Roanoke Valley residents might get their first public chance to see details of Larry Vander Maten's plans for Explore Park at a meeting of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors in March or April.

During a board work session Tuesday, Chairman Mike Altizer said he spoke to Vander Maten earlier in the day. "He agreed, hopefully in March or April, to show a video ... bringing forth to people some realization of what the project might be like."

Altizer, who represents the Vinton District, which is home to the Roanoke County portion of the park, said, "I thought it was important to get Larry to speak to the board, to show the vision, and give people a glimpse of what the park, when developed, would be like."

The news delighted Catawba District Supervisor Butch Church, who said to Altizer, "Unless you know, I don't think anybody in the world knows the plan, and that has always bothered me."

In fact, Vander Maten and Dale Wilkinson, a Botetourt County developer who has been working with him, have insisted for months that the plan has been seen by many people, but on condition that they not reveal its details.

The subject came up during what was supposed to be a discussion of a Plan B for the park site, sought by Windsor Hills Supervisor Joe McNamara, should Vander Maten not come up with financing for the $90 million project.

The supervisors agreed that they hope the Florida-based developer can find the money to pay for his "overnight family vacation destination" -- which state law says must have historical and ecological educational elements -- but several insisted that the county also should be ready to assert influence over its use if he does not.

The property is slated to revert to the state, which originally purchased it, if Vander Maten does not exercise his lease of the site by mid-June 2010. Each of the supervisors insisted that the county, which has invested about $8 million on the property in cash and in-kind services over the years, should be involved in its future if that happens.

In other action, Church and Cave Spring Supervisor Charlotte Moore reversed their positions from the board's last meeting by voting to schedule a public hearing on a controversial asphalt plant planned for the Glenvar area of West Roanoke County.

A proposed rezoning and special-use permit for the plant was recommended by the planning commission on Feb. 4, over the objections of an overflow crowd of opponents.

Church, who represents the neighborhood, said a group of residents who lives near the proposed site has hired environmental experts and lawyers to prepare for the next public hearing, at which the supervisors will make the final decision.

Church asked the board to delay that hearing until March 24, which it did.

Finally, the board decided that when it sets its real estate tax rate next month, it will consider a rate no higher than the $1.09 per $100 value now in place.

The board will be able to consider a lower rate at a public hearing March 10, but not a higher one without re-advertising for another hearing.

The board will hold another public hearing that day to authorize the issuance of $48 million in Virginia Public School Authority bonds to finance renovations at five Roanoke County schools.

Altizer noted that planning for the expenditures began years ago in a cooperative arrangement between the board of supervisors and school board, which will allow for "a local government stimulus package."

Hollins District Supervisor Richard Flora noted that "the only thing that pulled the Great Depression out was when the federal government started construction projects and spent taxpayers' money to revitalize the economy."

"Many people when they're in this situation want to stop spending," Flora said, but that would just cause economic collapse, he asserted.