noted public interest in preservation of the mountain.
Why would we reverse these decisions, which were based on extensive and costly work and which reflect the sentiments of our citizens?
Would it be acceptable to develop commercial establishments in other city parks?
The original Rockledge Inn was a dismal business failure. It opened in 1892 and closed in 1893. It reopened in 1909 and closed in 1929. Mill Mountain Playhouse used the building from 1964 until an arsonist torched it in 1976. It doesn't seem that such a business failure should be romanticized or re-created.
Valley Forward emphasizes that its concept plan for building a Rockledge Inn on Mill Mountain is meant to be a starting place for constructive discussion about a beloved community asset. To increase the likelihood for the discussion to be a positive one, Valley Forward could reconsider framing it as a "litmus test on what Roanoke wants to be." Such language creates a win-lose dynamic that reduces the discussion to right vs. wrong, change vs. opposition to change, economic prosperity vs. environmental protection. Polarizing language will diminish the possibility for constructive, positive dialogue.
