MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Catlin Newton of Blacksburg exercises Pudgie at Nellie's Cave Park in Blacksburg. At a council retreat, Town Manager Marc Verniel said the town is open to mixed-use development for the old Blacksburg Middle School land, along with a civic component for the property, such as a park.

MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Blacksburg Town Manager Marc Verniel (left) addresses town council members and town staff during a retreat at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg on Tuesday. Verniel said the community's perception that Blacksburg is not a business-friendly town is an issue that came up frequently during campaign debates in the November council election, and council members said they have also heard the complaint.

| Sharla Bardin

sharla.bardin@roanoke.com, 381-1669

BLACKSBURG -- Is Blacksburg business-friendly?

Not according to a perception that exists among some residents and developers. "I think it's a big community perception issue" and one that is widespread, Town Manager Marc Verniel said Tuesday during a town council retreat.

Verniel said the issue came up frequently during campaign debates in the November council election, and council members said they have also heard the complaint.

"Perception issues are a lot of times difficult to deal with," Verniel said.

But town leaders say they want to try, and they discussed some strategies that could help change that perception, such as forming a task force of residents to find out some of the issues people have with the town's development process.

That non-business-friendly perception may have something to do with previous council decisions, including the controversy surrounding the First & Main retail center.

Last year, the Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the council's right to require the developers of the project to apply for a special-use permit to build a 186,000-square-foot store off South Main Street. The megastore, widely believed to be a Walmart, was planned as part of the 40-acre First & Main retail center.

Still, some council members were quick to point out that the council has worked to support sustainable and smart growth developments -- an approach they want to continue -- and some people in the community view that approach as a no-growth approach.

Mayor Ron Rordam said the council is elected to "look out beyond the time we're here" and take into account how the town will look in 10 to 20 years. Promoting sustainable business development is key in that vision, he said.

Verniel said town staff is willing to look at aspects of the permitting and development process to see whether improvements are needed.

Council members said some of the complaints they have heard is the wait time with the permitting process and a fear or trepidation to raise an issue they may have about their project to town staff.

Another issue mentioned was improving customer service from the town.

Along with the task force idea, council members also offered suggestions that could help in the development process.

Councilman John Bush said a useful tool would be creating a general checklist to hand out or put online about the process involved in a renovation or for a new project so an applicant would have a better understanding of the steps involved.

Another idea mentioned to address the business perception is the presence of council members at chamber of commerce functions or in economic development groups.

Town officials also touched on another development topic during the retreat -- what will happen with the old Blacksburg Middle School property?

Officials said the town is waiting to see what Montgomery County officials decide to do with the land.

In December, the county school board agreed to release the property -- which includes the main building, a vocational building, a stadium and two other athletic fields -- to the county. If it is sold, proceeds are expected to be used for school system capital projects.

The county has not yet received the deed papers from the school system, said Ruth Richey, public information director for the county.

Blacksburg's stake in the property involves the zoning.

The property is currently zoned for low-density residential use, meaning no more than four homes per acre. Because the county-owned land is within town limits, any rezoning requires approval from the town council.

Verniel said the town is open to mixed-use development for that land, along with a civic component for the property, such as a park.

Town officials said they are willing to work with county officials concerning the property.

"We are looking forward to a creative use of that property," said Councilman Don Langrehr.