JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Ron Baldwin, who works at the Southgate Market convenience store off Tyler Road and lives in the area, says he is concerned that business will be affected because of the new convenience stores that are part of the developments planned for the area near Interstate 81's Exit 109.

| Sharla Bardin

sharla.bardin@roanoke.com, 381-1669

CHRISTIANSBURG -- Montgomery County leaders have approved plans that pave the way for new hotels, restaurants, businesses and homes for the Tyler Road area.

At its Monday night meeting, the board of supervisors approved three rezoning requests that span almost 51 acres for properties previously zoned for agricultural use.

The requests are to rezone the properties, near Interstate 81's Exit 109, to general business with some residential uses.

Steve Semones with Balzer and Associates Inc., which is representing the applicants involved, said via e-mail that "eight to 12 months would realistically be the earliest a project could get through all the approvals necessary to start construction."

He added that there are no firm plans for any projects to begin immediately.

Semones said there is transportation and utility infrastructure work that is required for the projects, including working with the state Department of Transportation on specific plans for the road work.

Semones has said it will likely take about five to 10 years to complete the projects. Also, the developments will likely be done in phases.

Before Monday's meeting, some residents and those working in nearby businesses on Tyler Road expressed mixed reactions to the developments. Only one resident spoke against the projects during the meeting.

Some say they welcome the revenue that will come into the area from people staying in the hotels and eating at the restaurants, while others say they lament the traffic, noise and change from the natural beauty of the land.

The project applicants are S&P of Virginia LLC, Roger Woody and Emerald Investors Inc., and each application submitted was a separate request.

The plans include three hotels, 40 homes, three restaurants and a two-story retail and office building.

County planning officials have said the area has been planned for commercial growth. All the rezoning applications are for land in an area designated as urban expansion in the county's comprehensive plan.

Urban expansion areas have been targeted as preferred locations for new residential and business development, according to county planning documents.

Board Chairwoman Annette Perkins said in the meeting that the board, developers and the county planning staff have worked to make sure the projects are safe, pleasant and will safeguard residents, while also allowing for appropriate development in that area.

One aspect of the developments is a roundabout to address traffic volume.

The five-leg roundabout will connect all three projects and is anticipated to keep traffic from backing up onto the interstate, provide better alignment with Meadow Creek Road and will handle a higher volume of traffic with less delay than a signalized intersection, according to project applications.

Larry Carden, who lives near the area, said in Monday's meeting that he is concerned about the traffic, noise and sewer capacity for the developments.

"Vote no to this mess," he told the supervisors.

Carden also said the board is "helping Elliston to fight [the] railroad" but isn't helping the residents near the Tyler Road projects who are also concerned about the effects those developments will have.

Norfolk Southern Corp. intends to turn property adjacent to U.S. 11/460 into an intermodal freight center.

The county's elected leaders have sued to block the state from paying the lion's share of the $25 million cost for the intermodal yard and $11 million expense for road work. Concerns from county leaders include traffic, aesthetics and land-use considerations.

Ron Baldwin, who works at the Southgate Market convenience store off Tyler Road, doesn't think the planned projects will happen quickly.

"This will be over a long period of time, I think," said Baldwin, who also lives near Tyler Road.

He said he also is concerned that business will be affected at the Southgate Market because of the new convenience stores that are part of the developments.

The Southgate Market has been in business for 32 years in the Tyler Road area.

"We'll stay here as long as we can," Baldwin said.

Jean Fralin, on the other hand, said she is excited about the exposure that the developments can bring her business. She is the owner and manager of Stagecoach Antiques Mall on Mudpike Road near Exit 109.

"I'm all for it," said Fralin, who has owned her business for 18 years. "The sooner, the better."

She said she thinks the developments will become a reality and that the projects will help bring more people into the area.

"I think it's a very good location for all the businesses they are talking about," Fralin said.