Meredith has proposed a compromise for adjusting Fincastle's boundary along the U.S. 220 corridor. A town council boundary proposal has been met with opposition from some Botetourt County residents whose property would become part of the town. Meredith's plan would take in less developed land than the town's proposal. Under his plan, Fincastle would grow from 151 acres to 1,120 acres. The town's plan had an increase to 1,657 acres. Meredith said the population increase is still being calculated.

Town council members are being mum even though they have been expecting a compromise from Meredith since December, when they presented supervisors a proposal to expand town boundaries.

Mayor Bob Gengo said the town council and the planning commission will meet to review Meredith's suggestions.

"We are in negotiations," Gengo said.

Meredith emphasized that he drew up the plan alone, based on conversations with his constituents. A first-term supervisor, Meredith represents both Fincastle and adjoining county residents.

"I wanted to see that both sides are represented in the proper manner," Meredith said. "I'm trying to satisfy folks who don't want to give up farmland" and accomplish what the town wants: watershed and viewshed protection and population growth.

Supervisors have not officially endorsed the plan.

Meredith also suggested using special zoning for areas that were included in the original boundary adjustment proposal but were left out of his. That would give the town a voice in future development of the area, he said. The slower growth advocated by Meredith also would give Fincastle time to hire a town manager, another of its goals, he said.

Meredith's recommendation came this week during the second meeting of a committee of county and town officials appointed to recommend a plan for the boundary adjustment.

The debate over the town's borders has at times led to ill feelings between the two governing bodies.

A curt Jan. 30 letter that the town council and the planning commission sent to supervisors indicated that county officials had been critical of the town's process to adjust its boundary.

The letter also indicated frustration with county officials. "It is our belief that the laws of the commonwealth clearly charge us to work in concert to achieve and maintain what is in the public's best interest. We have approached the county both informally and formally in this posture (i.e. good faith and openness) for almost a year," the letter read.

And to comments that Fincastle's proposal included too much land, the letter read: "To put this in perspective, we are not only the oldest incorporated town west of the Blue Ridge, we are also one of the smallest in the Commonwealth of Virginia."

The town's boundary adjustment is a goal in its 2001 comprehensive plan. Officials have said they need the additional land to encourage orderly development along U.S. 220 and to protect its watershed and viewshed. They also want to provide enhanced water and sewer services to a number of county residents who already receive town services.