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This stretch of road, leading to Route 221 from the apartments, currently has no sidewalks.

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Sidewalk issue comes to council

by Roger Mannon
Staff Writer

Is it time for sidewalks to extend outside the town limits? Kate Garland says yes.
During the public comment period at Thursday’s Town Council meeting, Garland said sidewalks should be extended to Blue Ridge Manor Apartments, located on Christiansburg Pike (Route 615), just outside town limits. Council members agreed with her, though it may be a while in the future before they’re built.
“When I moved there four and a half years ago, there were maybe two vehicles in the morning and one in the afternoon,” Garland said. “Now, since the Dex business opened, there is a lot more traffic. There are a lot of new houses on the road.
“You see a lot more cars, even tractor trailers. Some of the people who live there don’t have cars, so they walk to town. I saw a young mother with two daughters walking along the road.”
While the town does not have authority to extend sidewalks into the county, town manager Mike Maslaney suggested extended sidewalks might be accomplished through a TEA-21 grant. The town has already received Transportation Enhancement Act grants for current projects.
Councilman Robert Shelor suggested Garland “get all your neighbors together. Gather petitions. That’s the only way they’ll listen to you.”
Also during the public comment period, Paul Lacoste announced the second year for the Tour de Floyd bicycle ride. The inaugural event was held in May, 2007.
This year’s ride will be on the third Saturday in May. Proceeds from the event go to the local emergency services.
The final public comment was by Jack Wall, who complained about obstruction on Wilson Street. “Dale’s Garage leaves trailers parked in the street.
“This is rude behavior and I take offense to individuals who abuse the right of public access,” he said.
Maslaney said he has tried to get the issue clarified with the Virginia Department of Transportation. The street is maintained by the state and not the town.
The issue may become moot, as the property has been sold and the garage is moving by January 31. Maslaney said the trailer has been used for hauling away equipment.
In other matters, council discussed whether one of the tenants, which is actually four businesses, at the Village Green is in violation of the town’s sign ordinance. “They have four signs,” said councilman Will Griffin. “I thought it was supposed to be one per suite.”
Councilman Mike Patton agreed. “I thought that was our intent.”
While things are going well with the Community Development Block Grants and the TEA-21 grants, things are difficult with the proposed Innovation Grants.
Projects at Village Green and Village Square are potential recipients of the Innovation Grants. Floyd would be the first locality in Virginia to receive the grants.
“The requirements are very stringent,” Maslaney said. “The big problem is 51 percent of the jobs generated have to be Low to Middle Income, and that’s household income. I’m not sure any of them qualify.”