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Dear Town Council Colleagues,

With the belief that we are all looking out for the best interests of Blacksburg, I use this missive as a means to review our 9/14/04 meeting and express some of my concerns for your decision.  I also hope that you will take the time to reflect upon my thoughts and respond sincerely.  I defer to your years of service and prior experiences and though, somewhat reluctantly, I presently will respect your undivided decision to proceed with the planning of the Panorama retail project.  I only hope that you will regard my concerns here with similar deference.

I did not feel that my requests to delay this decision in order to more fully consider (in another closed session) the potential ramifications of our action to be onerous or lacking merit.  Also, I feel there was value in my other request that we take the time to discuss this issue without the Bronwyck developers in attendance.  As nonresidents of Blacksburg, they have no secured privilege to the concerns or interests we may have expressed in such a meeting. Also, there was no rationale provided that a week long delay would make any type of negative impact on the project. A growth and development proposal of this magnitude (620,00 square feet) begs for slower, cautious decision making.  Following a 35 minute presentation, we were expected to rapidly evaluate the impact of a $160 million dollar project that would require major rezoning.  We have dickered over road medians at least thrice as long.

However, I can’t help but suspect that, for at least the second time, I may have been the only Blacksburg Town Council member not provided with a preview of the substance of the meeting; it became apparent that other council members had been sufficiently briefed beforehand.  In the previous occasion, where six consenting council members including myself had previously agreed to term limits on all committees and commissions including the Planning Commission, the decision was reversed without my consideration.  Following this decision, I personally contacted both Mayor Hedgepeth and Vice Mayor Rordam and clearly expressed my concerns. Both council members reassured me that, in the future, I would be kept fully apprised of any such pertinent developments or changes.  In this early part of my term, I have sincerely attempted to gain your trust with thoughtful attention and a spirit of collegiality.  Please attempt to recognize and respect these efforts.

Regarding the scope of the project and acknowledging William Aiden’s position, that Blacksburg is a “growth machine,” I cannot help but question the need or value for an additional 620,000 square feet of retail space in downtown Blacksburg. Before expediting our decision, should we not consider visiting such a similar sized site and gain a palpable sense of how such a large sized shopping mall would affect the quality of our downtown neighborhoods and surely impact our overall town character?  As we already struggle with nearby neighborhood traffic and parking problems, are we in a position to seriously consider adding such an enormous burden of congestion (parking for 2,200 vehicles) to our narrow local streets?  Though we are challenged with a minor dearth of dry goods businesses, it is my opinion that this proposed project is one of extreme overkill.  I suspect that many, many Blacksburg residents will share this same view especially when they learn of a targeted June 2005 groundbreaking.

I hope we all agree that the impressions, concerns and opinions of Blacksburg residents regarding such a massive undertaking should be weighed heavily.  Thus, I do question the need for public secrecy on this project.  Particularly following an extended period of Blacksburg’s most recent history where residents consistently communicate a sense of disenfranchisement towards town decision making policy, I for one am very uncomfortable with keeping these development plans hidden from public scrutiny.  In the recent election campaign, I explicitly promised to keep the public informed of all impending town council decisions. As we approach such an important judgment that will undeniably change the character of the entire town of Blacksburg, I feel a personal responsibility to provide for a more open governing process. Are we willing to reinforce the existing impression that “it’s business as usual” in Blacksburg, with private financial profit prioritized over resident and taxpayer concerns?

And, as a fiscal conservative, I am quite suspect of a developers statement that “the Panorama project will require significant town investment.”  “Significant town investment” signals a significant taxpayer concern. How much will Panorama cost the taxpayers of Blacksburg. Considering these factors please provide tangible evidence why we should officially countenance the developer’s request for extended public secrecy on this proposal.  As we attempt to restore faith in our local government, I feel our real obligation is to protect the interests of town residents, not the financial prospects of an enterprising development group.

The Bronwyck Developers initiated their Panorama presentation with an opening slide that read “What do you want Blacksburg to be?”  Perhaps, by elucidating your personal visions for Blacksburg I may better understand your support for this proposal.  Hopefully, as you reciprocate with reasonable responses, your thoughtful comments will help to quell my severe concerns that we have acted in haste.

Better things for Blacksburg,

Don Langrehr
Blacksburg Town Council member