HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Actions 02-21-06 Fitzpatrick
$7504-022106
ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR SESSION
FEBRUARY 21,2006
2:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
AGENDA
1. Call to Order--Roll Call. (Council Member Dowe was absent.)
The Invocation was delivered by Council Member Sherman P. Lea.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America
was led by Mayor C. Nelson Harris.
Welcome. Mayor Harris.
NOTICE:
Today's Council meeting will be replayed on Channel 3 on Thursday,
February23, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, February25, 2006, at
4:00 p.m. Council meetings are offered with closed captioning for the
hearing impaired.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
THE PUBLIC IS ADVISED THAT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL RECEIVE THE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA AND RELATED COMMUNICATIONS, REPORTS,
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS, ETC., ON THE WEDNESDAY PRIOR TO THE
COUNCIL MEETING TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT TIME FOR REVIEW OF
INFORMATION. CITIZENS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A COPY OF
ANY ITEM LISTED ON THE AGENDA MAY CONTACT THE CITY CLERK'S
OFFICE, ROOM 456, NOEL C. TAYLOR MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 215 CHURCH
AVENUE, S. W., OR CALL 853-2541.
THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE PROVIDES THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ON THE INTERNET FOR VIEWING AND RESEARCH PURPOSES. TO
ACCESS AGENDA MATERIAL, GO TO THE CITY'S HOMEPAGE AT
WWW. ROANOKEVA.GOV, CLICK ON THE SERVICE ICON, CLICK ON COUNCIL
AGENDAS TO ACCESS THE APPROPRIATE AGENDA AND COUNCIL MEETING.
IF ADOBE ACROBAT IS NOT AVAILABLE, A PROMPT WILL APPEAR TO
DOWNLOAD PRIOR TO VIEWING AGENDA INFORMATION.
ALL PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ARE REQUESTED TO
REGISTER WITH THE STAFF ASSISTANT WHO IS LOCATED AT THE ENTRANCE
TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. ON THE SAME AGENDA ITEM, ONE TO FOUR
SPEAKERS WILL BE ALLO'I-FED FIVE MINUTES EACH, HOWEVER, IF THERE ARE
MORE THAN FOUR SPEAKERS, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE ALLO'I-FED THREE
MINUTES.
ANY PERSON WHO IS INTERESTED IN SERVING ON A CITY COUNCIL
APPOINTED AUTHORITY, BOARD, COMMISSION OR COMMI'I-FEE IS
REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AT 853-2541, OR
ACCESS THE CITY'S HOMEPAGE AT WWW.ROANOKEVA.GOV, TO OBTAIN AN
APPLICATION.
2. PRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
A Resolution memorializing the late Evelyn Bruce Snead, mother of
George C. Snead, Jr., former Assistant City Manager of Operations.
Adopted Resolution No. 37304-022106. (6-0)
File #80
3. CONSENT AGENDA
C-1
C-2
C-3
C-4
Approved (6-0)
ALL MATTERS LISTED UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO
BE ROUTINE BY THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED BY
ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THE ITEMS. IF
DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THE ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.
Minutes of the regular meetings of Council held on Tuesday,
January 3, 2006, Tuesday, January 17, 2006, and the special meeting held
on Tuesday, January 17, 2006.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Dispense with the reading of the
minutes and approve as recorded.
A communication from Carol Jensen tendering her resignation as a
member of the Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept the resignation and receive and
File #110-488 file the communication.
Qualification of Robert Williams, Jr., as a member of the Blue Ridge
Behavioral Healthcare Board of Directors, for a term ending December 31,
2008.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file.
File #15-110-314
A communication from the City Manager requesting that Council
convene in a Closed Meeting to discuss disposition of publicly-owned
property, where discussion in open meeting would adversely affect the
bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body, pursuant to
Section 2.2-3711(A)(3), Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Concur in the request.
File #132
REGULAR AGENDA
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE.
3
5. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS:
Recommendation of the Clerk of Circuit Court for acceptance of
Compensation Board Technology Trust Funds, in the amount of
$29,964.00; and a communication from the City Manager concurring
in the recommendation.
Adopted Budget Ordinance No. 37305-022106. (6-0)
File #60-103-214
6. REPORTS OF OFFICERS:
a. CITY MANAGER:
BRIEFINGS: NONE.
ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR ACTION:
Acceptance of Workforce Investment Act Capacity Building
funds, in the amount of $12,~00.00, from the Western Virginia
Workforce Development Board; and appropriation of funds.
Adopted Budget Ordinance No. 37306-022106. (6-0)
File #60-72
Acceptance of a subaward from Virginia Commonwealth
University, in the amount of $258,505.00, in connection with
Virginia Institute for Social Service Training Activities (VlSSTA);
and appropriation of funds.
Adopted Budget Ordinance No. 37307-022106 and
Resolution No. 37308-022106. (6-0)
File #60-72
Acceptance of a Domestic Violence Program grant, in the
amount of $32,967.00, from the Virginia Department of
Criminal Justice Services; and appropriation and transfer of
funds.
Adopted Budget Ordinance No. 37309-022106 and
Resolution No. 37310-022106. (6-0)
File #5-60-236
4
Execution of Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement with the
YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc., in connection with property
located at the corner of Church Avenue and Fifth Street, S. W.
Adopted Ordinance No. 37311-022106. (6-0)
File #2-100-166
Adoption of a resolution in support of multi-modal Interstate
81 corridor improvements.
Adopted Resolution No. 37312-022106. (6-0)
File #20-77
b. CITY AI-rORN EY:
Amendment and reenactment of Ordinance No. 35619-101801,
to vacate, discontinue and close a portion of an undeveloped
alley between 10~ and 11th Streets, S. E.
Adopted Ordinance No. 37313-022106. (6-0)
File #514
Amendment of Ordinance No. 36226-020303, adopted on
February 3, 2003, to allow additional time for the Roanoke
Redevelopment and Housing Authority to prepare and record a
plat of subdivision, in connection with development of the Fifth
Street Gateway Project.
Adopted Ordinance No. 37314-022106. (6-0)
File #1 78-514
c. DIRECTOR OF FINANCE:
Adoption of an ordinance appropriating $35,055,000.00 of
general obligation public improvement bonds for several
projects that were established and funded in advance of
issuance of 2006 General Obligation Bonds.
Adopted Budget Ordinance No. 3731 S-022106. (6-0)
File #53-60-192-21 7-301-416-467-540-557-558
7. REPORTS OF COMMI'I-rEES:
Request of the Roanoke City School Board for appropriations to fund
facility maintenance, food services equipment, school-based
furniture, and construction of the football stadium to be located on
the Patrick Henry High School campus; and a report of the Director of
Finance recommending that Council concur in the request.
Kenneth F. Mundy, Executive Director of Fiscal Services,
Spokesperson.
Adopted Budget Ordinance No. 37316 on first reading.
(4-2, Council Members Lea and Wishneff voting no.)
File #60-122-217-270-467-472
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE.
9. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS: NONE.
10. MOTIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:
Inquiries and/or comments by the Mayor and Members of City
Council.
Dr. Cutler referred to an article in the January 2006 Virgin/a
Town & City Magazine with regard to benefits of City
squares.
File #80-227
6
Council Member Cutler called attention to a column by Dan
Smith in the February 13, 2006 edition of the Blue Ridge
Eu$/ne$$Jo~rna/that complimented Gary Hegner, Parks
Supervisor, Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department, for
encouraging student artist and skateboarder Hunter
Dickenson to paint the City-County Skateboard Park.
File #67-80-227
Council Member Cutler announced that Mike Etienne,
former Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services,
recently received his Doctorate of Philosophy Degree. He
advised that he served on the Doctoral Committee and
attended the oral examination on Mr. Etienne's dissertation
at Virginia Commonwealth University on February 9, 2006.
File #80
Council Member Cutler announced the availability of a 2-
1-1 number for various health/human service needs, which
has been a long term goal of the Council of Community
Services.
File #72-241
b. Vacancies on certain authorities, boards, commissions and
committees appointed by Council.
1 1. HEARING OF CITIZENS UPON PUBLIC MA'I-FERS:
CITY COUNCIL SETS THIS TIME AS A PRIORITY FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
MA~-I'ERS REQUIRING REFERRAL TO THE CITY MANAGER WILL BE REFERRED
IMMEDIATELY FOR RESPONSE, RECOMMENDATION OR REPORT TO
COUNCIL.
7
Ms. Amanda F. Davis, 1998 Cahas Mountain Road, Boones Mill,
Virginia, requested an easement across City owned property in
order to have access to her property which is located in the
Carvins Cove area of Roanoke County.
File #166
Mr. John E. Kepley, .2909 Morrison Street, S. E., spoke with
regard to the renovation of Victory Stadium.
File #122
Mr. Winfred Noell, 2743 Northview Drive, S. W., spoke with
regard to comments made by the Mayor during his Mayoral
campaign in 2004 with regard to renovation options for Victory
Stadium.
File #122
1 2. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
The City Manager called attention to .an article in the
February 21,2006 edition of the Roano/~e T/meswith regard to a
pledge of $60,000.00 from the Roanoke Valley Convention and
Visitors Bureau, the Roanoke Valley Economic Development
Partnership and several local governments to attract the second
annual U. S. Challenge to the Roanoke Valley, which pairs
athletic and outdoor competition with tests of strategic thinking
and teamwork.
File #293
THE COUNCIL MEETING WAS DECLARED IN RECESS TO BE RECONVENED AT
7:00 P.M., IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, ROOM 450, NOEL C. TAYLOR
MUNICIPAL BUILDING.
ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR SESSION
FEBRUARY 21,2006
7:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
AGENDA
Call to Order -- Roll Call. (Mayor Harris and Council Member
Dowe were absent.)
The Invocation was delivered by Vice-Mayor Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led
by Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick.
Welcome. Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick.
NOTICE:
Tonight's Council meeting will be replayed on Channel 3 on Thursday,
February23,2006, at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, February25, 2006, at
4:00 p.m. Council meetings are offered with closed captioning for the
hearing impaired.
PRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Proclamation declaring the month of March 2006 as DeMolay Month.
File #3
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Proposal of the City of Roanoke to amend Vision 2001-2020, the
City's Comprehensive Plan, to include the Strategic Housing Plan.
R. Brian Townsend, Agent, City Planning Commission.
Adopted Ordinance No. 3731 7-022106. (5-0)
File #178-200-424
Proposal of the City of Roanoke to amend Vision 2001-2020, the
City's Comprehensive Plan, to include the Mill Mountain Park
Management Plan. R. Brian Townsend, Agent, City Planning
Commission.
Adopted Ordinance No. 37318-022106. (5-0)
File #67-200-424
Amendment of the City's Fee Compendium to incorporate new zoning
districts and associated filing fees. R. Brian Townsend, Agent, City
Planning Commission.
Adopted Ordinance No. 37319-022106. (5-0)
File #51-289
Proposal to lease City-owned property located at 32 Market Square to
Juan E. Garcia, d/b/a Paradiso Cuban Restaurant, to be used as afood
service establishment, for a term of three years, commencing
March 1,2006. Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager.
Adopted Ordinance No. 37320-022106. (5-0)
File #42-166-373
Proposal of the City of Roanoke to amend a lease agreement dated
January 9, 2004, with the YMCA of Roanoke Valley, inc., to include
certain property located at the corner of 5th Street and Luck
Avenue, S.W. Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager.
Adopted Ordinance No. 37321-022106. (5-0)
File #100-166-373
l0
B. OTHER BUSINESS:
1 .(a)
Petition for appeal of a decision of the Architectural Review Board,
filed by Dawn S. Waters, with regard to replacement of windows at
377 Albemarle Avenue, S. W.
(b)
Report of the Architectural Review Board with regard to the above
referenced petition for appeal. Robert Richert, Vice-Chair.
Based upon evidence presented on February 21, 2006,
Council voted to affirm the decision of the Architectural
Review Board on December 8, 2005, as set forth in a letter
dated December 9: 2005, and that no Certificate of
Appropriateness be Issued to install replacement windows
at 377 Albemarle Avenue, S. W., on the grounds that the
replacement windows are not consistent with the H-2
Guidelines, will reduce the amount of window space, are
not the appropriate proportion or design, and are not
architecturally compatible with structures in the H-2
Historic District. (5-0)
File #66-249
C. HEARING OF CITIZENS UPON PUBLIC MATTERS:
CITY COUNCIL SETS THIS TIME AS A PRIORITY FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
MA'I-FERS REQUIRING REFERRAL TO THE CITY MANAGER WILL BE REFERRED
IMMEDIATELY FOR RESPONSE, RECOMMENDATION OR REPORT TO
COUNCIL.
Presentation by Countryside Neighborhood Alliance with regard to the
Countryside Golf Course property. Valerie Garner, Chair, Spokesperson.
(Sponsored by Council Members Sherman P. Lea and Brian J. Wishneff.)
Referred to the City Manager for response.
File #166-450-557
]!
The following persons, spoke in connection with the
development of Countryside Golf Course and/or construction of
a football stadium at Patrick Henry High School:
Mr. Phillip P. Wright, 1646 Center Hill Drive, S. W.
Ms. Alice P. Hincker, 4024 South Lake Drive, S. W.
Ms. Margaret Keyser, 2701 Guilford Avenue, S. W.
Mr. Allan C. Scanlan, 1631 Center Hill Drive, S. W.
Mr. Winfred Noell, 2743 Northview Drive, S. W.
Mr. Glen Fleenor, 1 738 Blair Road, S. W.
Ms. Suzanne Osborne, 1702 Blair Road, S. W.
Ms. Susan Hall, 2237 Ranch Road, N. W.
Dr. Virginia B. Stuart, 3774 Laurel Ridge Road, N. W.
Mr. John Graybill, 2443 Tillett Road, S. W.
Mr. Chris Craft, 1501 East Gate, N. E.
Mr. Michael Higgins, 2267 Countryside Road, N. W.
Ms. Sarah Higgins, 2267 Countryside Road, N. W.
Mr. Daniel M. Hale, Jr., 4425 Oleva Street, N. W.
File #66-122-467-557
Mr. John C. Kepley, 2909 Morrison Street, S. E., spoke in support
of the renovation of Victory Stadium, and expressed concern
with regard to Council's action in connection with construction
of a football stadium at Patrick Henry High School.
File #66-122-467
Mr. Robert E. Gravely, 729 27th Street, N. W., spoke with regard
to various issues of concern.
File #66
THE COUNCIL MEETING WAS DECLARED IN RECESS TO BE RECONVENED ON
FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2006, AT 8:30 A.M., ROOM 159, NOEL C. TAYLOR MUNICIPAL
BUILDING, 215 CHURCH AVENUE, S. W., FOR THE COUNCIL'S ANNUAL FINANCIAL
PLANNING SESSION.
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37304-022106.
A RESOLUTION memorializing the late Evelyn Bruce Snead, mother of former
Assistant City Manager Chip Snead.
WHEREAS, the members of Council learned with sorrow of the passing of Mrs. Snead
on Friday, January 20, 2006;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Snead was born on May 23, 1911, in Sewell, West Virginia, the
daughter of the late Elliot Tazewell and Katherine St. Clair Nichols Bruce;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Snead was a 1927 graduate of Clifton Forge High School and a 1931
graduate of the College of William and Mary;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Snead was a longtime business woman, and was the owner and
president ofE.A. Snead Furniture Company, Inc.;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Snead was a dedicated member of the Clifton Forge Presbyterian
Church and an active citizen and civic leader in Clifton Forge;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Snead was an avid sportswoman who loved the outdoors and enjoyed
swimming, field hockey, horseback riding, and especially her dogs, birds, and flowers; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Snead was a Scotswoman that loved her Scottish heritage, which is
traced in a direct line back to Robert the Bruce and will be remembered and loved by so many.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Roanoke as follows:
1. City Council adopts this resolution as a means of recording its deepest regret and
sorrow at the passing of Evelyn Bruce Snead, and extends to her family its sincerest
condolences.
2. The City Clerk is directed to forward an attested copy of this resolution to Mrs.
Snead's sons, George Carpenter "Chip" Snead, Jr., of New Castle, Virginia, and Edwin Archer
"Ned" Snead II, of Ashland, Virginia.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
1
REGULAR WEEKLY SESSION----ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL
January 3,2006
9:00 a.m.
The Council of the City of Roanoke met in regular session on Tuesday,
January 3, 2006, at 9:00 a.m., in Room 159, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215
Church Avenue, S. W., City of Roanoke, with Council Member M. Rupert Cutler
presiding, pursuant to Chapter 2, Administration, Article Il, City Council, Section
2-15, Rules of Procedure, Rule 1, Regular Meetings, Code of the City of Roanoke
(1979), as amended, and pursuant to Resolution No. 37109-070505 adopted by
the Council on Tuesday, July 5, 2005.
PRESENT: Council Member M. Rupert Cutler ............................................... 1.
ABSENT: Council Members BrendaL. McDanieI, Brianj. Wishneff, AifredT.
Dowe, Jr., Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Sherman P. Lea, and Mayor C. Nelson
Harris ................................................................................................................. 6.
COUNCIL: Due to the lack of a quorum, Council Member Cutler advised that
the Council meeting would stand in recess until 2:00 p.m., in the City Council
Chamber, Room 450, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue, S. W.,
Roanoke, Virginia.
At 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 3, 2006, the Council meeting reconvened
in the City Council Chamber, Room 450, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215
Church Avenue, S. W., City of Roanoke, Virginia, with Mayor C. Nelson Harris
presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members Brenda L. McDaniel, BrianJ. Wishneff, M. Rupert
Cutler, Alfred T. Dowe,Jr., BeverlyT. Fitzpatrick,Jr., Sherman P. Lea, and Mayor
C. Nelson Harris ................................................................................................. 7.
ABSENT: None ........................................................................................... 0.
The Mayor declared the existence of a quorum.
OFFICERS PRESENT: Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager; William M.
Hackworth, City Attorney; Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance; and Mary F. Parker,
City Clerk.
The invocation was delivered by Council Member Alfred T. Dowe, Jr.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of Americawas led
by Mayor Harris.
2
PRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: NONE.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Mayor advised that all matters listed under the Consent Agenda were
considered to be routine by the Members of Council and would be enacted by one
motion in the form, or forms, listed on the Consent Agenda, and if discussion was
desired, the item would be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered
separately. He called specific attention to two requests .for Closed Session.
COMMITTEES-HOUSING/AUTHORITY: A communication from Mayor
C. Nelson Harris requesting that Council convene in a Closed Meeting to discuss
vacancies on certain authorities, boards, commissions and committees appointed
by Council, and to interview an applicant for a vacancy on the Roanoke
Redevelopment and Housing Authority, pursuant to Section 2.2-371 l(A)(1), Code
of Virginia (1950), as amended, was before the body.
Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick moved that Council convene in Closed Session as
abovedescribed. The motion was seconded by Council Member Cutler and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe, Fitzpatrick, Lea,
and Mayor Harris ................................................................................................. 7.
NAYS: None ............................................................................................... O.
CITY ATTORNEY-CITY COUNCIL: A communication from the City Attorney
requesting that Council convene in aClosed Meeting to consult with legal counsel
on a specific legal matter requiring the provision of legal counsel, pursuant to
Section 2.2-3711(A)(7), Code of Virginia(1950), as amended, was before the body.
Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick moved that Council convene in Closed Session as
abovedescribed. The motion was seconded by Council Member Cutler and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe, Fitzpatrick, Lea,
and Mayor Harris ................................................................................................. 7.
NAYS: None ............................................................................................... 0.
BUDGET: A communication from the City Manager recommending that
Council adopt the following Calendar of Events for Budget Preparation Activities
for fiscal year 2006-2007, was before the body.
April 10-14, 2006 City Manager briefs City Council on
recommended budget.
3
April 14, 2006
Recommended budget document delivered
to City Council Members.
April17,2006
Recommended budget presented to City
Council at regularly scheduled meeting;
meeting continued to April 27.
'April]8,2006
Advertisements of public hearings on
recommended budget and tax rates appear
in newspapers.
Note:
State Code requires the advertisement of
the real property tax rate for the fiscal year.
April 27, 2006
Public hearings on recommended budget
and tax rates at 7:00 p.m.
May 4, and 5, 2006
Budget Study
(continuation
meeting).
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
of May 1 City Council
May1],2006
City Council adopts General Fund, School
Fund, Proprietary Fund budgets and an
Update to the HUD Consolidated Plan and
approves an annual appropriation ordinance
at 2:00 p.m.
Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick moved that Council concur in the recommendation of
the City Manager. The motion was seconded by Council Member Cutler and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe, Fitzpatrick, Lea,
and Mayor Harris ................................................................................................. 7.
NAYS: None ................................. ~ ............................................................. O.
REGULAR AGENDA
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
CITY MARKET-CITY PROPERTY-LEASES: Pursuant to instructions by the
Council, the City Clerk having advertised a public hearing for Tuesday, January 3,
2006, at 2:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, on a
proposal to lease City-owned property located at 32 Market Square, S. W., to Elias
Azar, d/b/aAzarJewelry, Inc., for use as office space for a term of three years, the
matter was before the body.
4
Legal advertisement of the public hearing was published in The Roanoke
Times on Monday, December 26, 2005.
The City Manager submitted a communication advising that the City of
Roanoke owns the City Market Building, located at 32 Market Square and began
management of the building on May 1, 2005, after the former management
company, Advantis Real Estate, terminated the management contract.
It was further advised that Elias Azar, owner and operator of Azar Jewelry,
Inc., has requested a lease agreement for approximately 418 square feet to sell
and/or repair jewelry; the proposed lease agreement is for a period of three years,
beginning January 3, 2006 through January 2, 2009; the proposed agreement
establishes a base rent rate of $23.50 per square foot, with an increase of three
per cent each year thereafter, and a common area maintenance fee of $125.00 per
month that will increase by three per cent upon each anniversary of the lease; in
addition to base rent and common area maintenance, the tenant will also pay
$72.00 per month for 34 months, totaling $2,448.00, for reimbursement of costs
incurred by the City associated with framing two open doorways, installation of
hot and cold water supply and waste line and a sink provided by the tenant with
two ground fault outlets, and removal of existing carpet; and the lease contains no
renewal provision.
The City Manager recommended that she be authorized to execute a lease
agreement with Elias Azar d/b/a Azar Jewelry, Inc., for approximately 418 square
feet of space in the City Market Building, for a period of three years, beginning
January 3, 2006 and ending January 2, 2009, subject to approval as to form bythe
City Attorney.
Council Member Cutler offered the following ordinance:
(#37278-010306) AN ORDINANCE authorizing the lease of approximately
418 square feet of space located within City-owned property known as the City
Market Building, located at 32 Market Square, for a term of three (3) years
beginning January 3, 2006 and expiring January 2, 2009, with a base rent rate of
$23.50 per square foot, authorizing the appropriate City officials to execute a
Lease Agreement therefor; and dispensing with the second reading of this
ordinance by title.
(For full text of ordinance, see Ordinance Book No. 70, Page 123.)
Council Member Cutler moved the adoption of Ordinance No. 37278-
010306. The motion was seconded by Council Member McDaniel.
The Mayor inquired if there were persons present who would like to be
heard in connection with the proposed lease agreement. There being none, he
declared the public hearing closed.
5
There being no questions or comments by Council Members, Ordinance No.
37278-010306 was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe, Fitzpatrick, Lea,
and Mayor Harris ................................................................................................. 7.
NAYS: None ............................................................................................... O.
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: NONE.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS:
CITY MANAGER:
BRIEFINGS: NONE.
ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR ACTION:
BUDGET-FIRE DEPARTMENT-GRANTS: The City Manager submitted a
communication advising that the Fire Programs Fund was established by the
General Assembly, effective October 4, 1985, pursuant to Section 38.1-44.1,Code
of Virginia, 1950, as amended; and the sunset clause requiring expiration of the
Fund on July ], 1990 was removed, thus, the City's annual allocation of State
funds will continue indefinitely.
It was further advised that program guidelines require that funds received
are non-supplanting and may not be used to replace existing local funding; funds
must be used in accordance with provisions established by the State Department
of Fire Programs; and the City of Roanoke's allocation of $215,029.00 was
deposited in Account No. 035-520-3335-3365 from the Department of Fire
Programs.
It was explained that the City's portion of the Roanoke Regional Fire-EMS
Training Center debt service is $60,000.00, which was paid annually from the
revenue source; remaining grant funds will be used to purchase replacement
turnout gear as needed, small supplies such as tools and helmets and other
personal protective equipment; and in accordance with provisions of the program,
action by Council is needed to formally accept and appropriate funds to authorize
the Director of Finance to establish revenue estimates and to appropriate accounts
in the Grant Fund.
The City Manager recommended that she be authorized to accept the grant
and to accept and file any documents setting forth conditions of the Fiscal Year
2006 Fire Programs Funds Grant, and to provide such additional information as
may be required. She further recommended that Council adopt an ordinance
6
establishing a revenue estimate for Fire Program Fiscal Year 2006 - State Account
No. 035-520-3335-3365, and appropriate funds in the amount of$215,029.00 in
various expenditure accounts to be established by the Director of Finance in the
Grant Fund.
Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick offered the following budget ordinance:
,'(#37279-010306) AN ORDINANCE appropriating funding for the Fire
Program Grant, amending and reordaining certain sections of the 2005-2006
Grant Fund Appropriations, and dispensing with the second reading by title of this
ordinance.
(For full text of ordinance, see Ordinance Book No. 70, Page 124.)
Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick moved the adoption of Ordinance No. 37279-010306.
The motion was seconded by Council Member Dowe and adopted by the following
vote:
AYES: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe, Fitzpatrick, Lea,
and Mayor Harris ................................................................................................. 7.
NAYS: None ............................................................................................... O.
Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick offered the following resolution:
(#37280-010306)A RESOLUTION authorizing the acceptance of the FY2006
Fire Programs Funds Grant made to the City of Roanoke by the Virginia
Department of Fire Programs and authorizing the execution and filing by the City
Manager of any documents required by the grant.
(For full text of resolution, see Resolution Book No. 70, Page 125.)
Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick moved the adoption of Resolution No. 37280-
010306. The motion was seconded by Council Member McDaniel and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe, Fitzpatrick, Lea,
and Mayor Harris ................................................................................................. 7.
NAYS: None ............................................................................................... 0.
GRANTS-HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: The City Manager submitted a
communication advising that on October 17, 2005, Council adopted criteria for
funding non-profit organizations; criterion on board member participation was not
worded as agreed upon by the Funder's Circle and the Carillon Foundation; and
board member participation will be changed from each board member has an
annual average attendance rate of at least 75 per cent to an annual average board
meeting attendance of 75 per cent in the aggregate.
7
It was further advised that as a result of conversations with representatives
from the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, Council of Community Services, Human
Services Advisory Board, and the Roanoke Arts Commission, additional revisions
are recommended which include changing the term "criteria" to "guidelines" in
order to note specific requirements that agencies are expected to adhere to when
applying for funding; while non-adherence to guidelines will not necessarily
prohibit an agency from receiving funds, adherence will be used as one of the key
factors in determining the award of funding; a threshold minimum request of
$25,000.00 will be used for application of the guidelines; any agency requesting
$25,000.00 or more will be expected to adhere to the guidelines; and the
$25,000.00 threshold will be applied at the agency level, so that individual
program applications will be aggregated.
It was explained that the "semi-annual" reporting of results will be changed
to "periodic" reporting of results in order to provide flexibility to report results on
a more frequent basis if needed; and corrected wording which is proposed for
adoption by Council is as follows:
The following guidelines apply to agencies that request $25,000.00 or more:
Organizations must develop a business plan that includes
evidence of community involvement and outlines long-term
plans for financial sustainability.
Boards of organizations must demonstrate engagement with
their organization by certifying financial commitment at 100
per cent and annual average meeting attendance at 75 per
cent.
Organizations must agree to an annual site visit and periodic
reporting of results achieved through funds rec.eived.
Organizations in existence for two years or more with an
annual budget of $50,000.00 must perform an annual audit.
It was noted that the City of Roanoke will be joined by Carillon Foundation
and the Funders Circle in this approach; other private foundations are also
considering the criteria in their funding process; and all past recipients of City
funds will be informed of the new requirements upon adoption of guidelines for
funding non-profit organizations.
The City Manager recommended that Council adopt guidelines, as amended.
Council Member Cutler offered the following resolution:
8
(#37281-010306) A RESOLUTION adopting a revised policy pertaining to
funding for non-profit organizations that request $25,000.00 or more in future
budget cycles, and repealing Resolution No. 37215-101705 adopted on
October 17, 2005.
(For full text of resolution, see Resolution Book No. 70, Page 126.)
. Council Member Cutler moved the adoption of Resolution No. 37281-
010306. The motion was seconded by Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick.
Pam Kestner-Chappelear, President, Council of Community Services,
representing a group of local non-profit organizations that are concerned about
the criteria for funding non-profit organizations as adopted by Council on Monday,
October 17, 2005, advised that changes recommended by the City Manager will be
helpful; changing the term "criteria" to "guidelines" will reflect the intention that
adherence to the guidelines is expected, but non-adherence to the guidelines will
not necessarily prohibit an agency from receiving funds; and the revisions will also
encourage non-profit organizations to work toward adhering to the guidelines.
She stated that creation of a threshold minimum request of $25,000.00 to be
used for application guidelines will help smaller non-profit organizations because
some may not have available resources to meet guidelines. She added that at this
point, the impact of the guidelines is unknown and with experience, it is hoped
that there will be an opportunity for refinement. She spoke in support of the
appointment of a task force to oversee the guidelines and their impact on non-
profit organizations and the services that they provide to ensure support by all
organizations, which will result in funding guidelines that will strengthen non-
profit organizations and will focus on the impact of taxpayers' dollars on the lives
of Roanoke's citizens. If a task force is not appointed, she advised that the n°n-
profit community respectfully requests that as the City engages in future actions
related to funding and/or management of non-profits, that input be sought from
representatives of the non-profit community prior to implementation of any
policies or guidelines.
Council Member Cutler stated that serious consideration should be given to
Ms. Kestner-Chappelear's suggestion to create a task force to review future
evolving criteria. He spoke in support of adoption of the amended guidelines and
called attention to the receipt of letters from approximately 20 non-profit
organizations expressing concerns with regard to the original criteria. He stated
that prior to submitting the guidelines to Council for adoption, criteria should
have been drafted with input from the affected non-profit organizations and
representatives of Council appointed committees that dispense City grants to non-
profit organizations, both to receive suggestions regarding content and as a sign
of respect for non-profit organizations. He advised that the needs of the citizens
of Roanoke are met by three groups: the business community that provides jobs
and pays taxes; the government that provides public safety, education and other
aspects of public welfare; and by the charitable, non-profit community that largely,
9
through the work of volunteers, addresses the well-being of those who need help
and those who desire such amenities as museums, music, historic preservation,
and other activities that neither the business community nor government can
provide inasmuch as they are not appropriate uses of taxpayers' money. He
referred to the local grant application criteria adopted by the United Way of
Roanoke Valley and mentioned that the City might, over time, seek to combine its
criteria with United Way criteria to keep the paperwork burdens of non-profit
organizations at a minimum. He advised that the City has good reason to require
groups requesting funds to demonstrate that they have the capacity to handle the
funds in a responsible manner; the City also owes charitable organizations a note
of appreciation for their assistance to the community and the organizations
should be treated not as supplicants, but as partners in the care of residents of
the City of Roanoke.
Without objection by Council, the Mayor advised that the suggestion of Ms.
Kestner-Chappelear with regard to appointment of a task force to oversee
guidelines would be referred to the City Manager for report to Council.
There being no further discussion, Resolution No. 37281-010306 was
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe, Fitzpatrick, Lea,
and Mayor Harris ................................................................................................. 7.
NAYS: None ............................................................................................... O.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE:
AUDITS/FINANCIAL REPORTS: The Director of Finance submitted the
Financial Report for the month of November 2005.
(For full text, see Financial Report on file in the City Clerk's Office.)
There being no discussion and without objection by Council, the Mayor
advised that the Financial Report for the month of November 2005 would be
received and filed.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES: NONE.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE.
INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:
NONE.
10
MOTIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:
INQUIRIES AND/OR COMMENTS BY THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS.OF COUNCIL:
YOUTH-SNOW REMOVAL-ROANOKE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP: Council
Member Lea referred to inquiries from senior citizens who state that they are
physically unable to remove ice and snow from the sidewalk in front of their
residence and inquired if the City can be of assistance.
The City Manager advised that pursuant to a City ordinance, individuals who
have sidewalks in front of their properties are responsible for the removal of snow
from the sidewalks by a certain time following the sn(~w activity and there is no
provision for exemption; however, the City's Office on Youth has compiled a list of
young people who serve as volunteers, or for minimum compensation, will clean
City sidewalks. She advised, that the response by citizens this year to clearing
sidewalks has not been good, therefore, following the most recent snow event,
Public Works employees and Police Officers were instructed to remind citizens of
the City's ordinance requiring the removal of snow which is a critical element as to
when children will return to school, inasmuch as this is one of the measures used
by the school system in determining whether or not schools will be open. She
called attention to problems associated with vacant properties or absentee
landlords, and advised that on occasion, if the problem exists for an extended
period of time, the City will remove snow and bill the property owner in much the
same way as the City bills for trash and debris removal. She also suggested that
Robert Clement, Neighborhood Coordinator, be contacted with regard to
assistance by neighborhood organizations.
SCHOOLS: Council Member Cutler advised that the new Patrick Henry High
School was officially opened on Monday, January 2, 2006.
The Mayor advised that a community open house will be held on Sunday,
January 8, 2006, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the new Patrick Henry High School.
HEARING OF CITIZENS UPON PUBLIC MATTERS: The Mayor advised that
Council sets this time as a priority for citizens to be heard and matters requiring
referral to the City Manager will be referred immediately for response,
recommendation or report to Council.
BONDS/BOND ISSUES: Mr. Allen Scanlan, 1631 Center Hill Drive, S. W.,
raised the following hypothetical scenarios: assuming that all projects included in
bond issue Series 2002A had been completed, with the exception of the Crystal
Spring Water Filtration Plant for about $5.4 million; assuming that the drought is
over and water reservoir levels are full, and the Council decided to purchase atract
of land and to construct a roller skating arena with a majority of the funds that
were previously specified for the Water Filtration Plant. He stated that agoverning
body has broad control over the use of General Obligation Bond funds, but
questioned if such an extreme variation as above referenced, would raise concerns
by those bond holders who invested in the bonds with a specific indication as to
the use of the proceeds. He also questioned if taxpayers would support sucha
variation, even if it were proven to be legal. He advised that having served as a
former registered representative with the National Association of Security Dealers,
with an affiliated registration as a broker dealer, he would not want to encounter
such questions from an institutional or a private client without knowing that such
actions are appropriate, and asked that Council give consideration to calling for an
investigation of the appropriateness of the use of bond funds for Roanoke's high
school stadium construction. He noted that detailed requests have been
submitted to the appropriate departments of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and to the Municipal Securities Rule Making Board, including material
from the bond prospectus, resolutions adopted by Council authorizing issuance
and sale of the bonds, and minutes of City Council meetings in which the matter
was referred to as a stadium/amphitheater. He pointed out that there is no
connection in the Council minutes and resolutions regarding the pending use of
funds for construction of high school stadia. He referred to a Council/School
Board workshop that was held on January 22, 2002, in which such topics as
teamwork, leadership, understanding the qualityofeducation, definition of quality
education, understanding the desires and needs of the children, the definition of
the best education in Roanoke and listening tothe communitywere discussed. He
suggested that the minutes of the meeting be reviewed by Council, inasmuch as
only one member of both the City Council and the School Board are currently in
office and in light of recent happenings.
Mr. Scanlan's remarks were referred to the City Manager and Director of
Finance for report to Council.
CITY MARKET-CITY PROPERTY-LEASES: Ms. Anita Wilson, a City Market
building tenant, advised that she has operated her business for three years
without a formal lease agreement with the City. She stated that earlier in the
meeting, Council approved a three year lease agreement with Elias Azar, d/b/a
Azar Jewelry, Inc., for the lease of space in the City Market building and advised
that other tenants in the Market building also deserve a formal lease agreement
with the City. She added that Market building tenants would like for vacant space
in the City Market building to be rented in order to generate more income for the
building; and she would like to make needed improvements to her business
and/or to combine businesses, but references have been made with regard to
disenfranchising tenants in connection with the comprehensive market study. She
stated that the City Market building has lasted beyond its initial expectation, for
25 years the same furniture has been used and manyofthe same tenants continue
to operate a business out of the Market building. She advised that if the City will
work with Market building tenants and if tenants will work with the Market
consultant, many good things can be accomplished in the City Market Building and
in the downtown area in general.
]2
The City Manager advised that earlier in the meeting, the first City Market
Building lease was approved by Council, and will be immediately followed by
Economic Development staff attempting to negotiate leases with those Market
building businesses that are operating with expired leases, which will include Ms.
Wilson's business. She pointed out that until City staff took over operation of the
Market building, the City was not involved in lease development; Economic
Development staff devoted considerable time to developing a lease; the exclusivity
clause, which created much anxiety for some businesses, was brought to Council
for review; and past due accounts by certain tenants are 'now in compliance. She
explained that inasmuch as Council has acted favorably on the first lease, City
staff is in a position to move forward with discussions leading to individual leases.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
ACTS OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-CITY COUNCIL: The City Manager advised
that she hoped the Members of Council had a happy holiday season and she
looked forward to working with the Council in the year 2006.
At 2:40 p.m., the Mayor declared the Council meeting in recess for two
Closed Sessions in the Council's Conference Room.
At 3:50 p.m., the Council meeting reconvened in the City Council Chamber,
with all Members of the Council in attendance, Mayor Harris presiding.
COUNCIL: With respect to the Closed Meeting just concluded, Council
Member McDaniel moved that each Member of City Council certify to the best of
his or her knowledge that: (1) only public business matters lawfully exempted from
open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and (2)
only such public business matters as were identified in any motion by which any
Closed Meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered by City
Council. The motion was seconded by Council Member Dowe and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe, Fitzpatrick, Lea,
and Mayor Harris ................................................................................................. 7.
NAYS: None ................................. ~ ............................................................. O.
OATHS OF OFFiCE.COMMITTEES-HOUSING/AUTHORITY: The Mayor advised
that there is a vacancy on the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority
created by the resignation of Mornique E. Smith, for a term ending August 31,
2008; whereupon, he opened the floor for nominations to fill the vacancy.
Council Member Cutler placed in nomination the name of Joseph W. Lee, III.
13
There being no further nominations, Mr. Lee was appointed as a
Commissioner of the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, to fill the
unexpired term of Mornique E. Smith, ending August 31, 2008, by the following
vote:
FOR MR. LEE: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe,
Fitzp.atrick, Lea and Mayor Harris ........................................................................ 7.
COMMITTEES-ROANOKE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIP-OATHS OF OFFICE:
The Mayor advised that there is a vacancy on the Roanoke Neighborhood
Advocates to fill the unexpired term of Earnest C. Wilson ending June 30, 2007,
and called for nominations to fill the vacancy.
Council Member Cutler placed in nomination the name of CaroIJ.Jenson.
There being no further nominations, Ms. Jensen was appointed as a member
of the Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates, to fill the unexpired term of Earnest C.
Wilson, ending June 30, 2007, by the following vote:
FOR MS. JENSEN: Council Members McDaniel, Wishneff, Cutler, Dowe,
Fitzpatrick, Lea and Mayor Harris ........................................................................ 7.
There being no further business, the Mayor declared the Council meeting
adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
APPROVED
ATTEST:
Mary F. Parker
City Clerk
C. Nelson Harris
Mayor
SPECIAL MEETING ...... ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL
January ] 7, 2006
12:00 p.m.
A special meeting of the Council of the City of Roanoke, acting as the
Personnel Committee, was called to order on Tuesday, January 1 7, 2006, at 12:00
p.m., in the City Council's Conference Room, Room 451, Noel C. Taylor Municipal
Building, 215 Church Avenue, S. W., City of Roanoke, pursuant to Section 10,
Meetings of Council Generally, of the Charter of the City of Roanoke, with Mayor C.
Nelson Harris presiding.
PRESENT: Council Members AIfredT. Dowe, Jr., BeverlyT. Fitzpatrick, Jr.,
Brenda L. McDaniel and Mayor C. Nelson Harris .................................................... 4.
ABSENT: Council Members BrianJ. Wishneff, Sherman P. Lea and M. Rupert
Cutler ................................................................................................................. 3.
The Mayor declared the existence of a quorum.
COUNCIL: The Mayor advised that the special meeting of Councilwas called
pursuant to the following communication:
"January 10, 2006
The Honorable Vice-Mayor and Members
of the Roanoke City Council
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick and Members of Council:
Pursuant to Section 10, Meetings of Council Generally, of the Charterofthe City of
Roanoke, I am calling a special meeting of the Council on Tuesday, January 17,
2006, at 12:00 p.m., in the Council's Conference Room, Room 451, Noel C. Taylor
Municipal Building. The purpose of the meeting will be to convene in Closed
Session as the Personnel Committee to discuss the mid-year performance of three
Council-Appointed Officers, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1), Code of Virginia
(1950), as amended.
With kindest regards.
Sincerely,
s/C. Nelson Harris
C. Nelson Harris
Mayor"
15
Council Member McDaniel moved that Council convene in Closed Session as
the Personnel Committee to discuss the mid-year performance of three Council-
Appointed Officers, pursuant to Section 2.2-37] 1(A)(1), Code of Virginia(J950), as
amended. The motion was seconded by Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick and adopted by the
following vote:
, AYES: Council Members Dowe, Fitzpatrick, McDanieland Mayor Harris ....... 4.
NAYS: None .......................................................... : ................................... 0.
(Council Members Wishneff, Cutler and Lea were absent.)
At 12:05 p.m., the Mayor declared the Council meeting in recess for one
Closed Session.
At 1:45 p.m., the Council meeting reconvened in the Council's Conference
Room, with all Members of the Council in attendance, with the exception of
Council Members Wishneff, Cutler and Dowe, Mayor Harris presiding.
COUNCIL: With respect to the Closed Session just concluded, Council
Member McDaniel moved that each Member of City Council certify to the best of
his or her knowledge that: (1) only public business mattes lawfully exempted from
open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and (2)
only such public business matters as were identified in any motion by which any
Closed Meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered by City
Council. The motion was seconded by Vice-Mayor Fitzpatrick and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Council Members Dowe, Fitzpatrick, McDaniel and Mayor Harris ....... 4.
NAYS: None ................................................................ ; ............................. 0.
(Council Members Wishneff, Cutler and Lea were absent.)
There being no further business, the Mayor declared the special meeting
adjourned at 1:47 p.m.
APPROVED
ATTEST:
Mary F. Parker
City Clerk
C. Nelson Harris
Mayor
February 13, 2006
City of Roanoke
Office of the Mayor
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 452
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1594
Dear Mayor Harris,
After serious reflection, I feel that it is necessary for me to resign from the Roanoke
Neighborhood Advocates for personal reasons. This resignation is effective immediately.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Carol Jensen
Robert A. Clement, Jr., Neighborhood Serv/ces Coordinator,
Housing and Neighborhood Services
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC, Deputy City Clerk
Sandra Kelly, Chair, Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates
C.J. Jensen
8 N. Jefferson St.#504
Roanoke, VA 24016
MARY F. PARKER, CMC
City Clerk
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room456
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1536
Telephone: (540) 853-2541
Fax: (540) 853-1145
E-mail: clerk @ ci.roanoke.va.us
STEPHANIE M. MOON, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SHEILA N. HARTMAN
Assistant City Clerk
February 24, 2006
File #15-110-314
S. James Sikkema
Executive Director
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare
301 Elm Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24016-4001
Dear Mr. Sikkema:
This is to advise you that Robert Williams, Jr., has qualified as a member of the
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare Board of Directors, for a term ending
December 31, 2008.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Oath or Affirmation of Office
Commonwealth of Virginia, City of Roanoke, to-wit:
I, Robert Williams, Jr., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the
Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Virginia, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties
incumbent upon me as a member of the Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare Board of
Directors, for a term ending December 31,2008, according to the best of my ability (So
help me God).
Subscribed and sworn to before me this/':~day of ~ 2006.
BRENDA L. HAMILTON, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
BY ~- ,~' ¢~~"~ ~UTY CLERK
L:\CLER K\DATA\CKJ S 1 \Qualifi cadons~R obtWilliams.oat h,doc
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 364
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1591
Telephone: (540) 853-2333
Fax: (540) 853-1138
City Web: www.roanokeva.gov
February 21, 2006
The Honorable Mayor and Members
of City Council
Roanoke, Virginia
Subject: Request for closed meeting
Dear Mayor Harris and Council Members:
This is to request that City Council convene a closed meeting to
discuss the disposition of publicly-owned property, where discussion in
open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or
negotiating strategy of the public body, pursuant to § 2.2-371 I.A.3,
Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.
Sincerely, /
Darlene L. Durham
City Manager
DLB:f
C:
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
CITY OF ROANOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
February 24, 2006
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
File #60-103-214
Jesse A. Hall
Director of Finance
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Mr. Hall:
I am attaching copy of Budget Ordinance No. 37305-022106, appropriating
$29,964.00 from the Commonwealth of Virginia through the Technology Trust Fund
for improvement of operations in the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, and amending
and reordaining certain sections of the 2005-2006 Grant Fund.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attachment
pc:
The Honorable Brenda L. Hamilton, Clerk of Circuit Court
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence,doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37305-022106.
AN ORDINANCE to appropriate funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia
through the Technology Trust Fund for the improvement of operations in the Office of
Circuit Court Clerk, amending and reordaining certain sections of the 2005-2006 Grant
Fund Appropriations, and dispensing with the second reading by title of this ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that the following
sections of the 2005-2006 Grant Fund Appropriations be, and the same are hereby,
amended and reordained to read and provide as follows:
Appropriations
Maintenance Contracts 035-120-5150-2005 $ 29,964
Revenues
Comp Board Tech Trust Fund FY06 035-120-5150-5150 29,964
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading
of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 364
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1591
Telephone: (540) 853-2333
Fax: (540) 853-1138
City Web: www.roanokeva.gov
February 21, 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
Subject: Acceptance Of
Technology Trust
Funds CO06-0002
I concurwith the recommendation from BrendaS. Hamilton, ClerkofCircuit Court,
for the City of Roanoke, with respect to the subject reference above and
recommend that City Council adopt accept funding from the Compensation Board
Technology Trust Fund in the amount of $29,964. Also adopt the accompanying
budget ordinance to establish a revenue estimate in the amount of $29,964 and
appropriate funding in the same amount to an expenditure account to be
established by the Director of Finance in the Grant Fund.
Sincerely,
City Manager
DLB:sm
C:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
TWENTY-THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OF VIRGINIA
Criminal: (540) 853-6723
Civil: (540) 853-6702
CLERK OF CIRCUi i, 0004
BRENDA S. HAMILTON
CLERK
Febmmy 21, 2006
CIRCUIT COURT
OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE
315 Church Avenue, S.W.
RO. Box 2610
Roanoke, Virginia 24010
Honorable C. Nelson Hams, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Hams and Members of City Council:
Subject: ACCEPTANCE OF
TECHNOLOGY TRUST
FUNDS
Background:
The Clerk of Circuit Court is responsible by statute, for the recordation of legal instruments. These
instruments include: Land records, Mamage Licenses, Financing Statements, Assumed Names, Wills and
other Probate Records, and Law, Chancery and Criminal Orders. There Records must be maintained and be
available to the Public.
The Compensation Board through the Technology Trust Fund bas made available funds to be allocated
toward contractual obligations for those offices Chat have indicated funds were needed. The Circuit Court
Clerk's Office, for the City of Roanoke has been allocated for reimbursement in the amount of $29,964, for
charges by the Supreme Court of Virginia. These charges were for equipment upgrades and maintenance
fees.
Considerations:
The acceptance of these funds is vital to the Circuit Court Clerk's Office meeting the year-end budget
obligations.
Recommended Action:
Accept funding from the Compensation Board Technology Trust Fund in the amount of $29,964.
Honarable Mayor and Members of City Council
February 21, 2006
Page 2
Adopt the accompanying budget ordinance to establish a revenue estimate in the amount of $29,964 and
appropriate funding in the same amount to an expenditure account to be established by the Director of
Finance in the Grant Fund.
Respectfully submitted,
Clerk of Circuit Court
BSH:csf
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
C006-0002
CITY OF ROANOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC
City Clerk
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
February 24, 2006
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
File #60-72
Jesse A. Hall
Director of Finance
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Mr. Hall:
I am attaching copy of Budget Ordinance No. 37306-022106 appropriating
$12,100.00 from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Workforce Investment Act
Grant Capacity Building Activity FY06, and amending and reordaining certain
sections of the 2005-2006 Grant Fund Appropriations.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21,2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC '
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attachment
pc:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Jane R. Conlin, Director of Human/Social Services
L:\CLERKSDATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37306-022106.
AN ORDINANCE to appropriate funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia for
the Workforce Investment Act Grant Capacity Building Activity FY06, amending and
reordaining certain sections of the 2005-2006 Grant Fund Appropriations, and dispensing
with the second reading by title of this ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that the following
sections of the 2005-2006 Grant Fund Appropriations be, and the same are hereby,
amended and reordained to read and provide as follows:
Appropriations
WIA Capacity Building - Professional Services
WIA Capacity Building - Meeting Room Rent
WIA Capacity Building ~ Wages
WIA Capacity Building - Supplies
Revenues
WIA Capacity Building Grant FY06
035-633-2327-2010
035-633-2327-3075
035-633-2327-8050
035-633-2327-8055
035-633-2327-2327
8,000
85O
3,000
250
12,100
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading
of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 364
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1591
Telephone: (540) 853-2333
Fax: (540) 853-1138
City Web: www.roanokeva.gov
February 21, 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council,
Subject: Funding for Western Virginia
Workforce Development Board Work-
Force Investment Act (WlA) Capacity
Building Activities
Background:
The City of Roanoke is the grant recipient for Workforce Investment Act (WlA)
funding; thus, City Council must appropriate the funding for all grants and
other monies received in order for the Western Virginia Workforce Development
Board to administer WlA programs. The Western Virginia Workforce
Development Board administers the federally funded Workforce Investment Act
(WlA) for Area 3, which encompasses the counties ofAIleghany, Botetourt,
Craig, Franklin and Roanoke, and the cities of Covington, Roanoke, and Salem.
The Western Virginia Workforce Development Board has received a
Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU), from the Virginia Employment
Commission, allocating WlA funds, from the Governor's Statewide Discretionary
Funds, to be used for the following activities:
Reassessment of the workforce board and one-stop operating system
structure, policies and procedures with the intent to improve workforce
board efficiency, in collaboration with economic development and overall
customer service, and add business services.
Activities identified as necessary to implement findings that result from
the above reassessment.
Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
February 21, 2006
Page 2
The MOU received, from the Virginia Employment Commission, allocates
$12,!00, for capacity building activities, to the Western Virginia Workforce
Development Board, to be used for costs incurred from October l, 2004
through June 30, 2006. Funds are available, from the Virginia Employment
Commission, with no additional cost to the City.
Recommendations:
Accept the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board Workforce
Investment Act Capacity Building funding of $12,100.
Adopt the accompanying budget ordinance to establish revenue estimates and
appropriate funding in accounts to be established by the Director of Finance in
the Grant Fund.
C:
Darlene L. Bu~am
City Manager
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Sherman M. Stovall, Director of Management and Budget
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Jane R. Conlin, Director of Human/Social Service
CM06-00024
Account numbers for WDB Capacity Building Grant:
Wages
Fees For Professional Services
Meeting Room Rental
Supplies
035-633-2327-8050 $3,000.00
035-633~2327-2010 $8,000.00
035-633-2327-3075 $850.00
035-633-2327-8055 $250.00
Total $12,100.00
CITY OF R O_/4NOKE
Office of the C,ty Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
February 24, 2006
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
File #60-72
Jesse A. Hall
Director of Finance
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Mr. Hall:
I am attaching copy of Budget Ordinance No. 37307-022106 appropriating
$ ! 15,0:[0.00 from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Virginia Institute for Social
Service Training Activities, and amending and reordaining certain sections of the
2005-2006 General Fund Appropriations.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attachment
pc:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Jane R. Conlin, Director of Human/Social Services
Meredith Burger, Supervisor, VlSSTA Piedmont Area Training Center
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence,doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37307-022106.
AN ORDINANCE to appropriate funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia for
the Virginia Institute for Social Service Training Activities (VISSTA) , amending and
reordaining certain sections of the 2005-2006 General Fund Appropriations, and dispensing
with the second reading by title of this ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that the following
sections of the 2005-2006 General Fund Appropriations be, and the same are hereby,
amended and reordained to read and provide as follows:
Appropriations
Overtime Wages
ICMA Match
Disability Insurance
Professional Services
Telephone
Administrative Supplies
Expendable Equipment
Program Activities
Other Rental
Fleet Pads/Sublet Billings
Revenues
VISSTA
001-630-5318-1003 $ 2,000
001-630-5318-1116 500
001-630-5318-1131 50
001-630-5318-2010 10,000
001-630-5318-2020 2,500
001-630-5318-2030 6,500
001-630-5318-2035 10,000
001-630-5318-2066 43,160
001-630-5318-3075 40,000
001-630-5318-7026 300
001-110-1234-0671 115,010
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading
of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
City clerk.
CITY OF ROANOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
February 24, 2006
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
File #60-72
Darlene L. Burcham
City Manager
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Ms. Burcham:
I am attaching copy of Resolution No. 37308-022106 authorizing acceptance of a
subaward, in the amount of $258,505.00, from Virginia Commonwealth University
for local supervision and operation of the Virginia Institute for Social Service
Training Activities Piedmont Area Training Center, upon certain terms and
conditions, as more fully set forth in a letter from the City Manager addressed to the
Council under date of February 21, 2006.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attach merit
L:\CLERKSDATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06~Feb 21 06 correspondence,doc
Darlene L. Burcham
February 24, 2006
Page 2
pc:
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Jane R. Conlin, Director of Human/Social Services
Meredith Burger, Supervisor, VlSSTA Piedmont Area Training Center
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37308-022106.
A RESOLUTION authorizing the acceptance ora subaward in the amount of $258,505 from
Virginia Commonwealth University and authorizing the City Manager to execute a subaward
agreement with Virginia Commonwealth University for such funds for local supervision and
operation of the Virginia Institute for Social Service Training Activities ("VISSTA') Piedmont Area
Training Center, upon certain terms and conditions.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that:
1. The subaward from Virginia Commonwealth University for local supervision and
operation of the VISSTA Piedmont Area Training Center, in the amount of $258,505, as set forth in
the City Manager's letter, dated February 21, 2006, to this Council is hereby ACCEPTED.
2. The City Manager, or her designee, is hereby authorized to execute any and all
requisite documents pertaining to the City's acceptance of these grant funds, and to furnish such
additional information as may be required in connection with the City's acceptance of these subgrant
funds. All documents shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney.
ATTEST:
City Clerk.
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 364
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1591
Telephone: (540) 853-2333
Fax: (540) 853-~ 138
City Web: www.roanokeva.gov
February 21, 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
Subject:
Virginia Commonwealth
University, VlSSTA Subaward
Agreement
Background:
The Virginia Department of Social Services grants funds to Virginia
Commonwealth University (VCU) for the operation of five Virginia Institute for
Social Service Training Activities (VISSTA) Area Training Centers throughout the
Commonwealth. The City of Roanoke Department of Social Services has
received an annual subaward for the local supervision and operation of the
Piedmont Area Training Center since 1998; however, in the current fiscal year
the subaward has been issued twice, once for the first half of the fiscal year,
and then a modified version to cover the second half of the fiscal year.
Considerations:
City Council previously authorized the City Manager to execute the subaward
agreement that included a budget of $258,505 for the first six months of the
2006 fiscal year program. The adopted City budget for the entire fiscal year
was $373,357. A new subaward for the second half of the fiscal year has been
issued for an additional amount of $258,505. The total subaward amount for
the entire fiscal year is $51 7,010. This subaward is issued on a cost
reimbursable basis. The current revenue estimate is $402,000. An increase in
revenue estimate of $115,010 is needed.
Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
February 21,2006
Page 2
The VISSTA program provides valuable training classes for local Department of
Social Services staff, including social workers, eligibility workers, their
supervisors and administrative staff. They also provide training for local
Department of Social Services approved or state licensed child care providers.
These training events enhance the knowledge and skills of these staff and child
care providers, so that vulnerable children, adults and families can be assisted
effectively in obtaining an appropriate level of safety and self-sufficiency.
Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager or her designee to accept the $258,505 subaward
from VCU, and to execute the subaward Agreement Modification One for the
period of January 1,2006, to July 31,2006.
Adopt the accompanying budget ordinance to increase the revenue estimate for
VISSTA (001 -110-1234-0671) by the amount of $115,010.
Authorize the Director of Finance to appropriate funding to the following
accounts:
001-630-5318-1003
001-630-5318-1116
001-630-5318-1131
001-630-5318-2010
001-630-5318-2020
001-630-5318-2030
001-630-5318-2035
001-630-5318-2066
001-630-5318-3075
001-630-5318-7026
(Overtime Wages) $2,000
(ICMA Match) 500
(Disability Insurance) 50
(Fees for Professional Services) 10,000
(Telephone) 2,500
(Administrative Supplies 6,500
(Expendable Equipment) 10,000
(Program Activities) 43,160
(Other Rental) 40,000
(Fleet Parts/Sublet Billings) 300
$115,010
Respectfully submitted,
DLB:tem
City Manager
C:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Sherman M. Stovall, Director of Management and Budget
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Jane R. Conlin, Director of Human/Social Services
Meredith Burger, Supervisor, VlSSTA Piedmont Area Training Center
#CM06-00025
CITY OF RO_.. 4NOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
February 24, 2006
Sheila N. Hartrnan
Assistant City Clerk
File #5-60-236
Jesse A. Hall
Director of Finance
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Mr. Hall:
I am attaching copy of Budget Ordinance No. 37309-022:[06 appropriating
$41,499.00 from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Police Department Domestic
Violence Program Grant, and amending and reordaining certain sections of the
2005-2006 Grant Fund Appropriations.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February21, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attachment
pc:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
A. L. Gaskins, Chief of Police
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37309-022106.
AN ORDINANCE to appropriate funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia for
the Police Department Domestic Violence Program Grant, amending and reordaining
certain sections of the 2005-2006 Grant Fund Appropriations, and dispensing with the
second reading by title of this ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that the following
sections of the 2005-2006 Grant Fund Appropriations be, and the same are hereby,
amended and reordained to read and provide as follows:
Appropriations
Regular Employee Salary
City Retirement
FICA
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance
Revenues
VSTOP Grant - Local- CY2006
VSTOP Grant - State - CY2006
035-640-3328-1002 $ 30,239
035-640-3328-1105 4,191
035-640-3328-1120 2,313
035-640-3328-1125 4,140
035-640-3328-1126 247
035-640-3328-1130 369
035-640-3328-3321 8,532
035-640-3328-3328 32,967
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading
of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
~ City Clerk.
CIT.Y.. OF ROANOKE
Off~ce of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC
City Clerk
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
February 24, 2006
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
File #5-60-236
Darlene L. Burcham
City Manager
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Ms. Burcham:
I am attaching copy of Resolution No. 373:[0-022:[06 accepting the Virginia
Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution Violence Against Women grant to the City of
Roanoke from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, in the amount of
$32,967.00, upon all terms, provisions and conditions relating to the receipt of such
funds, as more fully set forth in a letter from the City Manager addressed to the
Council under date of February 2:[, 2006.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 2:[, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attachment
pc:
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
A. L. Gaskins, Chief of Police
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 cerrespondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37310-022106.
A RESOLUTION accepting the Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution
(VSTOP) Violence Against Women grant to the City fi.om the Virginia Department of Criminal
Justice Services, and authorizing execution of any required documentation on behalf of the City.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Roanoke as follows:
1. The City of Roanoke does hereby accept the Virginia Services, Training, Officers,
Prosecution (VSTOP) Violence Against Women grant offered by the Virginia Departmem of
Criminal Justice Services in the amount of $32,967 upon all the terms, provisions and conditions
relating to the receipt of such funds. The grant, which requires an $10,989 in-kind match by the
City, is more particularly described in the letter of the City Manager to Council, dated February
21, 2006.
2. The City Manager and the City Clerk are hereby authorized to execute, seal, and
attest, respectively, the grant agreement and all necessary documents required to accept the grant,
that may be required for the City's acceptance of this grant, all such documents to be approved as
to form by the City Attorney.
3. The City Manager is further directed to furnish such additional information as
may be required in connection with the City's acceptance of this gram.
ATTEST:
~-~O~d City clerk..
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 364
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1591
Telephone: (540) 853-2333
Fax: (540) 853-1138
City Web: www.roanokeva.gov
February 21, 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and member of Council:
Subject: Police Department Domestic
Violence Program Grant
Background:
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) provides grant
funding for programs and activities which increase the apprehension,
prosecution and adjudication of persons committing violent crimes against
women. The program, "Virginia Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution
Violence Against Women" (V-STOP) has funded the establishment of a Domestic
Violence Unit within the Police Department since 1999.
The Domestic Violence Unit collects and interprets relevant domestic violence
offense data which allows proactive case intervention and cultivation of the
cooperative working relationships with clients and service/adjudication
agencies. The program produces more equitable victim-offender criminal
justice dispositions related to domestic violence offenses.
On December 14, 2005, DCJS awarded the Police Department $32,967 to
employ its full-time, non-sworn Domestic Violence Specialist thereby allowing
continuance of the Domestic Violence Unit in calendar year 2006. The required
City match of $10,989 will be met through a cash transfer of $8,532 and an in-
kind donation of $2,457. The cash expenditure will be necessary to continue to
fully fund the salary and benefits portion of the Domestic Violence Specialist
Mayor Harris and Members of City Council
February 21, 2006
Page 2
position. Funding for the local match is budgeted in Local Match Funding for
grants (035-300-9700-5415).
Recommended Action:
Accept the V-STOP grant described above and authorize the City Manager to
execute the grant agreement and any related documents, in such form as is
approved by the City Attorney.
Adopt the accompanying budget ordinance to establish revenue estimates for
State grant funds of $32,967 and local cash funding of $8,532, to transfer
funding in the amount of $8,532 from 035-300-9700-5415 to provide the local
match funding, and to appropriate total funding of $41,499 in accounts to be
established by the Director of Finance in the Grant Fund as follows:
Appropriation:
Description Account
Amount
Regular Employee Salaries 1002
Retirement 1 ~05
FICA 1 ] 20
Medical Insurance 1125
Dental Insurance 1126
Life Insurance 1130
$ 30,239
$ 4,191
$ 2,313
$ 4,140
$ 247
$ 369
SUB TOTAL
$ 41,499
Cash Match from 035-300-9700-5415 to1002
TOTAL
$ 41,499
Respectfully submitted,
City Manager
DLB:gws
C:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Rolanda Russell, Assistant City Manager
A. L. Gaskins, Chief of Police
CM06-00027
CITY OF ROANOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
February 24, 2006
File #2-100-166
Darlene L. Burcham
City Manager
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Ms. Burcham:
I am attaching copy of Ordinance No. 37311-022106 authorizing the City Manager
to execute Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement dated December 24, 2002, between
the City of Roanoke and the YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc., to extend the date to
February 28, 2006, by which the YMCA must transfer to the City of Roanoke a
portion of the property on which the former YMCA facility is located, to address the
future removal and disposal of piping and impacted soil from an underground
storage tank, to address removal and disposal of a pedestrian walkway between the
two buildings which constituted the former YMCA facility, to address survival of such
provision and other provisions after closing, and to include other terms and
conditions as more fully set forth in a letter from the City Manager addressed to the
Council under date of February 21, 2006.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attachment
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
Darlene L. Burcham
February 24, 2006
Page 2
pc:
Phillip D. Short, President, Board of Directors, YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc.,
P. O. Box 2130, Roanoke, Virginia 24016
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
R. Brian Townsend, Director, Planning, Building and Economic Development
L:\CLERK\DATA\CKEW1LAGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37311-022106.
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 3 to the
Agreement dated December 24, 2002, between the City of Roanoke and the YMCA of Roanoke
Valley, Inc. ("YMCA"), to extend the date to February 28, 2006, by which the YMCA must transfer
to the City of Roanoke a portion of the property on which the former YMCA facility is located, to
address the future removal and disposal of piping and impacted soil from an underground storage
tank, to address the removal and disposal of a pedestrian walkway between two buildings which
constituted the former YMCA facility, to address survival of such provisions and other provisions
after closing, and to include other terms and conditions; and dispensing with the second reading by
title of this ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke as follows:
1. The City Manager and City Clerk are hereby authorized to execute and attest,
respectively, on behalf of the City, in form approved by the City Attorney, Amendment No. 3 to the
Agreement dated December 24, 2002, between the City of Roanoke and the YMCA, to extend the
date to February 28, 2006, by which the YMCA must transfer to the City of Roanoke a portion of the
property on which the former YMCA facility is located, to address the future removal and disposal of
piping and impacted soil from an underground storage tank, to address the removal and disposal of a
pedestrian walkway between two buildings which constituted the former YMCA facility, to address
survival of such provisions and other provisions after closing, and to include other terms and
conditions, and as more particularly described in the City Manager, s letter dated February 21,2006,
to this Council, and the copy of Amendment No. 3 attached thereto.
2. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading of this
ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 364
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1591
Telephone: (540) 853-2333
Fax: (540) 853-1138
City Web: www.roanokeva.gov
February 21,2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe,Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
Subject:
Amendment No. 3 to
the Agreement between
the City of Roanoke and
the YMCA of the
Roanoke Valley, Inc.
Background:
On December 24, 2002, the City of Roanoke entered into an Agreement
with the YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc. (YMCA) to provide support for the
development and construction of a new YMCA facility in the West Church
area of downtown Roanoke to accommodate an expanding number of
YMCA programs and to transfer the former YMCA building and land
located at the corner of Church Avenue and Fifth Street, SW, to the City of
Roanoke.
As specified in the Agreement, the YMCA was required to remove an
underground storage tank (UST), and all UST appurtenances, and to
remediate any soil impacted by the presence of the UST before
transferring the property to the City. The UST was removed from the
former YMCA site in December 2004; however, impacted soils and piping
associated with the UST were left in place by the Contractor working for
the YMCA.
Mayor Harris and Members of City Council
February 21, 2006
Page 2
Furthermore, a pedestrian walkway links the former main YMCA building
with the YMCA's auxiliary gymnasium. The agreement dated December
24, 2002, contemplates the transfer of the main YMCA building from the
YMCA to the City, but the YMCA will retain title to the YMCA's auxiliary
gymnasium. Thus, provisions for the removal of the pedestrian walkway
linking the two structures need to be established. Finally, Amendment
No. 3 addresses other related issues, such as the closing date and the
survival of certain terms beyond the closing date.
Considerations:
The YMCA has approached the City to amend the Agreement dated
December 24, 2002, in order to allow the YMCA to transfer a portion of
the former YMCA facility to the City but leaving the piping and impacted
soils on the property.
Under Amendment No. 3, the YMCA will remove the piping and impacted
soils at its expense, if the City decides to demolish the former main
YMCA building. If the City sells the property "as is," then the YMCA is
under no obligation to remove the piping and impacted soil. If, however,
the sale price for the property is diminished by the presence of the piping
and impacted soil, the YMCA and the City will agree on a third party to
establish the difference in the value of the property, and the YMCA will be
responsible for the difference. Furthermore, under Amendment No. 3,
the pedestrian walkway between the former YMCA building and the YMCA
auxiliary gymnasium will be removed at the expense of the YMCA, and
pursuant to other terms and conditions, upon the City requesting the
YMCA to do so.
Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 3, and other
appropriate documents to effectuate its terms and conditions, all
approved as to form by the City Attorney, such Amendment No. 3 to be
similar in form and content to the Amendment No. 3 attached to this
report. Authorize the City Manager to execute
the appropriate documents, approved as to form by the City Attorney, to
amend the Agreement dated December 24, 2002, between the City of
Roanoke and the YMCA of Roanoke Valley Inc., releasing the YMCA of its
initial obligation to remove all underground storage tank appurtenances
as well as impacted soils from the former YMCA property located at the
corner of Church Avenue and Fifth Street, SW, to the City of Roanoke
Mayor Harris and Members of City Council
February 21,2006
Page 3
prior to transferring the former YMCA property to the City. The City
Manager is further authorized to execute the appropriate documents,
approved as to form by the City Attorney, to amend the Agreement dated
December 24, 2002, between the City of Roanoke and the YMCA of the
Roanoke Valley Inc., to include provisions for the removal of the
pedestrian bridge by the YMCA, at the YMCA's expense, between the
former YMCA building and the YMCA auxiliary gymnasium.
Respectfully submitted,
Darlene L. Bu~cham
City Manager
DLB:pjt
C:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
R. Brian Townsend, Director of Planning, Building and Economic
Development
CM06-00023
AMENDMENT NO. 3
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 3 to an Agreement dated December 24, 2002, is
made and entered into this 21st day of February, 2006, by and between the CITY OF
ROANOKE ("City"), and the YMCA of ROANOKE VALLEY, INC. ("YMCA").
WHEREAS, City Council authorized the City to enter into an Agreement with the
YMCA, providing for the City to transfer certain property for the construction of a new YMCA
facility, and upon completion of the construction of the new YMCA facility, the YMCA would
transfer to the City a portion of the property on which the former YMCA facility is located.
WHEREAS, the parties entered into such Agreement dated December 24, 2002
("Agreement");
WHEREAS, the parties executed Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, dated February 28, 2005, and
December 23, 2005, respectively, to extend the deadline by which the YMCA needed to transfer
the Property For City to the City; and
WHEREAS, the parties wish to further amend the Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties in consideration of the promises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and in the Agreement, and in Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, agree to
amend the Agreement as follows:
Paragraph No. 1, Term of Agreement, of the Agreement shall be amended to read
as follows:
The rights and responsibilities of Subparagraph No. 7D of Paragraph No.
7 and Paragraph Nos. 5, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 26, of this Agreement shall
commence on the I st day of July, 2004, and continue for a period of twenty years
through 2024. The rights and responsibilities of the remaining sections shall be
completed as of the dates stated herein.
AmendmentNo,3YMCA
1 02/14/06
2. Paragraph No. 5, Transfer of real estate from the YMCA to the City, of the
Agreement shall be amended to read as follows:
Within thirty (30) days after the issuance of a permanent certificate of
occupancy for the New YMCA, but in no event later than February 28, 2006,
("Second Closing Date"), the YMCA shall transfer title of Roanoke City Official
Tax Nos. 1011206, 1011209 and 1011210 (hereinafter "Property For City") to the
City. The property shall be in substantially the same condition as it was on
December 24, 2002, subject to the other provisions of the Agreement bearing that
same date, and its amendments, including the clean up of the Property For City.
The YMCA shall not be obligated to prepare the subject Property For City for
use by the City, subject to Paragraph No. 8F. Pursuant to Paragraph No. 8, the
City assumes no duty to insure the Property For City for any loss or liability prior
to the closing date therefor.
3. Paragraph No. 7, Exchange of Property For City and warranties, of the Agreement
shall be amended by amending subparagraphs B and C and by adding subparagraph D, and
Paragraph No. 7 shall read as follows:
A. Simultaneously with the transfer set forth in Paragraph 5, above,
the YMCA shall record the deed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the City
of Roanoke. In addition to any representations and warranties contained
elsewhere in this Agreement, the YMCA warrants and represents that: (a) the
YMCA will, in accordance with this Agreement, convey title to the Property For
City free and clear of all liens, covenants, conditions, restrictions, right-of-ways,
easements, and encumbrances of any kind or character whatsoever; (b) the
YMCA has good and marketable fee simple title to the Property For City, and the
YMCA is the sole owner of the Property For City; (c) the YMCA has no
knowledge of any pending or threatened proceedings for condemnation or the
exercise of the right of eminent domain as to any part of the Property For City or
the limiting or denying of any right of access thereto; (d) the YMCA has no
knowledge of, nor has it received any notice of, any special taxes or assessments
relating to the Property For City or any part thereof; and (e) there are no leases of
the Property For City.
B. Title to the Property For City shall be conveyed by YMCA to the
City with good, clear marketable title by general warranty deed, free and clear of
all liens, covenants, conditions, restrictions, right-of-ways, easements, and
encumbrances of any kind or character whatsoever, in form acceptable to the City
Manager for the City of Roanoke. The YMCA shall convey title to the Property
For City by a good and sufficient General Warranty Deed with English covenants
of title, prepared at the expense of the YMCA, in recordable form, conveying fee
simple title to the Property For City to the City.
AmendmentNo.3YMCA 2 02/14/06
C. Delivery of title in accordance with the foregoing shall be
evidenced by the willingness on the closing date of a title company selected by
the City to issue, upon payment of its normal premium, to the City its American
Land Title Association (Form B) Owner's Policy of Title Insurance insuring the
City in the amount of $2,856,200.00 in respect to the Property For City and that
title to the Property For City is vested in the YMCA.
D. The General Warranty Deed shall provide that the representations
and covenants contained in the Agreement dated December 24, 2002, between the
City of Roanoke and the YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc., and Amendment Nos.
1, 2 and 3, dated February 28, 2005, December 23, 2005, and February 21, 2006,
respectively, to such Agreement, shall survive the closing date of the deed, and
that title to Official Tax No. 1011206 shall not include title or ownership of any
portion of the pedestrian walkway connecting the structure on Official Tax No.
1011206 and the structure on Official Tax No. 1011202.
4. Subparagraph E, Removal of Underground Storage Tank(s), of Paragraph No. 8,
Environmental, shall read as follows:
(1) On or before the date the City takes title to Property For City, the YMCA,
at its own expense, shall remove the underground storage tank used to store diesel
fuel for heating purposes ("UST"), and all appurtenances and attachments thereto,
if any, and any other underground storage tank, and appurtenances and
attachments thereto, used for the storage of any fuel or hazardous materials as
used and defined in this Agreement, that are located on Property For City. The
YMCA shall be solely responsible and remain liable for any and all costs
associated with such removal, and such removal shall be in compliance with all
applicable local, state and federal laws. The YMCA shall supply the City with
such documents as the City may request to show the YMCA's compliance.
(2) Prior to beginning the removal of the UST or any other underground
storage tank, or appurtenances or attachments thereto, referred to in subsection
(1), above, the YMCA shall notify the Environmental Administrator for the City
and the Fire Marshall for the City of such removal. Such persons, or their
designees, shall be permitted to be present during the course of the entire removal
and to perform, or require the YMCA, at its sole expense, to have performed such
tests as the City may deem necessary and appropriate to ensure compliance with
all applicable codes, statutes, laws and ordinances, and to ensure that no stored
substances have leaked or been released by the UST, or any other underground
storage tank, or appurtenances or attachments thereto, referred to in subsection
(1), above, at any time.
(3) Upon completing the removal, the YMCA shall restore any disturbed
portion of the Property For City to its condition in existence before the YMCA
AmendmentNo.3YMCA 3 02/14/06
began the removal. Such restoration shall not begin until both the Fire Marshall
and the Environmental Administrator have permitted, in writing, that such
restoration may begin.
(4) Subject to subsection Nos. 7 and 8, below, in the event the YMCA fails to
remove the UST, or any other underground storage tank, or appurtenances or
attachments thereto, referred to in subsection (1), above, from the Property For
City on or before the date City takes title to Property For City, and if the City, or
its designee, removes the UST, or any appurtenances or attachments thereto, at
the City's expense, the YMCA shall reimburse the City in full for the costs of
such removal and restoration of the Property For City to its original condition
prior to the initiation of such removal, plus fifty percent (50%) of the cost of such
removal and restoration, within thirty (30) days of completion of the removal and
restoration, as liquidated damages for such expenses incurred by the City which
are not out-of-pocket expenses.
(5) If the testing performed by, or at the request of, the City reveals that any
substance stored in the UST, or any other underground storage tank, or
appurtenances or attachments thereto, referred to in subsection (1), above, leaked
at any time, the YMCA shall be responsible for remediation of such condition.
(6) The provisions of this section shall be read and construed in
conjunction with the Other sections of this Agreement and the obligations under
this section are in addition to, and not in place of, any other obligations of the
YMCA in any other sections of this Agreement.
(7) The preceding language of this subparagraph E notwithstanding, the
YMCA shall not be required to remove and dispose of the piping and impacted
soil of the UST on or before the date the City takes title to the Property For City.
The YMCA, or any of its successors in interest, shall remove and dispose of the
piping and impacted soil of the UST at the sole expense of the YMCA, or any of
its successors in interest, if the City, or any person or entity at the request of the
City, elects to demolish the structure or remove the asphalt on the Property for the
City. Such removal and disposal shall occur during the course of, or prior to, the
completion of the demolition of the structure or removal of the asphalt and shall
be to the complete satisfaction of the City Manager for the City of Roanoke. The
duty to remove the piping and impacted soil shall not be that of the YMCA, if the
City subsequently sells, or otherwise transfers, all of the Property For City "as is"
to any party or entity, subject to subsection No. 8, below.
(8) If the City is required to remove the piping and impacted soil for
any reason, including the preparation of the Property For City for sale,
lease or transfer, to any person or entity, without demolishing the structure
or removing the asphalt, the YMCA will reimburse the City for all costs
and expenses incurred by the City for the removal and disposal of the
piping and impacted soil. If the City decides to sell the Property For City,
AmendmentNo,3YMCA 4 02/14/06
or any portion thereof, prior to demolition of the structure and removal of
the asphalt, and prior to removal of the piping and impacted soil, and if
there is a reduction in the sale price of the property being sold due to the
presence of the piping and impacted soil, the City Manager for the City of
Roanoke shall determine the amount of such reduction and the YMCA
will pay to the City an amount equal to such reduction within thirty (30)
days of written notification from the City. Such determination shall be
based on the opinion of a real estate appraiser who is certified by the
Commonwealth of Virginia and who is mutually approved, in writing, by
the City and the YMCA. Such approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
5. Paragraph No. 12, Second Closing, of the Agreement shall be amended in
subparagraphs A, B and C, to read as follows:
A. The purchase of the Property For City shall occur at 10:00 a.m. on
a date selected by the YMCA within thirty (30) days after the issuance of a
permanent certificate of occupancy for the New YMCA but in no event later than
February 28, 2006 (hereinafter "Second Closing Date"), in the Office of the City
Attorney, or at such other location and time as shall be approved by the City and
the YMCA.
B. On the Second Closing Date, the YMCA shall deliver or cause to
be delivered to the City the following documents:
(1) Its duly executed and acknowledged General Warranty Deed
conveying to the City the Property For City, approved as to form by the City
Attorney, at least five (5) business days before the Second Closing Date.
(2) A mechanic's lien affidavit executed by a representative of the
YMCA, satisfactory to the title company selected by the City, and to the effect
that no work has been performed on the Property For City in the one hundred
twenty-five (125) days immediately preceding the Second Closing Date that could
result in a mechanic's lien claim, or, if such work has been performed, it has been
paid for in full;
(3) Such evidence and documents including, without limitation, a
certified copy of the resolution adopted by the YMCA, as may reasonably be
required by the title company selected by the City, evidencing the authority of
the person(s) executing the various documents on behalf of the YMCA in
connection with its sale of the Property For City;
(4) A duly executed counterpart of a Closing Statement;
AmendmentNo,3YMCA 5 02/14/06
(5) Any other items required to be delivered pursuant to this
Agreement, and any other documents or Agreements referred to in this
Agreement.
C. With respect to the Property For City, the City shall pay for: (i) the
cost of examination of title and title insurance premiums for issuance of the Title
Policy; (ii) all attorney's fees and expenses incurred by legal counsel to City; and
(iii) any Grantee's tax and recording costs required to be paid in connection with
the recording of Deed. The YMCA shall pay the Grantor's tax, if any, and the
expenses of legal counsel for YMCA, if any. The YMCA shall deliver exclusive
possession of the Property For City to the City on the Second Closing Date.
6. Paragraph No. 22, Notice, shall be amended to read as follows:
Notice under this Agreement shall be sent, in writing, by certified mail to the
following persons:
If to the City:
City Manager
Room 364 Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W.
Roanoke, VA 24011
If to the YMCA:
Executive Director
520 Church Avenue, S.W.
Roanoke, VA 24016
Notice shall be effective upon receipt.
7. A new Paragraph No. 26, Pedestrian Walkway. shall be added to read as follows:
(a) Upon receiving written notification from the City Manager for the
City of Roanoke, the YMCA shall demolish and remove the pedestrian walkway
which connects the structures on Official Tax Nos. 1011202 and 1011206 and
which is the subject of the Ordinance No. 22249, adopted by City Council for the
City of Roanoke on June 2, 1975. Such demolition and removal shall begin
within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of such notice to proceed and shall be
completed to the satisfaction of the City Manager within sixty (60) calendar days
of receipt of such notice. Such demolition and removal shall be at the sole cost
and expense of the YMCA and shall be performed by a licensed contractor
experienced in such work. In the event demolition of the structure on Official
Tax No. 1011202 is initiated or completed before demolition of the structure on
Official Tax No. 1011206 is initiated, the YMCA shall restore the condition of the
facade of the structure on Official Tax No. 1011206 to the satisfaction of the City
Manager.
AmendmentNo.3YMCA 6 02/14/06
(b) Prior to initiating the removal of the pedestrian walkway, the
YMCA shall do the following:
(1) Obtain and maintain, or have obtained or maintained, at the
sole expense of the YMCA, the insurance policies required by this
Paragraph No. 26. Any required insurance policies shall be effective prior
to the beginning of any work or other performance by the YMCA, or its
contractor, under this Agreement. The following policies and coverages
are required:
(i) Commercial General Liability. Commercial general
liability insurance shall insure against all claims, loss, cost,
damage, expense or liability from loss of life or damage or
injury to persons or property arising out of the YMCA=s
performance under this Agreement. The minimum limits
of liability for this coverage shall be $1,000,000.00
combined single limit for any one occurrence. The
Certificate of Insurance must state that Rigger's coverage is
included.
(ii) Workers= Compensation. Workers= compensation
insurance covering the YMCA=s statutory obligation under
the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and employer=s
liability insurance shall be maintained for all its employees
engaged in work under this Agreement. Minimum limits of
liability for employer=s liability shall be one hundred
thousand dollars and no cents ($100,000.00) bodily injury
by accident each occurrence; five hundred thousand dollars
and no cents ($500,000.00) bodily injury by disease (policy
limit); and one hundred thousand dollars and no cents
($100,000.00) bodily injury by disease (each employee).
With respect to workers= compensation coverage, the
contractor=s insurance company shall waive rights of
subrogation against the City, its officers, employees,
agents, volunteers and representatives.
(2) Umbrella Coverage. The insurance coverages and amounts
set forth in subsections (1)(i) and (1)(ii), above, of this subsection (b) may
be met by an umbrella liability policy following the form of the underlying
primary coverage in a minimum amount of $5,000,000.00. Should an
umbrella liability insurance coverage policy be used, such coverage shall
be accompanied by a certificate of endorsement stating that it applies to
the specific policy numbers indicated for the insurance providing the
coverages required by subsections (1)(i) and (1)(ii), above, of this
subsection, and it is further agreed that such statement shall be made a part
of the certificate of insurance furnished by to this City.
AmendmentNo.3YMCA 7 02/14/06
(3) Evidence of Insurance. All insurance shall meet the
following requirements:
(i) Prior to execution of this Agreement, the YMCA
shall furnish the City a certificate or certificates of
insurance showing the type, amount, effective dates and
date of expiration of the policies. Certificates of insurance
shall include any insurance deductibles. Such certificates
shall be attached to this Agreement at the time of execution
of this Agreement and shall be furnished in a timely fashion
to demonstrate continuous and uninterrupted coverage of
all of the required forms of insurance for the entire term of
this Agreement.
(ii) The required certificate or certificates of insurance
shall include substantially the following statement: AThe
insurance covered by this certificate shall not be canceled
or materially altered, except after thirty (30) days written
notice has been received by the Risk Management Officer
for the City of Roanoke.@
(iii) The required certificate or certificates of insurance
shall name the City of Roanoke, its officers, employees,
agents, volunteers and representatives as additional
insureds.
(iv) Where waiver of subrogation is required with
respect to any policy of insurance required under this
section, such waiver shall be specified on the certificate of
insurance.
(v) Insurance coverage shall be in a form and with an
insurance company approved by the City which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any insurance
company providing coverage under this Agreement shall be
authorized to do business in the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
(4) Ranges and Limits. At the end of three (3) years from the
date of the Agreement dated December 24, 2002, the City shall have the
right to require increases in the amounts of insurance specified herein.
Any adjustments shall bear a reasonable relation to any change in the cost
of living or cost of repair or replacement, as measured by changes in the
consumer Price Index of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
AmendmentNo.3YMCA
8 02/14406
applicable to the Commonwealth of Virginia or comparable measure if the
Consumer Price Index is no longer being issued.
(c) During the entire time this Agreement is in force, and immediately
prior to the removal of the pedestrian walkway, the YMCA shall secure
the structure on Official Tax No. 1011202 to ensure that no person gains
access to the pedestrian walkway.
(d) During the entire time this Agreement is in force, and immediately
prior to the removal of the pedestrian walkway, the YMCA shall inspect
and maintain the pedestrian walkway to ensure structural soundness and
integrity and safety.
(e) The demolition and removal of the pedestrian walkway shall be
performed in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal
ordinance, laws and regulations, including those applicable to asbestos and
lead-based paint removal.
(f) Title to, and any interest in, Official Tax No. 1011202 may not be
transferred by the YMCA to any person or entity without the written
approval of the City Manager for the City of Roanoke, such approval
containing specific reference to the Agreement dated December 24, 2002,
between the City and the YMCA, and any amendment of such Agreement.
(g) The rights of the City in this paragraph shall be in addition to those
rights it has pursuant to Ordinance No. 22249, adopted June 2, 1975, and
all applicable state and city code provisions.
7. The Agreement dated December 24, 2002, as amended by Amendment Nos. 1
and 2, dated February 28, 2005, and December 23, 2005, respectively, shall be changed in no
other way.
WITNESS the following signatures and seals:
ATTEST:
CITY OF ROANOKE:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
By_
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
AmendmentNo.3YMCA 9 02/14/06
ATTEST: YMCA OF ROANOKE VALLEY, INC.
Secretary
By
Phillip D. Short, President, Board of Directors
Approved as to form:
Approved as to execution:
Assistant City Attorney
Assistant City Attorney
AmendmentNo.3YMCA 10 02/I 4/06
CIT OF ROANOKE
Off, ce of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC
City Clerk
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
February 24, 2006
Darlene L. Burcham
City Manager
Roanoke, Virginia
File #20-77
Dear Ms. Burcham:
I am attaching copy of Resolution No. 373:[2-022106 that the Council of the City of
Roanoke hereby endorses and request the Commonwealth Transportation Board to
make the multi-modal improvement of the Interstate 8:[ corridor a high priority
transportation project within the Commonwealth, and to proceed with the necessary
work to implement the improvements in a timely manner.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 2:[, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attach merit
pc:
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Robert K. Bengtson, 'Director, Public Works
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Kenneth H. King, Manager, Division of Transportation
L:\CLERKSDATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06~Feb 06~Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 215t day of February, 2006.
I%. 37312-022106.
A RESOLUTION requesting the Commonwealth Transportation Board to make the multi-
modal improvement of the Interstate 81 (I-81) corridor a high priority transportation project within
the Commonwealth and to proceed with the necessary work to implement these improvements in a
timely manner.
WHEREAS, the City of Roanoke recognizes that a safe, efficient, and well-managed I-81
highway corridor is vital to the Roanoke Valley's current and future economy and quality of life;
WHEREAS, the 1-81 corridor is an overburdened primary interstate corridor within the
Roanoke Valley, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the nation;
WHEREAS, the I-81 corridor is increasingly the route of choice for cars and trucks traveling
between the Northeast and the South and Southwest because of congestion on 1-95 and expanding
shipments generated by the North American Free Trade Act; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has published a Tier I Drag
Environmental Impact Statement that identifies needs, develops solutions, and evaluates potential
impacts associated with conceptual-level improvements along the entire 325-mile 1-81 corridor in
Virginia, as well as improvements to Norfolk Southern's Shenandoah and Piedmont rail lines in
Virginia;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that the City
hereby endorses and requests that the Commonwealth Transportation Board continue the
advancement of corridor improvements appropriately balancing freight rail, public transportation,
and strategic interstate widening in a manner that will maximize the utilization and efficiency of all
transportation modes along this corridor while minimizing impacts on the environment, including
scenic and cultural resources. Further, the City urges the Commonwealth of Virginia to identify, and
make available, the needed resources to improve this vital corridor in a timely manner, and for
VDOT to recognize the 1-81 highway improvement segments in the Roanoke and New River Valleys
as high priorities to be more closely studied and advanced in the I-81 Corridor Improvement Tier 2
environmental documents.
ATTEST:
~e~City Clerk. \" -
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S~W., Room 364
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1591
Telephone: (540) 853-2333
Fax: (540) 853-1138
City Web: www.roanokeva.gov
February 21, 2006
Honorable
Honorable
Honorable
Honorable
Honorable
Honorable
Honorable
C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
Subject: Interstate 81 Corridor
Improvement Study
Background:
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently published the
Interstate 81 (I-81) Corridor Improvement Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (Tier 1 DEIS) and is seeking public comments at this time. The
streamlined Tier 1 DEIS process being conducted in accordance with the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA) guidelines, identifies needs, develops solutions, and evaluates potential
impacts associated with conceptual-level improvements along the entire 325-
mile Interstate 81 (I-81)corridor in Virginia, as well as improvements to Norfolk
Southern's Shenandoah and Piedmont rail lines in Virginia. The potential
impacts of specific improvements will be analyzed in greater detail during
Tier 2 if a "Build" concept (or portion of a "Build" concept) is advanced. The
Tier 1 study documents existing and future needs along the corridor. Upon
completion of the Tier 1 study, decisions will be made on:
· the improvement concepts for highway and rail facilities;
· advancing 1-81 as a toll pilot under Section 1216(b) of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21 st Century (TEA-21);
· projects with independent utility and logical termini to be studied in
Tier 2;
· the types of Tier 2 NEPA document(s);
· the location of the corridor for studying alignments in Tier 2; and
· possible purchase of certain right-of-way parcels on a case-by-case basis.
Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
February 2~, 2006
Page 2
Recommended Action:
City staff has reviewed the published DEIS information and recommends
Council adoption and submission of the attached resolution in support of the
multi-modal Interstate 81 corridor improvements.
Respectfully submitted,
City Manager
DLB/KHK/gpe
C:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Robert K. Bengtson, P.E., Director of Public Works
Kenneth H. King, P.E., Manager, Division of Transportation
CM06-00028
MARY F. PARKER, CMC
City Clerk
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 456
Roanoke, V'ng~ia 24011-1536
Telephone: (540) 853-2541
Fax: (540) 853-1145
E-mail: clerk @ ci.roanoke.va.us
February 24, 2006
STEPHANIE M. MOON, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SHEILA N. HARTMAN
Assistant City Clerk
File #514
Michael S. Ferguson, Attorney
Osterhoudt, Prillaman, Natt,
Helscher, Yost, Maxwell and Ferguson
P. O. Box 20487
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
Dear Mr. Ferguson:
I am enclosing copy of Ordinance No. 37313-022106 amending and reordaining
Ordinance No. 35619-101801 adopted by City Council on October 18, 2001, to
permanently vacate, discontinue and close a certain unnamed and undeveloped alley
way extending between 10 1/2 Street and 11'h Street, S. E., between properties
identified as Official Tax Nos. 4111317 and 4111303, for a distance of
approximately 130 feet in a westerly direction from 11'h Street, S. E.; and that next
to the last paragraph of Ordinance No. 35619-101801 be amended to read and
provide that if the conditions have not been met within 60 months from the date of
adoption of Ordinance No. 37313-022106, such ordinance shall be null and void
with no further action by City Council being necessary.
The abovereferenced Ordinance No. 37313-022106 was adopted by the Council of
the City of Roanoke at a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21,
2006, and is in full force and effect upon its passage.
SMM:ew
Enclosure
pc:
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
R. Brian Townsend, Director, Planning, Building and Economic Development
L;~CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06~Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondenoe.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37313-022106.
AN ORDINANCE amending and reordaining Ordinance No. 35619-101801; and dispensing
with the second reading by title of this ordinance.
WHEREAS, by adopting Ordinance No. 35619-101801, on October 18,2001, City Council
intended to permanently vacate, discontinue and close a certain unnamed and undeveloped alley way
extending between 10½ Street and 11th Street, S.E., between properties identified as Official Tax
Nos. 4111317 and 4111303, for a distance of approximately 130 feet in a westerly direction from
11th Street;
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 35619-101801 provided that it would be null and void, with no
further action by City Council being necessary, ifa certified copy of Ordinance No. 35619-101801
were not recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, where deeds
are recorded in such Clerk's Office, within twelve months of the date of adoption of the ordinance;
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 35619-101801 became null and void, by its terms, when a
certified copy of Ordinance No. 35619-101801 was not recorded within twelve months after the
adoption of the ordinance; and
WHEREAS, an extension of time in which the plat of subdivision can be recorded after
adoption of the ordinance to sixty months will effectuate the purpose of Ordinance No. 35619-
101801;
THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that the next to last
paragraph of Ordinance No. 35619-101801 be amended to read and provide as follows, and that such
ordinance be reordained as amended:
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if the above conditions have not been
met within sixty (60) months from the date of adoption of this ordinance, then such
ordinance shall be null and void with no further action by City Council being
necessary.
BE IT FLTRTHER ORDAINED that the applicant shall record a certified copy of this
ordinance along with the copy of Ordinance No. 35619-101801 that is to be recorded with the Clerk
of the Circuit Court.
BE IT FINALLY ORDAINED that pursuant to the provisions of§l 2 of the City Charter, the
second reading of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
~'~ City Clerk.
WILLIAM M. HACKWORTH
CITY ATTORNEY
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF CITY ATTORNEY
464 MUNICIPAL BUILDING
215 CHURCH AVENUE, SW
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA 24011-1595
~fELEPHONE: 540-853 2431
FAX: 540-853 1221
EMAIL: cityatty@ roanokeva gov
TIMOTHY R. SPENCER
STEVEN J. TALEVI
GARY E. TEGENKAMP
DAVID L. COLLINS
HEATHER P. FERGUSON
February 21, 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wislmeff, Council Member
Re~
Amendment and reordainment of Ordinance No. 35619-101801, vacating, discontinuing
and closing a portion of an undeveloped alley way between 10½ Street and 11th Street, S.E.
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of Council:
Background:
On October 18, 2001, Ordinance No. 35619-101801 was adopted by City Council, permanently
vacating a portion of an unnamed and undeveloped alley way between 101/2 Street and I 1th Street,
S.E., upon certain conditions. One of the conditions of the ordinance was that the petitioner
(Sherman W. Chisom) record a copy of the ordinance in the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court for
the City of Roanoke within a period of twelve (12) months from the effective date of the ordinance.
If all of the conditions were not met within the twelve (12) month time frame, the ordinance
provided that it would become null and void without further action by City Council.
Mr. Chisom, by his attorney, Michael S. Ferguson, has advised that all conditions of the ordinance
were timely completed, except for the inadvertent failure to record a copy of the ordinance. Mr.
Ferguson has prepared and filed an application, requesting that Ordinance No. 35619-101801 be
amended and reordained to allow sixty (60) months for recordation of the ordinance and the
ordinance amending Ordinance No. 35619-101801. The Engineering Department and the
Department of Planning Building and Economic Development have reviewed the request, and they
have no objection to it.
Honorable Mayor Harris and
Members of City Council
February 21, 2006
Page 2
Recommendation:
Amend and reordain Ordinance No. 35619-101801 with the condition that the period of time
required for satisfaction of the conditions be changed from twelve (12) months to sixty (60) months.
Respectfully submitted,
WMH:s
pc:
William M. Hackworth
City Attorney
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
R. Brian Townsend, Agent, City Planning Commission
Michael S. Ferguson, Esquire
HMMCC-Extend time amend and reordain
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 18th day of October, 2001.
No. 35619-101801.
AN ORDINANCE permanently vacating, discontinuing and closing certain public
right-of-way in the City of Roanoke, Virginia, as more particularly described hereinafter; and
dispensing with the second reading of this ordinance.
WHEREAS, Sherman W. Chisom, filed an application to the Council of the City of
Roanoke, Virginia, in accordance with law, requesting the Council to permanently vacate,
discontinue and close the public right-of-way described hereinafter; and
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission, after giving proper notice to all
concerned as required by §30-14, Code of the City of Roanoke (1979), as amended, and after
having conducted a public heating on the matter, has made its recommendation to Council;
and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on said application by the City Council on
October 18,2001, after due and timely notice thereof as required by §30-14, Code of the City
of Roanoke (1979), as amended, at which heating all parties in interest and citizens were
afforded an opportunity to be heard on said application; and
WHEREAS, it appearing from the foregoing that the land proprietors affected by the
requested closing of the subject public right-of-way have been properly notified; and
WHEREAS, from all of the foregoing, the Council considers that no inconvenience
will result to any individual or to the public from permanently vacating, discontinuing and
closing said public right-of-way.
THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke, Virginia,
that the public right-of-way situate in the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and more particularly
described as follows:
That unused, unpaved and unimproved alleyway running in an east/west
direction between 10 ½ Street and 11th Street, S. E., between properties
bearing Official Tax No. 4111317 and Official Tax No. 4111303, for a
distance of approximately 130 feet in a westerly direction from 11th Street.
be, and is hereby permanently vacated, discontinued and closed, and that all right and interest
of the public in and to the same be, and hereby is, released insofar as the Council of the City
of Roanoke is empowered so to do with respect to the closed portion of the right-of-way,
reserving however, to the City of Roanoke and any utility company, including, specifically,
without limitation, providers to or for the public of cable television, electricity, natural gas
or telephone service, an easement for sewer and water mains, television cable, electric wires,
gas lines, telephone lines, and related facilities that may now be located in or across said
public right-of-way, together with the right of ingress and egress for the maintenance or
replacement of such lines, mains or utilities, such right to include the right to remove,
without the payment of compensation or damages of any kind to the owner, any landscaping,
fences, shrubbery, structure or any other encroachments on or over the easement which
impede access for maintenance or replacement purposes at the time such work is undertaken;
such easement or easements to terminate upon the later abandonment of use or permanent
removal from the above-described public right-of-way of any such municipal installation or'
other utility or facility by the owner thereof.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the applicant shall submit to the Subdivision
Agent, receive all required approvals of, and record with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for
the City of Roanoke, a subdivision plat, with said plat combining all properties which would
otherwise be landlocked by the requested closure, or otherwise disposing of the land within
the right-of-way to be vacated in a manner consistent with law, and retaining appropriate
easements, together with the right of ingress and egress over the same, for the installation and
maintenance of any and all existing utilities that may be located within the right-of-way.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the applicant shall, upon meeting all other
conditions to the granting of the application, deliver to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the
City of Roanoke, Virginia, a certified copy of this ordinance for recordation where deeds are
recorded in said Clerk's Office, indexing the same in the name of the City of Roanoke,
Virginia, as Grantor, and in the name of the Petitioner, and the names of any other parties in
interest who may so request, as Grantees, and pay such fees and charges as are required by
the Clerk to effect such recordation.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the applicant shall, upon a certified copy of this
ordinance being recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the City of Roanoke, Virginia,
3
where deeds are recorded in said Clerk's Office, file with the City Engineer for the City of
Roanoke, Virginia, the Clerk's receipt, demonstrating that such recordation has occurred.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if the above conditions have not been met within
a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the adoption of this ordinance, then said
ordinance shall be null and void with no further action by City Council being necessary.
BE IT FINALLY ORDAINED that pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the
City Charter, the second reading of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
~,.~,~ City Clerk.
MARY F. PARKER, CMC
City Clerk
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 456
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1536
Telephone: (540) 853-2541
Fax: (540) 853-1145
E-mail: clerk@ci.roanoke.va.us
February 24, 2006
File #178-514
STEPHANIE M. MOON, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SHEILA N. HARTMAN
Assistant City Clerk
Daniel F. Layman, Jr., Attorney
Woods Rogers PLC
P. O. Box 14125
Roanoke, Virginia 24038-4125
Dear Mr. Layman:
I am enclosing copy of Ordinance No. 37314-022106 amending and reordaining
Ordinance No. 36226-020303, adopted by City Council on February 3, 2003, to
permanently vacate, discontinue and close a certain alley running from 5th Street to
6th Street, N. W., between Loudon and Centre Avenues, N. W., as well as an alley
extending in a southerly direction from Loudon Avenue, to the aforesaid alley, lying
between Official Tax Nos. 2013109 - 20:].3114, inclusive; and that next to the last
paragraph of Ordinance No. 36226-020303 be amended to read and provide that if
the conditions have not been met within 48 months from the date of adoption of
Ordinance No. 37314-022106 such ordinance shall be null and void with no further
action by City Council being necessary.
The abovereferenced Ordinance No. 37314-022106 was adopted by the Council of
the City of Roanoke at a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21,
2006, and is in full force and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attachment
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
Daniel F. Layman, Jr., Attorney
February 24, 2006
Page 2
pc:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
John P. Baker, Executive Director, Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing
Authority, 2624 Salem Turnpike, N.W.,Roanoke, Virginia 24017
R. Brian Townsend, Director, Planning, Building and Development
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEW1LAGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06~Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37314-022106.
AN ORDINANCE amending and reordaining Ordinance No. 36226-020303; and dispensing
with the second reading by title of this ordinance.
WHEREAS, by adopting Ordinance No. 36226-020303, on February 3, 2003, City Council
intended to permanently vacate, discontinue and close a certain alley running from 5th Street to 6th
Street, N.W., between Loudon and Centre Avenues, N.W., as well as an alley extending in a
southerly direction from Loudon Avenue, N.W., to the aforesaid alley, lying between Official Tax
Nos. 2013109 through 2013114, inclusive;
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 36226-020303 provided that it would be null and void, with no
further action by City Council being necessary, ifa plat of subdivision implementing the ordinance
were not recorded within twelve months of the date of adoption of the ordinance;
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 36226-020303, became null and void, by its terms, when a plat
of subdivision was not recorded within twelve months after the adoption of the ordinance;
WHEREAS, on August 15, 2005, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 37152-081505,
amending and reordaining Ordinance No. 36226-020303, to extend to thirty-six (36) months after
February 3, 2003, the date by which the required plat of subdivision must be prepared and recorded;
WHEREAS, as of February 3, 2006, the required plat of subdivision had not yet been filed
with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the City of Roanoke;
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 36226-020303 became null and void, by its terms, when a plat of
subdivision was not recorded within thirty-six (36) months after February 3, 2003; and
WHEREAS, an extension of time in which the plat of subdivision can be recorded after
adoption of the ordinance to forty-eight (48) months will effectuate the purpose of Ordinance No.
36226-020303;
THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that the next to last
paragraph of Ordinance No. 36226-020303 be amended to read and provide as follows, and that such
ordinance be reordained as amended:
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that if the above conditions have not been
met within forty-eight (48) months from the date of adoption of this ordinance, then
such ordinance shall be null and void with no further action by City Council being
necessary.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the applicant shall record a certified copy of this
ordinance along with the copy of Ordinance No. 36226-020303 that is to be recorded with the Clerk
of the Circuit Court.
BE IT FINALLY ORDAINED that pursuant to the provisions of§12 of the City Charter, the
second reading of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
city c .
WILLIAM M. HACKWORTH
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF CITY ATTORNEY
464 MUNICIPAL BUILDING
215 CHURCH AVENUE, SW
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA 24011-1595
TELEPHONE: 540-853-243 I
FAX: 540-853 1221
EMAIL: cityatty ~/roam~keva gov
TIMOTHY R. SPENCER
STEVEN J. TALEVI
GARY E. TEGENKAMP
DAVID L. COLLINS
HEATHER P. FERGUSON
ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEYS
February 21, 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
and Members of City Cotmcil
Roanoke, Virginia
Re: Amend and reordain Ordinance No. 36226-020303
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of Council:
The City of Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority ("Authority") is in the
process of taking over from the Northwest Neighborhood Environmental Organization
("NNEO") the development of the Fifth Street Gateway project in the 500 Block of Loudon
Avenue, N.W. On February 3, 2003, at the request of NNEO, City Council adopted Ordinance
No. 36226-020303, closing two alleys in the area of the project. In accordance with the City's
usual practice, the Ordinance required that within one year from the date of adoption of the
Ordinance, NNEO have a subdivision plat prepared and recorded, combining the closed alleys
with the adjoining lots. Because the plat was never prepared and recorded, the Ordinance by its
terms became void.
To allow the Authority to close the alleys, the Authority requested that City Council
amend and reordain Ordinance No. 36226-020303, allowing the Authority an additional twelve
(12) months to prepare and record an appropriate plat. In accordance with the Authority's
request, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 37152-081505, amending and reordaining
Ordinance No. 36226-020303, to allow a plat of subdivision to be prepared and recorded within
thirty-six months after February 3, 2003, the date of adoption of the original ordinance.
By letter dated February 7, 2006, the Authority advised that the required subdivision plat
is being prepared and because the plat has not yet been prepared and approved, the plat has not
yet been recorded. Accordingly, the Authority requested that it be granted an additional twelve
(12) months to complete the process. The Engineering Department and the Department of
Planning Building and Economic Development have reviewed the request, and they have no
objection to it.
In light of these developments, I recommend that City Council adopt the attached
measure, amending and reordaining Ordinance No. 36226-020303, allowing a plat of subdivision
to be prepared and recorded within forty-eight (48) months after February 3, 2003, the date of
adoption of the original ordinance
HMMCC - Extend term to 48 months 022106
Honorable Mayor Harris and
Members of City Council
February 21, 2006
Page 2
With kindest personal regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
William M. Hackworth
City Attorney
WMH:s
Attachment
CC~
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
R. Brian Townsend, Director, Planning, Building and Development
Daniel F. Layman, Jr., Esquire
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 3rd day of February, 2003.
No. 36226-020303.
AN ORDINANCE permanently vacating, discontinuing and closing certain public
rights-of-way in the City of Roanoke, Virginia, as more particularly described hereinafter;
and dispensing with the second reading of this ordinance by title.
WHEREAS, Northwest Neighborhood Environmental Organization (NNEO) filed an
application dated November 7, 2002, to the Council of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, in
accordance with law, requesting the Council to permanently vacate, discontinue and close the
public rights-of-way described hereinafter; and
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission, after giving proper notice to all
concerned as required by {}30-14, Code of the City of Roanoke (1979), as amended, and after
having conducted a public hearing on the matter, has made its recommendation to Council;
and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on said application by the City Council on
February 3, 2003, after due and timely notice thereof as required by {}30-14, Code of the City
of Roanoke (1979), as amended, at which hearing all parties in interest and citizens were
afforded an opportunity to be heard on said application; and
WHEREAS, it appearing from the foregoing that the land proprietors affected by the
requested closing of the subject public rights-of-way have been properly notified; and
WHEREAS, from all of the foregoing, the Council considers that no inconvenience
will result to any individual or to the public from permanently vacating, discontinuing and
closing said public rights-of-way.
THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke, Virginia,
that the public rights-of-way situate in the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and more particularly
described as follows:
All of the alley from 6th Street, N.W. to 5th Street, N.W., in the block lying
between Loudon Avenue, N.W., and Centre Avenue, N.W., beginning at the
east side of 6th Street, N.W., between lots bearing Official Tax Nos. 2013101
and 2013115, and extending east to its intersection with 5th Street, N.W.,
between lots bearing Official Tax Map Numbers 2013114 and 2013123,
extending north, and on the west extending along the east border of lot bearing
Official Tax Map Number 2013109 and on the east extending along the west
border of lots bearing Official Tax Map Numbers 2013114 through 2013110,
extending north to its intersection with Loudon Avenue
be, and are hereby permanently vacated, discontinued and closed, and that all right and
interest of the public in and to the same be, and hereby is, released insofar as the Council of
the City of Roanoke is empowered so to do with respect to the closed portion of the rights-of-
way, reserving however, to the City of Roanoke and any utility company, including,
specifically, without limitation, providers to or for the public of cable television, electricity,
natural gas or telephone service, an easement for sewer and water mains, television cable,
electric wires, gas lines, telephone lines, and related facilities that may now be located in or
across said public rights-of-way, together with the right of ingress and egress for the
maintenance or replacement of such lines, mains or utilities, such right to include the fight to
remove, without the payment of compensation or damages of any kind to the owner, any
landscaping, fences, shrubbery, structure or any other encroachments on or over the easement
which impede access for maintenance or replacement purposes at the time such work is
undertaken; such easement or easements to terminate upon the later abandonment of use or
permanent removal from the above-described public rights-of-way of any such municipal
installation or other utility or facility by the owner thereof.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the applicant shall, upon meeting all other
conditions to the granting of the application, deliver to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the
City of Roanoke, Virginia, a certified copy of this ordinance for recordation where deeds are
recorded in said Clerk's Office, indexing the same in the name of the City of Roanoke,
Virginia, as Grantor, and in the name of the Petitioner, and the names of any other parties in
interest who may so request, as Grantees, and pay such fees and charges as are required by
the Clerk to effect such recordation.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the applicant shall, upon a certified copy of this
ordinance being recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the City of Roanoke, Virginia,
where deeds are recorded in said Clerk's Office, file with the City Engineer for the City of
Roanoke, Virginia, the Clerk's receipt, demonstrating that such recordation has occurred.
BE IT FURTHER ORDA1NED that if the above conditions have not been met within
a period of one (1) year from the date of the adoption of this ordinance, then said ordinance
be null and void with no further action by City Council being necessary.
BE IT FINALLY ORDAINED that pursuant to the provisions of {312 of the City
Charter, the second reading of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
CITY OF ROANOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
February 24, 2006
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
File #53-60-192-217-301-416-467-540-557-558
Jesse A. Hall
Director of Finance
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Mr. Hall:
I am attaching copy of Budget Ordinance No. 37315-022106 appropriating
$20,654,250.00 to be provided by the Series 2005 and 2006A and B Bonds to
various capital projects, and amending and reordaining certain sections of the
2005-2006 Civic Facilities, Parking, Capital Projects, Department of Technology and
School Capital Projects Funds Appropriations.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 2:[, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC ~
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attachment
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEVVI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~genda correspondence 06\Feb 0~Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
Jesse A. Hall
February 24, 2006
Page 2
pc:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
James L. Grigsby, Acting Assistant City Manager for Operations
Wilhemina W. Boyd, Director, Civic Facilities
Roy M. Mentkow, Director of Technology
Marvin T. Thompson, Superintendent, Roanoke City Public Schools
Cindy H. Lee, Clerk, Roanoke City School Board, P. O. Box 13Z45,
Roanoke, Virginia 2403!
L:\CLERKSDATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37315-022106.
AN ORDINANCE to appropriate funding to be provided by the Series 2005 and
2006A and B Bonds to various capital projects, amending and reordaining certain sections
of the 2005-2006 Civic Facilities, Parking, Capital Projects, Department of Technology and
School Capital Projects Funds Appropriations and dispensing with the second reading by
title of this ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that the following
sections of the 2005-2006 Civic Facilities, Parking, Capital Projects, Department of
Technology and School Capital Projects Funds Appropriations be, and the same are
hereby, amended and reordained to read and provide as follows:
Civic Facilities Fund
Appropriations
Civic Facilities Expansion/Renovation
Parkin,q Fund
Appropriations
Appropriated from 2006 Bond Funds
Capital Projects Fund
Appropriations
Appropriated from 2006 Bond Funds
Art Museum of Western Virginia
Countryside Golf Course
Appropriated from 2006 Bond Funds
South Jefferson
Revenues
General Obligation Bond Proceeds
Department of Technoloqy Fund
Appropriations
Appropriated from 2006 Bond Funds
Appropriated from 2006 Bond Funds
005-550-~630-9198 $ 6,405,000
007-540-8252-9170
008-310-9739-9170
008-310-9740-9171
008-310-9740-9172
008-052-9633-9170
008-530-9828-9840
008-110-1234-1042
013-430-9865-9170
013-430-9908-9170
2,600,000
1,200,000
2,500,000
3,975,000
4,250
5,495,750
13,175,000
2,000,000
600,000
School Capital Proiects Fund
Appropriations
Appropriated from 2006 Bond Funds
Revenues
General Obligation Bond Proceeds
031-065-6066-6896-9170
031-110-1234-1142
14,250,000
14,250,000
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading
of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
'~~ City Clerk.
JESSE A. HALL
Director of Finance
email: jesse hall~ci roanoke.va.us
February 21,2006
CITY OF ROANOKE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 461
P.O. Box 1220
Roanoke, Virginia 24006-1220
Telephone: (540) 853-2821
Fax: (540) 853-6142
ANN 1t. SHAWVER
Depuly Director
emai[: ann shawver~ci roanoke va.us
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
The City's 2006A and 2006B General Obligation Public Improvement Bonds of
$35,055,000 were issued on February 8, 2006. The Series 2005 General
Obligation Public Improvement Bonds of $3,975,000were issued on December 15,
2005. The proceeds from these issuances are available for appropriation. Several
projects have been established and funded in advance of issuance of these bonds.
The following table details the projects to be funded by these bonds.
Project
Civic Facilities Fund
Civic Center Renovations- Phase II
Parkinq Fund
Downtown West Parking Garage
~cts Fund
Art Museum
Riverside Centre for Research and
Technology
Countryside Golf Course
Total Capital Projects Fund
Department of Technoloqy Fund
Financial Information Systems
Replacement
School Capital Proiects Fund
Patrick Henry High School
Amount Remaining to
Issue Previously be
Amount Appropriated Appropriated
$ 6,405,000 $ 6,405,000 $
$ 2,600,000 $ $ 2,600,000
$ 3,700,000 $ 2,500,000 $1,200,000
5,500,000 5,495,750 4,250
3,975,000 3,975,000
$13,175,000 $11,970,750 $1,204,250
$ 2,600,000 $ $ 2,600,000
$14,250,000 $ $14,250,000
Grand Total $39,030,000 $18,375,750 $ 20,654,250
Honorable Mayor and Members of Council
February 21,2006
Page 2
The attached budget ordinance will appropriate the remaining $20,654,250 in
bond funds to the appropriate project accounts.
I will be pleased to answer any questions Council may have.
Sincerely,
Jesse A. Hall
Director of Finance
JAH:prw
C:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
Sherman M. Stovall, Director of Management and Budget
Ann H. Shawver, Deputy Director of Finance
City of Roanoke
School Board
P.O. Box 13145, Roanoke VA 240:31 · 540-853-238] · FAX 540-853-2951
K~thy G. S~ockburger,
D~vl~ e. Trinkle, M,D.,
V~
February 21, 2006
~on E. ~ingham
David I~. Cer~on
W]III~ m H,
A~i~l.N~h The Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Hayor
co~y~.~n and Members of Roanoke Ci~ Council
,a~inT. Thom~,. Roanoke, VA 24011
CindyH. Lee, Dear Members of Council:
CT~r~ of fl~, ~o~
As the result of official School Board action at its meeting on
February ]4, the Board respectfully requests City Council to
appropriate the following funds:
· $544,576.00 from the Capital Maintenance and
Equipment Replacement Fund to fund facility
maintenance and food services equipment, and school-
based furniture.
· $4,100,000.00 from t~e Roanoke City
Stadium/Amphitheater project to provide funding for the
construction of the football stadium to be located on the
Patrick Henry High School campus.
The School Board thanks you for your approval of the
appropriation requests.
Sincerely,
:indy H/Poulton, Clerk
re
CC:
Mrs. Kathy G. Stockburger
Mr, Marvin T. Thompson
Mr. Bernard .~. Godek
Mr. Kenneth F. Mundy
Mrs. Darlene Burcham
Mr. William M. Hackworth
Mr. 3essa A. Hall
Mr, Paul Workman (with
accounting details)
JESSE A. HALL
Director of Finance
cmail: j es se_hall~ci.r oanoke~va.us
February 21,2006
CITY OF ROANOKE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 461
P.O. Box 1220
Roanoke, Virginia 24006-1220
Telephone: (540) 853-2821
Fax: (540) 853-6142
ANN H. SHAWVER
Deputy Director
email ann_shawver~ci roanoke.va.ns
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
SUBJECT: School Board Appropriation Request
As a result of official School Board action at its meeting on February 14, the
Board respectfully requests City Council to appropriate the following funds:
$544,576 transfer from the City General Fund Undesignated Fund
Balance to fund facility maintenance and food services equipment, and
school-based furniture.
$4,100,000 transfer of 2002A bond proceeds from the
Stadium/Amphitheater Project (008-530-9758) to provide funding for
the construction of the football stadium to be located on the Patrick
Henry High School campus.
We recommend that you concur with this report of the School Board and adopt
the attached budget ordinance to appropriate funding as outlined above.
Sincerely,
Jesse A. Hall
Director of Finance
C:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
Sherman M. Stovall, Director of Management and Budget
Marvin T. Thompson, Superintendent of City Schools
MARY F. PARKER, CMC
City Clerk
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 456
Roanoke, V'trginia 24011-1536
Telephone: (540) 853-2541
Fax: (540) 853-1145
E-mail: clerk @ ci.roaaoke.va.us
February 24, 2006
STEPHANIE M. MOON, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SHEILA N. HARTMAN
Assistant City Clerk
File #178-200-424
Richard A. Rife, Chair
and Members of the City Planning Commission
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Chairman Rife, Ms. Prince and Gentlemen:
I am enclosing copy of Ordinance No. 37317-022106, approving the Strategic
Housing Plan and amending Vision 2001 - 2020, the City's Comprehensive Plan, to
include the Strategic Housing Plan.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Enclosure
pc:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Steven J. Talevi, Assistant City Attorney
Ford P. Weber, Director, Housing and Neighborhood Services
Martha P. Franklin, Secretary, City Planning Commission
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37317-022106.
AN ORDINANCE approving the Strategic Housing Plan, and amending Vision 2001 -
2020, the City's Comprehensive Plan, to include the Strategic Housing Plan; and dispensing
with the second reading of this ordinance by title.
WHEREAS, the Strategic Housing Plan was presented to the Planning Commission;
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on January 19, 2006, and
recommended adopting the Plan, with the three modifications set forth in the Planning
Commission's report dated February 21, 2006, to this Council (collectively, the "Plan as
modified"), and amending Vision 2001 - 2020, the City's Comprehensive Plan (the
"Comprehensive Plan"), to include such Plan as modified; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the provisions of §15.2-2204, Code of Virginia
(1950), as amended, a public hearing on the proposed Plan as modified was held before this
Council on Tuesday, February 21,2006, at which heating all citizens so desiring were given
an opportunity to be heard and to present their views on such amendment.
THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke as follows:
1. That this Council hereby approves the Plan as modified and amends Vision
2001- 2020, the City's Comprehensive Plan, to include the Plan as modified as an element
thereof.
2. That the City Clerk is directed to forthwith transmit attested copies of this
ordinance to the City Planning Commission.
3. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading
of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
~,~ City Clerk.
CITY OF ROANOKE
PLANNING BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 166
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
Telephone: (540)853-1730 Fax: (540)853-1230
E-mail: planning @ cl.roanoke.va.us
February 21, 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable
Honorable
Honorable
Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
Subject: Amendment of Vision 2001-2020, the City's comprehensive
plan, to include the Strategic Housing Plan.
Planning Commission Action:
Planning Commission public hearing was held on Thursday, January 19, 2006.
Presentation was made by Ford Weber, Director of Housing and Neighborhood
Services. There was no one in attendance from the public who spoke to the
matter. Planning Commission, by a vote of 7-0, recommended that City Council
amend Vision 2001-2020, to include the Strategic Housing plan, with the
amendments set out in the Recommendation section of this report.
Background:
In 2003, K.W. Poore and Associates of Richmond, Virginia, was awarded the bid
to lead the development of a Strategic Housing Plan. With assistance from City
staff, a steering committee of 19 citizens was formed in the fall of 2003. Public
meetings, including focus groups, were held in the winter of 2004.
Considerations:
The overall goal of the plan is to reverse the negative trends the City has
experienced over the past twenty years. This entails increasing the amount of
market rate housing, improving housing conditions, halting the decline in
population, and increasing the income levels of City residents. The plan
stresses that the City must realize its potential by capitalizing o n its urban
assets rather than competing in the realm of suburban housing. The plan also
recommends cooperation and partnerships with the private sector, and linking
housing initiatives with economic development activities.
To achieve the aforementioned goals, the plan proposes Neighborhood,
Citywide and Funding Strategies. Neighborhood Strategies are proposed for
each of the following areas: Downtown, Northern edge of Old Southwest,
Gainsboro, Southeast by Design, West End/Hurt Park, South Jefferson/Bio-
Medical District, and City suburban/Neo-traditional neighborhoods. Select
Citywide Strategies include the examination of all current ordinances and City
programs, marketing the City, addressing school issues, and attracting active
seniors, young professionals and empty nesters. Select Funding Strategies
identified are the solicitation of for-profit and non-profit organizations for
development, joint developers investing in a single project to reduce risk, and
additional City commitments.
City staff reviewed the final draft Housing Plan and submitted a number of
questions and modifications to K.W. Poore & Associates. They responded to
the City's questions and made several modifications. However, three points in
the plan were identified for further consideration:
Affordable Housing Must Be Maintained (p. 6) - Given the fact that the
City houses a disproportionate share of the region's Iow income
population, City staff requested the deletion of the reference to
"inclusionary zoning" (requiring that a certain number of housing units be
affordable). Staff recommended striking the phrase "inclusionary
techniques" from the last sentence in the third paragraph on page 6.
Substandard and Dilapidated Neighborhoods where Rehabilitation is not
Economically Feasible (p. 17) - City staff requested that the general
reference to such neighborhoods be deleted from the Plan or that the
Plan specify the neighborhoods to which it is referring. Staff
recommended that this section be deleted from the report.
Gainsboro - Geographic Focus (p. 30) - City staff requested that the
second "bullet" specify the programs that the Roanoke Redevelopment
and Housing Authority (RRHA) has successfully used to make numerous
sites available for new construction or specify sites now ready for
development. Staff recommended the following text be inserted: "RRHA
owns a number of scattered site lots as well as the Cherry Avenue site in
Gainsboro. These properties were acquired and made available as part of
the Redevelopment/Conservation Plan for the neighborhood through
various acquisition and clearance means over an extended period of
time."
Recommendation:
The Planning Commission recommends approval of the Strategic Housing Plan
as a component of Vision 2001-2020, with the three modifications as set out
below:
Affordable Housing Must Be Maintained (p. 6). The Commission
recommends striking the phrase "inclusionary techniques" from the last
sentence in the third paragraph on page 6.
Substandard and Dilapidated Neighborhoods where Rehabilitation is not
Economically Feasible (p. 17) - The Commission recommends that this
section be deleted from the report.
Gainsboro- Geographic Focus(p. 30) - The Commission recommends
the following text be inserted: "RRHA owns a number of scattered site
lots as well as the Cherry Avenue site in Gainsboro. These properties
were acquired and made available as part of the Redevelopment/
Conservation Plan for the neighborhood through various acquisition and
clearance means over an extended period of time."
Respectfully submitted,
C~R. c hi a~ fe,~ h air m an~ I
Roanoke City Planning Commission
CC:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Rolanda Russell, Assistant City Manager
Steven J. Talevi, Assistant City Attorney
IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
This 19th day of January, 2006
A RESOLUTION recommending the adoption of the Strategic Housing Plan as
an element of the City's Comprehensive Plan.
WHEREAS, representatives from the City of Roanoke, a 19-member steering
committee and various focus groups have met a number of times;
WHEREAS, the Strategic Housing Plan has been reviewed by the City of
Roanoke Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Strategic Housing Plan has been advertised in accordance with
Section 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, and pursuant to that
notice, a public hearing was held on January 19, 2006, at which all persons having an
interest in the matter were given a chance to be heard.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of Roanoke that it
recommends to City Council that the Strategic Housing Plan, revised January, 2006, be
adopted as an element of the City's Comprehensive Plan, and that by signature of its
Chairman below, the Planning Commission hereby certifies the attached copy of the
plan to City Council.
Chairman
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The Roanoke Times
Roanoke, Virginia
Affidavit of Publication
The Roanoke Times
................................................ + ........................
MARY F. PARKER
CITY OF ROANOKE CLERK'S OFFICE
215 CHURCH AVE SW RM 456
NOEL C. TAYLOR MUNICIPAL BLDG.
ROANOKE VA 24011
NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARIN
REFERENCE: 32143302
09428835
State of Virginia
City of Roanoke
I, (the undersigned) an authorized representative
of the Times-World Corporation, which corporation
is publisher of the Roanoke Times, a daily
newspaper published in Roanoke, in the State of
Virginia, do certify that the annexed notice was
published in said newspapers on the following
dates:
City/County of Roanoke, Commonwealth/State of
vi ' ia. Sworn and subscribed before me this
_~day of Februar y 2006. Wit ness my hand and
o~cial seal. /~
/~~ ~ ~/~_ ~ Notary Public
My commisslo~--~-=--LT~=~--~ ex----~e~s-~__~__~__~_ ·
PUBLISHED ON: 02/13 02/17
7th dSy o~ February, :~,
iar/F, plrker C~ty Clerk.
TOTAL COST: 414.00
FILED ON: 02/14/06
authorize~~ ~ .................................... ~~
Signature: ~__ ~ ___'~_ ............. ,
Billing Services Representative
City Of Roanoke
Attn: Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
215 Church Ave. SW, Rm 456
Roanoke, VA 24011
Date: 2/17/06 Inv. #C-11166
Caption
po Box 6021 P. oanoke, VA 24017 540 -343-0326 · Fax 343 -7366
Making and Recording Black History Since 1939
Dates Runs Size
Total Size R Order Net Rate Net Total
Notice of Public Hearir
2/9/06
$54.00
~ny questions in reference to this invoice contact Stan Hale (540) 343-0326
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Notice is hereby given pursuant to §15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as
amended, that Vision 2001 - 2020, the City's Comprehensive Plan, is proposed to be
amended to include the Strategic Housing Plan ("Plan") as an element of such
Comprehensive Plan. The Plan proposes certain neighborhood strategies for the Downtown,
Northern edge of Old Southwest, Gainsboro, Southeast by Design, West End/Hurt Park,
South Jefferson/Bio-Medical District, and City suburban/Neo-traditional neighborhoods,
City-wide and funding strategies to increase the amount of market rate housing, improve
housing conditions, halt the decline in population and increase the income level of City
residents.
A copy of the proposed Strategic Housing Plan to be considered by City Council is on
file in the Office of the City Clerk, Room 456, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building.
A public hearing will be held before the Council of the City of Roanoke on Tuesday,
February 21, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the
Council Chambers, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue, S.W., Roanoke,
Virginia, at which time citizens of the City shall be given an opportunity to appear and be
heard by Council on the subject of this proposed amendment.
If you are a person with a disability who needs accommodations for this hearing,
please contact the City Clerk's Office (853-2541) before 12:00 noon on Thursday,
February 16, 2006.
GIVEN under my hand this 7th day of February ,20 o6 .
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk.
K:/NOTICES/N-AMEN DCOMPKEHENS IV EPLAN( STRATEGiC HOUSING) 022106 DOC
Notice to Publisher:
Publish in the Roanoke Times once on Monday, February 13, 2006 and Friday, February 17, 2006.
Send bill and affidavit to:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
215 Church Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-2541
Notice to Publisher:
Publish in the Roanoke Tribune once on Thursday, February 9, 2006.
Send bill and affidavit to:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
215 Church Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-2541
MARY F. PARKER, CMC
City Clerk
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 456
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1536
Telephone: (540) 853-2541
Fax: (540) 853-1145
E-mail: clerk @ ci.roanoke.va.us
February 24, 2006
STEPHANIE M. MOON, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SHEILA N. HARTMAN
Assistant City Clerk
File #67-200-424
Richard A. Rife, Chair
and Members of the City Planning Commission
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Chairman Rife, Ms. Prince and Gentlemen:
I am enclosing copy of Ordinance No. 37318-022106 approving the Mill Mountain
Park Management Plan and amending Visio~n 2001 - 202__Q0, the City's Comprehensive
Plan, to include the Mill Mountain Park Management Plan.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February21, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Enclosure
pc:
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Steven J. Talevi, Assistant City Attorney
Martha P. Franklin, Secretary, City Planning Commission
Steven C. Buschor, Director, Parks and Recreation
Robert A. Clement, Jr., Neighborhood Services Coordinator, Neighborhood
Partnership
L:\CLERKSDATA\CKEW1 ~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06~Feb 06~Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
1N THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 21st day of February, 2006,
No. 37318-022106.
AN ORDINANCE approving the Mill Mountain Park Management Plan, and
amending Vision 2001 - 2020, the City's Comprehensive Plan, to include the Mill Mountain
Park Management Plan; and dispensing with the second reading of this ordinance by title.
WHEREAS, the Mill Mountain Park Management Plan (the "Plan") was presented to
the Planning Commission;
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on January 19, 2006, and
recommended adopting the Plan and amending Vision 2001 - 2020, the City's
Comprehensive Plan (the "Comprehensive Plan"), to include such Plan; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the provisions of §15.2-2204, Code of Virginia
(1950), as amended, a public hearing on the proposed Plan was held before this Council on
Tuesday, February 21, 2006, at which hearing all citizens so desiring were given an
opportunity to be heard and to present their views on such amendment.
THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke as follows:
1. That this Council hereby approves the Mill Mountain Park Management Plan
and amends Vision 2001 - 2020, the City's Comprehensive Plan, to include the Mill Mountain
Park Management Plan as an element thereof.
2. That the City Clerk is directed to forthwith transmit attested copies of this
ordinance to the City Planning Commission.
3. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the Cily Charter, the second reading
of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
~--~ City Clerk.. '
Architectural Review Board
Board of Zoning Appeals
Planning Commission
CITY OF ROANOKE
PLANNING BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 166
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
TeLephone: (540) 853-1730 Fax: (540) 853-1230
E-mail: planning @ ci.roanoke.va.us
February 21, 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
Subject: Amendment of Vision 2001-2020, the City's comprehensive
plan, to include the Mill Mountain Park Management Plan.
Planning Commission Action:
Planning Commission public hearing was held on Thursday, January ~ 9, 2006.
After presentation from Steven Higgs, Chairman of Mill Mountain Advisory
Committee, the Commission discussed various amendments to the Plan. The
Commission voted 7-0 to recommend adoption of the amended Mill Mountain
Park Management Plan.
Background:
Over the years, there have been a variety of plans prepared regarding the
development or preservation of Mill Mountain Park; however, none of the plans
were based upon an in-depth natural resource inventory. This shortcoming led
the City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department and the Mill Mountain
Advisory Committee to develop a Management Plan based upon a detailed
analysis of the natural, cultural, and visual characteristics of Mill Mountain Park.
The plan was largely developed through the assistance of the Virginia Tech
Landscape Architecture Department.
Considerations:
The purpose of the Management Plan is to guide the future management,
maintenance, and development of the Mill Mountain Park and its resources. It
documents the current conditions, mission, and history of the park and uses
this information to develop Resource Management Zones (RMZ's) and a Trails
Plan.
The Resource Management Zones classify various areas of the park based on
shared characteristics and common management concerns. Each zone has a
set of management recommendations that address such things as appropriate
land uses and a development review process. This process establishes a
decision-making framework for evaluating the appropriateness of future
development in each zone.
The purpose of the Trails Plan component of the Management Plan is to
provide a sustainable network of trails that will provide residents and visitors
with opportunities to enjoy the natural environment in ways which fulfill their
physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, while protecting mountain resources.
The plan recommends the primary use, location, and name of all existing and
proposed future trails on Mill Mountain. It also makes recommendations
regarding trail management, including: maintenance, volunteer programs,
resource protection, signage, and education.
The Planning Commission recommended the following amendments to the
Plan:
· Figure 34 and p. 19 of the trails plan - colors incorrect on Big Sunny Trail
Page 47, add language to response on Long~term conservation,
"imposition of a conservation easement be explored and a report
returned to the Planning Commission within a year of the adopt ion of
this report by the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee"
· Page 50, add language to e. to "maintain and expand back planting along
ridge lines"
· Page 52, add words "low lying" in a., second line, before word vegetation
Page 53, add no. 6, "the department should explore opportunities as
they develop to acquire adjacent parcels of land to add to the park if it
supports the general precepts and mission of the plan." and the word
Roanoke is misspelled in no. 1 on same page.
· Page 8 of trails plan, correct the location of Mill Mountain.
Recommendation:
The Planning Commission, by a vote of 7-0, recommends approval of the
amended Mill Mountain Park Management Plan as a component of Vision 2001-
2020.
CC:
Respectfully submitted,
Richard A. Rife, Chairrffan
Roanoke City Planning Commission
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Rolanda Russell, Assistant City Manager
Steven J. Talevi, Assistant City Attorney
Steven Buschor, Director, Parks and Recreation
IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
This 19th day of January, 2006
A RESOLUTION recommending the adoption of the Mill Mountain Park
Management Plan as an element of the City's Comprehensive Plan.
WHEREAS, representatives from the City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation
Department and the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee have met a number of times;
WHEREAS, the Mill Mountain Park Management Plan has been reviewed by the
City of Roanoke Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Mill Mountain Park Management Plan has been advertised in
accordance with Section 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, and
pursuant to that notice, a public hearing was held on January 19, 2006, at which all
persons having an interest in the matter were given a chance to be heard.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of Roanoke that it
recommends to City Council that the Mill Mountain Park Management Plan, as
amended on January 19, 2006, be adopted as an element of the City's Comprehensive
Plan, and that by signature of its Chairman below, the Planning Commission hereby
certifies the attached copy of the plan to City Council.
Chairman
Mill Mountain, Park
Management Plan
~4dopted as part of the Roanoke Comprehensive Plan by
The Council of the City of Roanoke, Virginia
and by
The Roanoke Planning Commission
As Submitted by
The Mill Mountain Advisory Committee
Roanoke Parks and Recreation
and The Department of Landscape Architecture
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
February 21, 2006
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Preparation of this management plan would not have been possible without the sUpport and input
of the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee (MMAC). Members of the MMAC, appointed by
Roanoke City Council, are listed below:
Steve ,Higgs, Chairman
Richard Clark
Betty Field
Louise Kegley
Carl Kopitzke
Mike Loveman
E.C. Pace
Eddie Wallace, Jr.
Additionally it should also be mentioned that significant staffing assistance was provided by
Steve Buschor, Donnie Underwood, and Paul Chapman of Roanoke Parks and Recreation; Liz
Belcher of the Roanoke Valley Greenways Commission, Deborah McDonald of the Mill
Mountain Garden Club, Laurie Spangler of the Mill Mountain Zoo, and Pam Young of the
Roanoke Library.
Mill Mountain Management Plan
Page 3
TABLE OFCONTENTS
SECTION I
I. INTRODUCTION
II. MANAGEMENT PLAN: PURPOSE & ORGANIZATION
...... PURPOSE
...... SCOPE
...... ORGANIZATION
III. MILL MOUNTAIN PARK: MISSION & SIGNIFICANCE
...... MISSION
...... SIGNIFICANCE
IV. HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MILL MOUNTAIN
V. EXISTING CONDITIONS: INVENTORY & DESCRIPTION
...... NATURAL RESOURCES
...... TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, & SOILS
...... DRAINAGE
...... VEGETATION & PLANT COMMUNITIES
...... WILDLIFE
...... CULTURAL RESOURCES
...... VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS
...... PARK PROGRAMMING & RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
VI. PARK MANAGEMENT ISSUES
VII. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ZONES
VIII. DOCUMENTS CITED & CONSULTED
APPENDIX A: HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF MILL MOUNTAIN
APPENDIX B: FIGURES 1 - 36
SECTION II
I. MILL MOUNTAIN TRAILS PLAN
APPENDIX A: TRAIL INVENTORY FORMS
APPENDIX B: TRAIL DATA SHEETS
APPENDIX C: TRAIL MANAGEMENT ISSUES
APPENDIX D: GUIDELINES AND ETIQUETTE FOR TRAIL USERS
5
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7
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8
8
8
10
12
26
27
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37
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Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 4
PART I
INTRODUCTION
The City of Roanoke is blessed with an abundance of parkland. With a park system totaling more
than 1350 acres within the city limits (752.7 acres without Mill Mountain and Carvins Cove;
1352.7 for total urban acres including Mill Mountain, and 13,152.7 total acres including Carvins
Cove), the City provides almost 8 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents--a figure that
comfdrtably exceeds the 6 acres per 1,000 residents recommended by the National Recreation &
Parks Association. All but two of Roanoke's more than 60 parks, however, are classified as
either neighborhood or community parks and serve a limited area within the City. At less than I0
acres each, neighborhood parks represent the smallest classification and draw users fi.om the
smallest radius--typically those living within walking distance. These parks provide
opportunities for passive recreation and limited informal active recreation such as children's
playgrounds. Community parks represent the next largest park unit, ranging from 10 to 100
acres. These parks draw users from a larger area within the City (approximately a 2-mile radius)
by providing opportunities for organized sports and informal active recreation that require more
elaborate infrastructure, such as sports fields and aquatic centers (Roanoke Parks & Recreation,
2000, p. 24; McLeod, 2005).
Within this system of neighborhood and community parks, Mill Mountain, located in Southeast
Roanoke, is unique. As one of only two regional parks within the city limits, Mill Mountain
draws visitors from all over the City as well as from the Roanoke Valley and beyond because of
the unique recreational opportunities it offers. These include panoramic views of the City and
surrounding valley from its summit; the Roanoke Star, a national landmark and symbol of civic
identity for the City; Mill Mountain Zoo; the Discovery Center, which offers a variety of family-
oriented environmental education programs; and hiking and biking trails that are easily accessed
by greenways fi.om both the City and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mill Mountain's uniqueness and
regional draw puts it on par with other nearby regional parks, such as Carvins Cove and Explore
Park. Given its broad appeal and convenient location within City limits, it is not surprising that
Mill Mountain has long been Roanoke's most visited park (Roanoke Parks & Recreation, 2000;
McLeod, 2005).
Since long before Big Lick grew into Roanoke, residents and visitors have been drawn to the
recreational opportunities afforded by Mill Mountain's natural setting and scenic views. But
despite its popularity, the park has evolved over the years often without a real sense of purpose
or overarching vision. For most of its past 250 years, the mountain has been in private hands.
During this time, its physical development was driven by numerous (mostly ill-fated) money-
making ventures. Some of these ventures, like the incline railway on the northwestern slopes,
altered the physical environment of the mountain substantially. Other projects, such as the
residential/resort complex planned by William Henritze, would have had a lasting effect on the
mountain's appearance and natural systems had they come to fruition. It was not until the 1940s,
when local businessman Junius B. Fishburn bought much of Mill Mountain and gave the land to
the City with the stipulation that it be used as a public park, that public good slowly began to
eclipse profit as the guiding force behind the mountain's development. During the last six
decades, the more intensive forms of development once seen on and planned for the mountain
have gradually given way to a greater emphasis on preserving the natural character of this urban
oasis.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 5
This transition to low-impact development on Mill Mountain can be understood as part of a
larger attitudinal change in American society toward urban green space over the past 20 years.
Whereas the value of undeveloped parcels within the urban fabric was once based on the
maximum number of homes or greatest amount of retail space they could accommodate, these
open spaces are now recognized as rare urban gems whose natural character should be enhanced
in order to make the urban environment a more pleasant place to live and work. Advances in our
understanding of ecology and natural systems in the past few decades have also revealed that
these green areas play an essential role in protecting the health of a city by improving air quality
and stormwater control and preserving wildlife habitat. Recently, design scholars Galen Cranz
and Michael Boland (2004) have identified the emerging urban park type as the sustainable park.
Sustainable parks exhibit three main characteristics: (1) They strive to be self-maintaining, rather
than drawing heavily on city resources; (2) They reach outside their boundaries to improve
citywide and regional conditions, for example, by reclaiming contaminated sites, energizing
citizen groups to participate in park maintenance, and augmenting urban infrastructure with
additional vehicular and greenway connections; and (3) They present an alternative aesthetic to
the static, manicured formality of the tradition urban park by employing informal native plant
assemblages and accommodating seasonal as well as successional landscape changes.
Many of Roanoke's most recent citywide and regional planning initiatives embody the spirit of
the sustainable park model. The Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Master Plan (Roanoke
Parks & Recreation, 2000) and the Vision 2001/2020 City Master Plan, for example, both
emphasize creating self-sustaining, livable communities. They recognize that the economic
health of the City is linked to its ability to sustain the health of its physical environment and its
residents. Both of these documents seek to preserve and enhance urban green space in order to
create a healthy urban environment and provide residents and visitors with a variety of
recreational opportunities. The development of the Roanoke Valley Open Space Study (1999) and
the Roanoke Valley Greenway System also seek to maximize recreational opportunities while
improving the environmental health of the region. The public input solicited during the
development of all of these initiatives has strongly supported environmental sustainability and
low-impact recreation.
The time is now ripe to develop and implement a sound management plan for Mill Mountain
Park--one that is consistent with the emerging concept of the sustainable park and respectful of
the unique'features of this urban oasis. With the development of a clear vision for the park and
the enumeration of the management strategies needed to accomplish it, Mill Mountain Park will
continue to be a unique and cherished presence in the City of Roanoke for the generations to
come.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 6
PART II
MANAGEMENT PLAN: PURPOSE & ORGANIZATION
PURPOSE
This management plan is intended to guide the future management, maintenance, and
development of Roanoke's Mill Mountain Park and its resources. It documents the current
conditions, mission, and history of the park and, from this information, develops a set of
Resource Management Zones (RMZs). These zones group various areas of the park based on
shared characteristics and common management concerns. For each zone, a set of management
recommendations, including appropriate types of land use, have been developed, and a
development review process is described. In this way, the management plan establishes a
decision-making framework for evaluating the appropriateness of future development within
each zone and ensures consistent treatment of similar areas throughout the park.
In order to ensure that the management recommendations outlined in the plan are thorough and
comprehensive, many factors were considered across several scales. In addition to considering
management issues at the site scale (e.g., managing park resources in a manner compatible with
the environmental conditions of the site), the guidelines also take into account the park's role
relative to the City of Roanoke as a whole (e.g., the park's place within the City's parks system)
and to the region (e.g., the park's role in the environmental health of the Roanoke Valley).
The types of information collected at these various scales include:
· the mission and vision established for the park by citizens and the City
· the recreational, economic, and environmental roles of the park within the City of
Roanoke and the greater Roanoke Valley
· the park's existing natural features and conditions
· the historical and cultural resoumes existing within the park
· the site's historical evolution
This information was drawn from a variety of sources, including existing City planning
documents, previously documented public input regarding Mill Mountain Park, historical
documentation on the mountain's development, geospatial data on the physical features of the
mountain, and walking surveys of the park (see the Documents Cited or Consulted section for the
list of published sources).
As with all planning documents, this management plan is a living document. As Mill Mountain,
the City, and the region continue to evolve, the management plan will require periodic review
and revision, including citizen input.
SCOPE
This management plan covers the entire park, consisting of approximately 568 acres. Figure 1
identifies the location of Mill Mountain Park in the City of Roanoke. Figures 2, 3, and 4 depict
existing conditions in the park (base maps), and Figure 5 shows in detail the mountain top where
park development is concentrated.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 7
ORGANIZATION
This management plan begins with a review of the park mission, its significance to the City and
the region, and its history. It then provides an inventory of its current natural conditions, cultural
features, and programming. The final section describes the management zones (RMZs)
themselves and recommends appropriate types and levels of activity for each zone, as well as
potential land uses.
The management plan concludes with description of a process by which future development
proposals for the park can be evaluated. This process includes review by the Parks & Recreation
Advisory Board, the Roanoke Planning Commission, and City Council of any proposed use of
Milt Mountain Park that is not consistent with the RMZ descriptions.
PART III
MILL MOUNTAIN PARK: MISSION & SIGNIFICANCE
MISSION
Providing recreational opportunities for the residents of Roanoke and the surrounding region has
long been the primary mission of Mill Mountain, but ideas about the types of recreational
facilities appropriate to the mountain have changed dramatically over the years. Early on, while
the mountain was owned by various private individuals and corporations, appropriate forms of
development were considered to be those that held the greatest potential to generate profits for
investors. As the Rockledge Inn, the Mill Mountain Incline, and the Old Toll Road suggest,
developers tended to associate bigger profits with bigger, higher impact building pro.~ects.
Even the legally binding restrictions placed on Mill Mountain in 1941 by the Fishbum land
grants were initially interpreted in a manner consistent with that era's preference for intensive
development. Although the Fishburn deed restrictions ensure in perpetuity that the park be
"developed and forever preserved, improved, and maintained for the use and pleasure of the
people of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and vicinity" (Hill Studio, 2004), these restrictions
tended to be interpreted broadly relative to the types of development considered appropriate.
Indeed, the language used in the deed restrictions themselves, which permit construction of
"parks, playgrounds, buildings, structures, and things similar thereto," tend to invite loose
interpretation (Hill Studio, 2004). The deed restrictions simply mandate that any proposed
development "afford the people of this community and their children.., healthful and pleasant
recreation" (Hill Studio, 2004). Through the 1980s, numerous proposals came before the City for
intensive development of Mill Mountain's summit and slopes, including hotels, ridge-top
overlook restaurants, parking structures, and even a ski slope. None of these proposals were
judged to violate the Fishburn deed restrictions, and each was subsequently approved by the
then-sitting Mill Mountain Advisory Committee and City Council (although for a variety of
reasons none were ultimately carried out). Even the construction of the Roanoke Star in 1949
was approved by Junius B. Fishburn (the author of the development restrictions) himself,
according to E. C. Moomaw, head of the Roanoke Merchants Association at the time the group
commissioned the Star (Moomaw, 1982).
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 8
Gradually, however, the vision for Mill Mountain Park--and the interpretation of the Fishburn
deed restrictions--began to change. As the general public's interest in the environment grew and
spawned a desire to spend recreational time in natural settings, the mission of the.park and its
role within the City were redefined accordingly. A new understanding of the relationship
between profit and development began to emerge, as urban green spaces like Mill Mountain
became valued for their undeveloped state. Environmental conservation and compatible, low-
impact development was seen as enhancing the park's value rather than diminishing it.
The most detailed statement of this newly evolving vision for Mill Mountain Park came in 1991
with Rhodeside & Harwell's Mill Mountain Park: Design Evaluation and Development Criteria.
This report, developed through historical analysis, physical site analysis, citizen interest group
meetings, and citizen surveys, was adopted by the Roanoke City Council in December of 1990.
The following summary of the park's mission, as provided in the report, indicates the growing
importance of maintaining Mill Mountain's natural environment (p. iii):
1. Preserve visual integrity both to and from Mill Mountain.
2. Preserve Mill Mountain as a natural resource.
3. Preserve Mill Mountain as a symbol of Roanoke.
4. Enhance Mill Mountain as a place for recreation.
The document elaborates on each of these directives with more specific strategies designed to
protect the natural environment of the mountain, including "Protect natural forested slopes" and
"Maintain and enhance the natural character of Mill Mountain" (pp. 31, 32).
The park mission detailed in the Rhodeside & Harwell (1991) report was further crystallized by
the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee (formerly the Development Committee), the body
charged with guiding park development since the late 1960s, after a visioning retreat and a series
of meetings to gather public input in early 1997. They distilled the mission of the park into the
phrase, "Progress with preservation." The Committee further resolved to "mak[e] Mill Mountain
as accessible and pleasurable to all persons while preserving the environmental and aesthetic
integrity of the mountain" (Hill Studio, 2004).
This emphasis on preserving the natural environment of Mill Mountain and encouraging
compatible development is also consistent with the current mission statement developed by the
Roanoke Parks & Recreation Department for the City's park system, which commits the
department to "improving the quality of life for the citizens and visitors of Roanoke by providing
recreational opportunities through diverse programs and facilities and promoting environmental
stewardship through beautification, management, and care of public spaces." The Department's
vision statement goes on to emphasize the role of the City's parks as places in which people can
"experience and appreciate the natural beauty and quality of life in Roanoke" (Roanoke Parks &
Recreation Department, 2000, pp. iv-v).
This environmental emphasis in the park's mission is also supported by a wider vision
established for the Roanoke Valley region. For example, the Roanoke Valley Open Space Study
(Fifth Planning District Commission, 1999) which engaged residents from all over the Roanoke
Valley in a series of citizen focus groups, found that a majority of participating residents favored
preserving much of the region's open space. Specifically, participants rated the preservation of
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 9
forested mountains and "urban forests" as highly desirable, as well as the preservation of scenic
views. Many participants specifically named the views to the forested slopes of Mill Mountain as
important to protect (Results of the Public Review Process, pp. 5-6).
For over a century, Mill Mountain's mission has been to provide recreational opportunities to
residents and visitors. Yet the understanding of how to best provide such opportunities has
evolved. Emphasis has shifted from amenities requiring intensive development of the mountain
to low-impact development that preserves and compliments the park's natural environment and
encourages visitors to develop a deeper knowledge of and appreciation for their natural
surroundings.
SIGNIFICANCE
Mill Mountain Park represents a unique resource for the City of Roanoke and the greater region.
Key contributions of the park to the City and the greater Roanoke Valley region include the
following:
Functions as a regional park for the City and the surrounding valleys. Although
Roanoke has numerous neighborhood and community parks, which draw users from
adjacent areas of the City, Mill Mountain Park is one of only two regional parks within
city limits. It draws visitors from every sector of the City as well as from the greater
Roanoke Valley/New River Valley region and beyond because of the unique features
and activities it offers, including the city zoo, scenic overlooks, the Roanoke Star,
greenways and trails, and its educational programming for children and adults.
Provides citywide and regional greenway connections. The Mill Mountain Greenway,
which begins near Elmwood Park, connects the City to Mill Mountain's summit via the
retired Prospect Road. This greenway will also provide a connection to the Roanoke
River Greenway, which is planned to stretch the length of the county. Mill Mountain's
greenways also provide a connection to trails on Chestnut Ridge and the Blue Ridge
Parkway and Explore Park via the Mill Mountain Spur Road. Developing a greenway
connection between Roanoke City and Explore Park via Mill Mountain was designated
one of eleven high-priority greenway segments in the Conceptual Greenway Plan for
the Roanoke Valley Region (Greenways, Inc., 1995). The completion of these
g?eenways is identified as a priority in the City's Vision 2001/2020 master plan (City of
Roanoke, 2001, Chap. 3, Policy EC A6).
Encourages tourist traffic into the City of Roanoke by providing a direct vehicular
connection to the City from other regional attractions. Visitors to the Blue Ridge
Parkway and Expl6m Park can easily access the City through the Mill Mountain ,Spur
Road and Fishburn Parkway. This link is reinfomed through Mill Mountain Park's
designation as a Regional Information Center of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Signs along
the Parkway in the Roanoke region direct visitors to the Mill Mountain Information
Center. This connectivity facilitates increased attendance at all three sites and
encourages overnight stays in Roanoke. Tourism, which contributed more than $200
million to Roanoke's economy in 1999, has been identified by the City as an important
component of its fiscal health (City of Roanoke, 2001, Chap. 3, p. 53).
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 10
Provides important environmental education opportunities for residents of all ages
through Discovery Center and Mill Mountain Zoo programming. This activity is
consistent with Roanoke Parks & Recreation's Action Strategy 7, which urges the
department to be "an environmental educator through recreational programming"
(Roanoke City Parks & Recreation, 2000, p. vi).
Includes the largest contiguous area of mature tree canopy within city limits. This
feature represents not only a unique recreational opportunity within city limits but also
an important resource for improving air quality in the Roanoke Valley. This is
especially important given the Roanoke Valley's impending violation of Environmental
Protection Agency standards for ozone levels. In order to avoid classification as a
nonattainment area, which would mandate strict vehicle and industrial emission limits
that could have a negative economic effect on the region, an Ozone Early Action Plan
has been implemented by Roanoke Valley jurisdictions, including the City of Roanoke
(Cities of Roanoke and Salem et al., 2004). Under this plan, parties have until 2007 to
reduce ozone levels. As part of the plan's implementation, the City's Vision 2001/2020
master plan calls for "maintaining and increasing tree canopy coverage as a way to
improve air quality" (Chap. 3, Policy EC P5) and the City's Urban Forestry Taskforce
has set a goal of 40% tree canopy for the City. Preservation of the mature forests on
Mill Mountain is critical to the success of this plan, as a larger tree is estimated to filter
60 pounds of pollutants per year, whereas a newly planted tree will filter no more than
20 pounds per year (Roanoke Valley Area Ozone Early Action Plan, 2004).
Plays a major role in preserving wildlife habitats within the City and the region. The
park provides important wildlife habitats within its own boundaries as well as
extending a critical forested corridor that runs from the Blue Ridge Parkway through
Roanoke Mountain to Mill Mountain. In recognition of its importance in preserving
wildlife, Mill Mountain Park has been incorporated into the Virginia Birding &
Wildlife Trail developed by the Virginia Deparhnent of Game and Inland Fisheries.
This driving and hiking trail links diverse wildlife viewing sites throughout the state.
The Star City Loop incorporates the Star Trail, the Mill Mountain Greenway, and the
connection to the Blue Ridge Parkway via the Mill Mountain Spur Road. The Virginia
Fish and Wildlife Information Service lists over 500 species of fauna in the Mill
Mountain region, including state endangered species such as Bewick's wren and state
threatened species such as the peregrine falcon (Virginia Department of Game & Inland
Fisheries Web site).
Hosts the Roanoke Star, a National Landmark and the most recognized symbol of the
City of Roanoke for more than 50 years. The Star's image can be seen on the City's
logo and is incorporated into the names of many local businesses. In addition to
attracting tourists, the Star also represents an important cultural resource for Roanokers,
as evidenced by the many marriage proposals that have occurred beneath it. Its location
on Mill Mountain allows nighttime views to the Star from most of the City and the
Roanoke Valley.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 11
Plays an important role in the marketing of Roanoke as an outdoors recreation
destination. The availability within city limits of hiking and biking trails, as well as the
other outdoor activities that Mill Mountain offers, is an important selling point for both
potential visitors and new residents. The Vision 2001/2020 master plan identifies the
development of a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote Roanoke as an
outdoors destination as a priority in order to sustain the economic growth of the City
(Chap. 3, Policy EC A21).
PART IV
HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT ON MILL MOUNTAIN
Mill Mountain has always figured prominently in the lives of those living near it - not simply
because of its physical presence, but also because of its importance as a community resource.
The exact nature of this resource has been redefined through the generations in order to best suit
the ever-changing needs of the community. And yet, through all these changes, the bond between
community and mountain has remained strong. Mill Mountain is an integral part of Roanoke.
Although its value to residents will continue to be redefined as times goes by, a look at the
community's relationship to Mill Mountain in the past may help us to more clearly anticipate its
future. The following history traces the major events in the history of the Mill Mountain and
attempts to interpret the changing attitudes toward the mountain in terms of its value as a
community resource. By no means is this the only interpretation that can be distilled from the
events, but it is a place to start. Appendix A of this Management Plan presents a straightforward
timeline of activity on the mountain and includes events not covered in this section.
Early indigenous peoples were drawn to the fresh water spring at the base of what would later be
called Mill Mountain. Archaeological studies in the immediate vicinity of Crystal Spring have
uncovered artifacts indicating Native American occupation of the site as early as 6000 B. C.
(Rhodeside & Harwell, 1991). In addition to the presence ora reliable water source, the brackish
swamps on which Roanoke would later be built would have attracted animals and provided
fertile hunting grounds. In an account of the Batts, Woods, and Fallam Expedition, which set out
from eastern Virginia in 1671, the party reports staying briefly in a Torero settlement believed to
have been on the site of the Roanoke Industrial Park (Bruce, 1982).
Early European settlers also saw the value of the area around Mill Mountain. In the early 1740s,
Mark Evans, a middle-aged justice of the peace fleeing a violent border dispute between
Maryland and Pennsylvania, became one of the first permanent settlers in the Roanoke Valley.
His 1,900-acre land grant encompassed 87 acres along the northwestern slopes of Mill Mountain,
including the spring later called Crystal Spring (Figure 6). Evans and his son Daniel built a
gristmill--and some sources say also a sawmill (Harrington, 1995; Montgomery, 2002b)--at the
spring. By all accounts, Evans Mill, as it became known, prospered. Its success was guaranteed
by not only the reliable water source provided by the spring, but also the mill's proximity to a
major north-south transportation route, known variously as the Warrior's Path or the Carolina
Road, which passed between Mill Mountain and present-day U.S. 220. This made the mill an
important supply stop for settlers making their way south to the Carolinas. In 1753, for example,
Moravian settlers traveling south through the Shenandoah Valley along the Warrior's Path
reported stopping to resupply at Evans Mill before continuing on to present-day Winston-Salem
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 12
(Bruce, 1982). Only a few years later, the mill's location would also make it an important
regional supply depot supporting various military actions during the French and Indian War. A
granary was built at the mill during this time for the stockpiling and distribution of grain. In
1756, George Washington, then a 24-year-old commander-in-chief of the militia, reportedly
spent a night at Evans Mill while reviewing fort construction in the Valley (White, 1982).
After Daniel Evan's death sometime in the 1750s, his brothers and their descendants apparently
kept the mill running for several decades (White, 1982). In the 1790s, William McClanahan, a
Roanoke Valley resident and colonel in the Revolutionary War militia, bought the Evans' milling
operation. Already one of the largest landowners in the Valley, McClanahan acquired the mill as
part ora 3,170-acre land purchase. For almost a century, McClanahan's descendents ran the mill
and farmed the surrounding lands until selling portions of their property that included the spring
and Mill Mountain in the late 1870s and early 1880s (white, 1982). Little documentary evidence
has come to light regarding the McClanahans's management of their land during these decades.
In addition to milling and fanning.operations, it is possible that at least a portion of the
mountain's slopes were timbered during this time. when the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad laid
its tracks through town in the 1850s, local businessman John Trout bought and timbered a
portion of Roanoke Mountain, just to the south of Mill Mountain, in order to supply the railroad
with ties (White, 1982). It is possible that the McClanahans also saw an opportunity to
supplement their income with timber harvested from Mill Mountain.
The coming of the Virginia & Tennessee in 1852 marked the ftrst significant growth spurt for the
little town then known as Big Lick. Although the event was virtually ignored by most residents,
this first shrill call of the steam whistle in town signaled the beginning of a new era in which the
quiet farming community would transform into a bustling railroad town. To accommodate the
new railroad's route, the town's population center shifted southeast, moving away from the
Gainsborough area and closer to Mill Mountain. This area would later become the nucleus of
Downtown Roanoke. With the coming of the railroad, Big Lick also became an important
manufacturing and distribution center in the region. Warehouses sprang up along the river to
store and process the tobacco brought by wagon from Franklin, Henry, Pittsylvania, and Floyd
counties before being shipped by rail to Richmond. This industry would ,continue briefly after the
Civil War, and by 1874, Big Lick's population had grown to the level required for incorporation
(White, 1982).
But the wave of growth spurred by the Virginia & Tennessee was only a ripple in a puddle
compared to the surge initiated by the coming of a new railroad in the 1880s. Early in the decade,
surveyors appeared in the Roanoke Valley to determine a route for the extension of the
Shenandoah Valley line south from Waynesboro. The owners of the line, Norfolk & Western,
had previously acquired the Virginia & Tennessee and intended to connect the two lines
somewhere in the region. Having personally profited from the economic opportunities that came
with the Virginia & Tennessee line in the 1850s, Big Lick's civic and business leaders realized
the potential windfall that would accompany the building of a major railroad terminal in town.
After a frantic series of strategy meetings, the group put together an incentive package that
succeeded in convincing Norfolk & Western to join their lines in Big Lick. The little town of Big
Lick would never be the same (White, 1982).
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 13
The coming of the Norfolk & Western led to exponential growth, as the town would swell from a
total population of just 669 in 1880 to more than 5,000 just four years later. Railroad jobs,
including those at the Norfolk & Western machine shops (also known as the Roanoke Machine
Works), drew new residents from all over the region. With them came an urgent demand for new
housing and city infrastructure. The price of farmland surrounding the small town began to
skyrocket. It was in this atmosphere of rampant land speculation that the Roanoke Land &
Improvement Company, a real estate subsidiary of Norfolk & Western, would buy up more than
1,150 acres in and around town in order to sell it to developers at huge profits. In March of 1882,
the company bought McClanahan Spring from Elijah McClanahan to supply water to the
railroad. They also purchased Mill Mountain from local businessman Peyton Terry (owner of
Elmwood), who had purchased it five years earlier. Housing for railroad workers began to spring
up in the former farm fields between town and Mill Mountain. The demand for building supplies
became so great that Big Lick soon exhausted the stockpiles of local lumber suppliers. By 1884,
the sleepy little mountain town of Big Lick was granted a city charter as the bustling boomtown
named Roanoke. And aside from two brief downturns in the local economy, Roanoke's
expansion would continue to run at full steam until the Great Depression hit the City in 1930
(White, 1982).
During these frenzied decades of land speculation and profiteering, Mill Mountain's potential
value as a recreational and an economic resource did not escape the attention of Roanoke's
business elite. Since the earliest days of Big Lick, residents had often hiked to the top of Mill
Mountain to enjoy the panoramic views. With the city's population expanding southeast,
businessmen saw an opportunity to build on the mountain's popularity as a recreation spot. And
like all entrepreneurs in Roanoke at that time, they planned big. In 1891 Roanoke Gas & Water
Company acquired Mill Mountain and the lands running up to its western slopes from its sister
company, Roanoke Land & Improvement. Although more reseamh is needed into company
records in order fully elucidate their intentions, their subsequent development activities suggest
that the company envisioned Mill Mountain as a resort/recreational complex, with its foot slopes
offering entertainment focused on the City's lower to middle socioeconomic classes and its
summit reserved for a more exclusive clientele (Dotson, 2003).
In addition to installing water mains throughout the City to provide residents with water from
Crystal Spring, Roanoke Gas & Water set about developing the rest of their Mill Mountain land.
In the tradition of the region's springs resorts frequented by Southern elites since before the Civil
War, the summit was envisioned as a seasonal retreat for the wealthy--a refuge from the heat
and summertime diseases that would continue to plague the Roanoke area into the next century.
To carry out this vision, the company hired local builder F. D. Booth in 1891 to develop a
$10,000 hotel and $2,000 observatory at the summit and provide a graded carriage road up the
side of the mountain (Dotsori, 2003). Booth completed a winding dirt road with a 10% slope up
the northwestern face of the mountain called Prospect Road. His crews also installed hear3;
wooden guardrails along the downhill side of the road to offer a measure of safety on the steep
route. Workers were still busily landscaping the summit when the 11-room Rockledge Hotel
(hereafter referred to as the Rockledge.Inn, as it was called in more recent years) (Figures 7 and
8) celebrated it5 grand opening on May 3, 1892 with a lavish supper party that included local
business leaders and railroad executives from as far away as Philadelphia. Although hastily
constructed and somewhat primitive in its appointments, the hotel was praised for its spacious
dining porch that allowed guests to enjoy magnificent views along with their meal, its large brick
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 14
fireplaces, and indoor room for dining and dancing. A new carriage stood by to shuttle guests
between the train depot and the hotel in comfort. Shortly after its opening, landscaping was
completed on the hotel's grounds with the installation of ornamental flowers, rustic benches, and
gravel strolling paths. Plans were also developed for a tennis court and croquet grounds behind
the hotel (Roanoke Times, May 4, May 28, June 1, 1892).
The first observation tower on Mill Mountain also opened at this time (Figure 9). Quite a bit of
discrepancy exists in the written record regarding the observation towers, but it appears that as
many as three separate towers existed on the summit through the years. The first was constructed
with the Rockledge Inn and opened in 1892. An admission fee was charged to all visitors except
guests staying at the Rockledge Inn (Roanoke Times, May 24, 1892). The exact location of the
observatory on the summit is uncertain, as is its description. Additional research into the original
contract between F. D. Booth and Roanoke Gas & Water as well as related company documents
may clarify information about this tower.
At the same time that Roanoke Gas & Water was improving Mill Mountain's summit, they also
set to work developing recreational facilities around its base. A 20-acre public park (Figure 10)
was constructed around Crystal Spring. The spring's waters were channeled into a small man-
made lake surrounded by turf and walking paths enclosed by a fence. A modest structure was
built to serve as a caf6 (Roanoke Times, May 28, 1892). The company also extended Jefferson
Street south across the river with the construction of an iron bridge. This improved access to the
Crystal Spring/Mill Mountain area. Crystal Spring would remain a popular park for residents for
decades to come, and citywide celebrations such as those for Labor Day or the Fourth of July
were often held there (Roanoke Times, August 13, 1910).
But despite the success of Crystal Spring, the summer resort at the summit of Mill Mountain
failed to attract a steady flow of guests. Several possible reasons existed for the Rockledge's
failure. Certainly, the 2- to 3-hour carriage ride along the dangerously winding dirt road did not
help business. Additionally, the cost-conscious construction of the hotel had left the guestrooms
noisy and lacking in modem conveniences (Barnes, 1960). In addition, the mountain's proximity
to the city, although an asset for the park at Crystal Spring, worked against the Rockledge's
billing as an exclusive, upscale resort. Even working-class residents who could not afford to stay
or dine at the hotel could easily hike to the summit for an afternoon (walking to the summit was
reportedly much quicker than taking the carriage). Many of Roanoke's well-to-do preferred to
recreate at McAfee's Knob instead. The remoteness of this spot from the City combined with the
difficulty of the climb proved to be a formidable barrier to all but the wealthiest residents, who
typically climbed to the overlook by horse and mounted elaborate picnics and overnight camping
trips (Dotson, 2003). Finally, timing did not favor the Rockledge, as the effects of a national
depression were felt in Roanoke shortly after its opening. The financial downturn slowed growth
in Roanoke temporarily, and certainly contributed to the closing of the Rockledge Inn in 1893,
after only its second season of operation (White, 1982).
By the mm of the century, however, Roanoke's economy was back on track. The Norfolk &
Western Railway, which had encountered financial problems during the previous few years,
emerged from receivership with new vigor. By 1900, Roanoke ranked as Virginia's third largest
city behind only Richmond and Norfolk and was home to the largest locomotive manufacturing
operation in the South (Brace, 1982; White, 1982). The upward trajectory of the City's financial
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 15
health was also reflected in new development projects on Mill Mountain. In 1900, Roanoke
Hospital opened at the northwestern foot of the mountain (where Roanoke Memorial stands
today). When the City ran short of funds before construction was completed, Norfolk & Western
Railway, which had donated land for the hospital, also provided funds to complete construction.
Although the Rockledge Inn had failed as an exclusive resort, the park at Crystal Spring was still
quite popular. By 1902, the Roanoke Railway & Electric Company decided to develop another
park on the slopes just south of Crystal Spring (east of present-day Jefferson Street and
extending south to the current location of Fern Park). Whereas Crystal Spring hosted primarily
passive forms of recreation, Mountain Park (Figures 11 and 12) was conceived of as a place of
active recreation and entertainment. It would offer a range of attractions that would appeal to a
broad spectrum of residents, from "common" pastimes such as bowling and baseball to more
"gentile" activities such as dancing and theatrical productions. The first building constructed
within the 40-acre park was an 800-seat theater for live performances and moving pictures
referred to as the Casino (Figure 13). The Casino would host a variety of national and
international performers, including the famous tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Enrico Caruso in
1910 (Roanoke Times, July 3, 1910). The city street car was extended along Jefferson Street to
within 20 feet of the Casino's front steps. Developers also built an extravagantly lit dance
pavilion that contained a soda fountain, amade-style concession booths, and a 9,000-square-foot
maple dance floor (Figure 14). By 1904, the park also offered a bowling alley, baseball field, and
picnic areas. Eventually, a rollercoaster (Figure 15) called The Thriller was added (Bruce, 1982;
Roanoke Diamond Jubilee, 1957).
Although Mountain Park, like the park at Crystal Spring, was successful because of its
convenient access by street car and its varied set of activities, it is important to acknowledge that
one large segment of Roanoke's population was barred from both parks as well as from the
developments on Mill Mountain's summit--the African American community. As in most of the
South, Roanoke adopted Jim Crow policies that segregated the races in all aspects of city life.
For the most part, black Roanokers were forced to develop their own venues for entertainment
and recreation within the City. Only rarely did Mountain Park offer "colored days," during which
African Americans were allowed access to the park's amenities, and then only with ample
warnings and apologies to white patrons (Dotson, 2003). Until integration, Washington Park
would remain the only City park open to African Americans.
In 1908, Roanoke experienced another short-lived financial downturn, and just as it had 15 years
earlier, Norfolk & Western fell on hard times and was forced to lay off many Roanoke
employees. By the next year, however, the economy was rebounding, and local investors were
again looking to turn the recreational opportunities on Mill Mountain into profits. In November
1909, Mill Mountain Incline Incorporated was formed by a group of local investors including J.
B. Fishburn (who would later donate Mill Mountain to the City). The company planned to build
an incline railroad from the vicinity of Crystal Spring and Mountain Park, just south of the
hospital, to the summit of Mill Mountain. They also planned to purchase the summit from the
Roanoke Gas & Water Company in order to build a larger, more modem lodge that they hoped
would be more attractive to an upscale clientele. Investors believed the incline would solve the
summit's access problems by reducing travel time to the mountain top from a few hours to a few
minutes. The company also hoped that the location of the incline terminal near the heavily
patronized Mountain Park and Crystal Spring would drastically increase ridership among day-
trippers. Thus, before the decade was over, development had resumed on Mill Mountain.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 16
The incline company contracted with the Roanoke Iron Company for fabrication of the incline's
rails, and J. G. Brill Company of Philadelphia, a prominent street car manufacturer, built the
electric pulley assembly and the two cars. Although Mill Mountain Incline Incorporated initially
estimated construction costs for the 1,000-foot-long incline at $15,000, the company would
ultimately spend $40,000 for its completion (Figures 16 and 17).
Despite the cost overruns, the Mill Mountain Incline's opening day on August 14, 1910 seemed
promising, as 1,500 people lined up to make the 25-cent roundtrip on the novelty (Diamond
Jubilee Program, 1957). Concurrent with the construction of the incline, the company also
leased the Rockledge Inn and tried to renovate it as best they could. Within a few months of
opening the incline, the company would try several times to purchase the summit from the
Roanoke Gas & Water Company in order to pursue their plans to build another hotel. The utility
company, however, refused to sell. By 1911, the incline company had completed renovations of
the landscape at the summit, adding new strolling paths, benches, and swings. The company also
turned its attention to the observation tower on the mountain, but the historical documentation is
again contradictory as to whether it simply refurbished the 1892 tower or constructed a new one
(Brace, 1982; Dotson, 2003; White, 1982). Whichever the case, the company certainly added an
electric searchlight and a telescope to the tower's observation level. They also opened a girl shop
on its first floor that sold, among other Mill Mountain souvenirs, postcards produced by the print
shop owned by Edward Stone, one of the principal investors in the incline. Once again, the
mountain top was ready for business and poised to become a successful tourist destination.
Yet after the incline's first year of operation, business began to slide. Unsuccessful in their
attempts to acquire the summit from Roanoke Gas & Water, the incline company's leaders
feared that the small, outdated Rockledge Inn would never draw the number of visitors necessary
to earn a profit. As the hoped-for influx of tourists failed to materialize and the novelty of the
incline for local residents wore off, ridership on the incline began to decline. By 1912, the
company was paying more in operating expenses for the hotel and incline than it was taking in.
In an attempt to boost patronage, several of the company's principal investors supported placing
a large electric sign at the summit to promote the incline and the City. This plan, however, drew
immediate and intense criticism from the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce, and the Roanoke Gas
& Water Company refused to permit the sign on its land. Perhaps as an omen of the financial
collapse to come, the observation tower at the summit blew down on March 3, 1914 after a
violent wind storm. It would be rebuilt later in the same year (Figure 18) (Roanoke Times, March
3, 1914).
After holding on for several years in the hope that business would improve, the incline's
investors decided to sell out in 1919, and Roanoke Gas & Water purchased (and continued to
operate) the $40,000 incline for $7,000. Although the incline company's vision of Mill Mountain
as a major tourist destination had never materialized, the land would not sit idle for long before
attracting the next investor with a dream for capitalizing on the mountain's assets.
By 1920, Roanoke Gas & Water was ready to extricate itself from the hospitality business on
Mill Mountain and sold its property, including the incline, to the Mill Mountain Corporation,
which was owned by William P. Heuritze and his brother John (Roanoke Times & World-News,
June 5, 1980). Like the original investors in the incline, Henritze believed that a profitable resort
development was still possible on Mill Mountain, especially if it evolved in conjunction with the
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 17
development of a residential complex on the mountain's slopes. The idea of residential
development on the mountain certainly seemed profitable at the time. Roanoke's population had
expanded to 50,000 by 1920 (White, 1982), and the City had annexed its southern suburbs up to
and including the western slopes and summit of Mill Mountain in 1915. Part of this expansion
was fueled by American Viscose Corporation's rayon manufacturing facility, which opened in
1917 and would add a total of 5,000 new jobs to the City's economy within a decade. Even the
popular Mountain Park became a casualty of the inflated land prices caused by the new housing
demands. The park would close in 1923 and be subdivided for the "high-class" residential
subdivisions named Clermont Heights and Mountain Park (Roanoke Times, August 25, 1924).
With the city again growing at a rapid rate, Hendtze would build Mill Mountain into a successful
recreational facility--if only for a brief time.
Shortly after purchasing the mountain, Henritze's Mill Mountain Corporation set to work
building a $90,000 scenic toll road roughly along the same route as the older carriage road built
to the Rockledge Inn. By this time, mass-production had made the automobile affordable for
more Americans, and driving was quickly becoming one of America's favorite leisure activities.
With the opening of his toll road on August 30, 1924, Henritze was well-positioned to capitalize
on the new craze--if only at the modest rate of 25 cents per car. The road, which was advertised
as Roanoke's greatest attraction (Roanoke Times, August 30, 1924), was indeed state-of-the-art
for its time. It was reputed to be the longest continuous 6% concrete road in the world and
featured a "loop-the-loop," at which the road passed over itself by means of a large concrete
culvert (Figures 19 and 20). (Figure 21 depicts a portion of a 1926 Roanoke city map that
includes Mill Mountain, the new road, and the incline.) William Henritze would soon build his
personal residence, which he named Rockledge, in the bare spot next to the loop. The road was a
comfortable 18 feet wide, but expanded to 30 to 40 feet across at the sharpest curves. As an
additional safety measure, it was bordered by a strong guardrail constructed from iron railroad
rails and cables and locust posts. But even these precautions did not prevent several drivers from
wrecking their automobiles along the road.
The winding road among the treetops proved to be a success. Toll records indicated that 20,000
cars per year were still using the road by the late 1930s (Sponaugle, 1940). In addition to
attracting scores of local residents, the road also succeeded in drawing some driving enthusiasts
from a wider region. In 1933, for example, Chet Miller set a speed record of I minute and 37
seconds to'the top of Mill Mountain on the road in his Essex Terraplane car. The popularity of
the toll road soon eroded the incline's remaining business. Mill Mountain Corporation closed the
incline permanently in 1929 and sold it for scrap in 1930. One era's novelty had been supplanted
by another's.
Decades of exponential grox~th and profiteering in Roanoke suddenly derailed in 1929 and 1930
as America was gripped by the Great Depression. The presence of the railroad and Americ/~n
Viscose, however, helped insulate Roanoke from its worst effects. Although Roanoke's
unemployment rate reportedly never rose above 2% during this time (White, 1982), numerous
businesses in the City went bankrupt (Bruce, 1982). Facing financial uncertainties, Roanoke
decided to postpone its Golden Anniversary celebration for two years, until 1934, hoping for
brighter financial times (White, 1982).
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 18
The financial troubles gripping the City also reached Mill Mountain. In addition to the demise of
the incline, the Rockledge Inn permanently closed in 1929 (Roanoke Times, July 13, 1995).
Financial difficulties prevented William Henritze from pursuing his vision of a residential/resort
complex on Mill Mountain beyond the toll road and his Rockledge mansion. Facing bankruptcy
by 1932, Henritze offered to sell Mill Mountain (with the exception of his residence) to the City
for $165,000. With its own finances on shaky ground, however, the City declined (Sponaugle,
1940). Two years later, creditors foreclosed on the property, and the mountain was bought for
$50,000 by a group of investors affiliated with Washington & Lee University. This group also
offered the mountain to the City--this time for $75,000. Again, the City felt it could not allocate
such a large sum of money and declined (Sponaugle, 1940). Two years later, in 1936, perhaps to
signal the failure of another attempt at developing Mill Mountain, the observation tower at the
summit was again destroyed--this time by fire. Unlike the last time, however, it would not be
rebuilt. It was indeed the end of an era for Mill Mountain.
For the next several years, little attention was paid to Mill Mountain as the City concentrated
instead on rebuilding its financial house. The year 1941, however, would mark a pivotal moment
in the history of Mill Mountain: its transition from private to civic ownership. In that year, Mr.
and Mrs. Junius B. Fishbum purchased Mill Mountain from Washington & Lee University and
conveyed !00 acres to the City of Roanoke to be developed as a park. Fishbum, often referred to
as Roanoke's First Citizen, had come to Roanoke as a young man to work in his uncle's grocery
store. Despite lacking any formal education, he built several successful city businesses, including
the local newspaper (the Roanoke Times) and the City's most successful bank. Before his death
in 1955, Fishbum would donate about 175 acres on Mill Mountain to the City, in addition to land
for. severa} other parks throughout Roanoke (Brace, 1982). (See Figure 22 for a map of land
acquisitions, including the Fishbum lands, that have created the existing Mill Mountain Park.)
Although the transfer of the property from private hands to the City was easily accomplished on
paper, the shift in attitude required of the City to fulfill the Fishburns's vision for a public park
would take several decades to accomplish. After 50 years of leaving the fate of the mountain in
the hands of businessmen and developers, the City was now thrust into the unfamiliar role of
guardian of the mountain and of the public's interest regarding the mountain. This new role was
made necessary by the deed restrictions the Fishbums attached to the land to ensure that the
mountain would be "developed and forever preserved, improved, and maintained for the use and
pleasure of the people of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and vicinity." The City would now have
to make its presence felt on the mountain in order to see that the Fishburns's directives were
respected.
The City had failed to act once before on a proposal to make Mill Mountain a public park. The
idea had first been suggested by prominent landscape architect and planner John Nolen in 1907,
who was hired by the Woman's Civic Betterment Club to develop a citywide master plan for
Roanoke. Nolen proposed a linear greenway connecting Downtown Roanoke to a major city park
on Mill Mountain. Little of Nolen's plan was ever implemented. The City would leave the
development of Mill Mountain, as well as the rest of Roanoke, to private entrepreneurs. But aRer
1941, the City would not have the option of simply ignoring the Fishbum land grants and their
conditions.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 19
Perhaps uncertain of how to carry out its new leadership role, the City would continue to leave
development on the mountain to private interests for many years to come. This is evident in the
first major project undertaken on Mill Mountain during the City's ownership: the Roanoke Star.
Its development was initiated and carried out wholly by Roanoke's business community.
Although previous development schemes on the mountain had typically been couched in terms
of civic pride and public improvement, the driving force behind them clearly remained the
prospect of financial gain. The birth of the Roanoke Star was no exception to this. On
Thanksgiving Eve in 1949, the now-famous neon Star on the northern portion of the summit was
lit for the first time (Figure 23). Conceived of and funded by the Roanoke Merchants Association
as a Christmas decoration designed to tie in with the star decorations hung along the City streets,
the group described the project as an expression of their civic pride. But certainly, the Merchants
Association and the numerous City businesses that contributed a total of $27,000 to the project
also hoped the 88½-foot-tall neon star would attract curious Christmas shoppers to Roanoke
from throughout the region (Roanoke Times & World-News, 1982). Whether the 1949 holiday
shopping season broke any records for Roanoke merchants is unknown, but the Star quickly
received so much favorable press that the Merchants Association decided to pay to keep it lit
year-round. Although the Star would ultimately take on a symbolic life beyond the intentions of
its creators, the process of its development clearly illustrates that the business community was
still the driving force behind development on the mountain.
Although the City was still absent from the mountain, the transfer of the property to the public
sector opened the door for another set of stakeholders to take an active role on the mountain. By
the 1950s, community volunteer organizations had become a major presence on Mill Mountain
and began initiating civic improvement projects. In 1952, for example, the Roanoke Civitan Club
built the Mill Mountain children's zoo (Figure 24), and the Jaycees contributed the miniature
train known as the Zoo-Choo that still circles the zoo today. In the early 1960s, a group of
citizens also remodeled the dilapidated Rockledge Inn. Using seats donated from a local movie
theater, they converted what had been a seldom-used recreation center into a live theater for the
Mill Mountain Players. The theater would remain on the mountain for twelve years until the
Rockledge was destroyed by fire in 1976 and the group relocated to Center in the Square. In the
1970s, the Mill Mountain Garden Club, which was originally founded in 1927, initiated a plan to
install a wildflower garden at the summit.
The prominence of civic organizations in this era of Mill Mountain's development is also
consistent with the active role they played in the community as a whole at this time. In 1952,
Roanoke was named one of eleven All-America Cities in the nation based several community
improvement projects initiated by volunteer groups, including a clean up of the Roanoke River
and construction of a new library, a downtown parking garage, and a Negro high school (White,
1982). Roanoke's early years as a boom town had led to such rapid population growth that city
services and infrastructure often could not keep up. As a result, by the man of the century, the
Woman's Civic Betterment Club had been formed to address many of the social and sanitation
problems that plagued the City. In the process, they had set a precedent for spearheading
community improvement projects by volunteer organizations. The 1950s and 1960s saw a
resurgence of these groups, as Roanoke's downtown faced a new set of challenges. Suburban
sprawl had triggered the slow decay in Roanoke's urban core. Downtown stores were vacant, and
residents were leaving the City. Volunteer groups mobilized. By 1960, the City had developed its
own list of projects it hoped would reverse the process of decay. With the City's attention
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 20
focused on the Downtown, Mill Mountain would be left in the hands of civic organizations as
well as the business community for the next several years (Roanoke Times & World-News,
1982). Mill Mountain would languish for another decade without any overarching direction.
By the early 1960s, the City began to mm its attention back to Mill Mountain, and it seemed
ready to take a more active role in determining the future of the park. Yet vestiges of the old
profit-driven development mentality on the mountain remained, and with the financial woes of
the Downtown still a concern, City officials began to look to Mill Mountain as a potential
revenue generator for the City. As a result, twenty years into the City's ownership of the
mountain, the generation of revenue was still driving development, and the City's fa'st concerted
efforts in the park would be virtually indistinguishable from the grand schemes for resort
complexes pursued by the private companies that had once owned the mountain. Like these
earlier plans, the City hoped to generate revenue by drawing visitors fi.om outside the City--this
time via the newly completed Blue Ridge Parkway. As a first step in transforming this vision to
reality, the City joined with the Chamber of Commerce in negotiating with the U.S. Park Service
to build a connecting roadway between the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mill Mountain. The hope
was that the new Mill Mountain Spur Road would draw Parkway tourists to Mill Mountain and
Roanoke. With an agreement for the road in place, the City then hired landscape architect
Stanley Abbott in 1965 to develop a master plan for Mill Mountain (Andrews, 1973). Abbott was
a logical choice for this task because, years earlier, he had also designed the Blue Ridge
Parkway. Consistent with the new vision the City had for the park, Abbott's plan presented Mill
Mountain as an extension of the Parkway in both form and fimction. The plan accommodated an
anticipated 6,000 visitors per day (Rhodeside & Harwell, 1991).
Abbott's plan called for intensive development of the summit and slopes of Mill Mountain. In
addition to mils, picnic areas, and naturalistic landscaping with native shrubs and trees in
keeping with the Parkway aesthetic, the plan included parking for 1,000 cars midway up the
mountain with a tramway to the top, a bird sanctuary, ski slope, and zoo upgrade. In addition, he
proposed moving the Roanoke Star to Read Mountain in order to make room for a large building
complex on the summit's north brow that would include a visitor center, a vista restaurant with
seating for 300 people, a 60-room lodge, and a theater for 250 people. Much of the construction
and operating costs were to be financed by private development companies. City Council
approved the plan and appointed the Mill Mountain Development Committee to spearhead its
implementation. According to newspaper accounts, however, the committee never met, and no
further action was taken on the $4 million plan (Andrews, 1973).
But equally consistent with historical precedent, the City's business community was ready to
step in. After nearly two years of inactivity by the City's Development Committee, the president
of the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce recruited local businessman M. Carl Andrews to head a
special committee to spur development on Mill Mountain. This committee was called the Mill
Mountain Park Committee. Within a few months, the City's committee was also revived, and the
two groups soon merged into the Mill Mountain Development Committee with M. Carl Andrews
as chair (this group would later be renamed the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee). The newly
blended committee then asked the City Planning Department to revise Abbott's two-year-old
plan as a first step in pushing forward the development process (Andrews, 1973).
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 21
By the end of the 1967, the Department of City Planning released its Master Development Plan:
Mill Mountain Park. This revised plan retained many of the features Abbot had proposed, but in
a scaled back form. Certainly, cost was a major limiting factor in the development of the new
proposal. As in Abbott's plan, responsibility for the bulk of the development on the summit
would fall to private enterprise, further reducing the City's costs (and also the City's control of
the project) from an estimated $2.4 million in the original plan to $312,000. Additionally, the
1,000-space parking lot that Abbott sited lower on the mountain (and connected to the summit by
tram) was divided into three separate lots located on the top of the mountain. This was proposed,
in part, to provide faster access for patrons of the Mill Mountain Theatre.
In 1969, the Mill Mountain Development Committee sent the revised master plan to City
Council with its recommendation for approval. The only amendment to the plan stipulated that
the Old Toll Road should remain open to cars, although construction of the J. B. Fishbum
Parkway was identified as a priority because of the deteriorating condition of the older road.
Developing a summit restaurant was also stressed as a priority, and although there was some
disagreement regarding the construction of a hotel on the mountain top, the committee
recommended using the possibility of a hotel as a negotiating point to encourage development of
the restaurant. City Council approved the updated plan, but it simply recommended that the
elements of the plan be carried out "from time to time" (City Council Resolution No. 18608,
Rhodeside & Harwell, 1991).
Despite the Council's less than enthusiastic endorsement of the master plan, some development
did begin on the mountain. In 1971, construction was completed on the J. B. Fishbum Parkway,
a 1.6-mile road that replaced the Old Toll Road as the primary route from town to the summit.
The Mill Mountain Development Committee also began looking for a developer to build a
restaurant and possibly a hotel on the summit. In 1972, Ken Wilson Associates, the developers of
the Groundhog Mountain resort on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Hillsville, voiced their interest
in the project, with the stipulation that they first conduct an economic feasibility study (at the
City's expense). When the study finally reached the Development Committee and City Council
in 1974, however, the groups were dismayed to discover that rather than an economic feasibility
study, the firm had submitted an alternative development proposal. Rather than advancing the
development process, the Development Committee and City Council were forced to reconsider
the development plans they had already approved in light of this new proposal (Rhodeside &
Harwell, 1991).
Despite this frustrating tum of events, the unexpected submission by Ken Wilson Associates may
have ultimately benefited the development process by stimulating further debate and helping the
Development Committee and City Council refine their vision for Mill Mountain. Although the
Wilson plan was never appr6ved or pursued, some of the new ideas it proposed would
nevertheless exert a strong influence on subsequent development plans for the mountain. Fbr
example, unlike the previous two master plans, which emphasized drawing Parkway visitors to
the mountain, the Wilson proposal concentrated on strengthening the park's connection to the
City. The plan was also the first to recognize the Star as a Roanoke icon and recommend that it
remain on its traditional Mill Mountain home. It also proposed that the Old Toll Road become a
pedestrian-only route. These elements would all become important features of development plans
later approved for the mountain.
Mill Mountain Management Plan
Page 22
!
But the Wilson plan would also have the distinction of being the last plan to propose intensive
development of Mill Mountain. Like the previous two master plans, this proposal called for a
building complex on the northern portion of the summit. This cluster of structures would include
a restaurant, ski lodge, and gift shop. In addition, a portion of the mountainside would be clear-
cut for a ski slope covered in "polysnow" for year-round skiing. During the review of the Wilson
plan, however, the Development Committee's enthusiasm for the grand development schemes of
old began to fade. The exact reasons for this shift are unknown but most likely stem from a
combination of many factors. Certainly, the committee's frustration over the developer's failure
to deliver the promised economic feasibility report predisposed the group to view the master plan
with skepticism. Perhaps the committee had also begun to grasp what businessmen in previous
eras had learned the hard way--that despite its recreational opportunities, the mountain could not
sustain a profitable tourism business. Additionally, the nationwide environmental movement that
had started with Rachel Carson's Silent Spring in 1962 may have begun to influence public
sentiment in Roanoke and changed committee membem' perceptions of the effects of intensive
development on the mountain. Whatever the causes, in a January 3, 1975 report to City Council,
the Mill Mountain Development Committee indicated that its support for a hotel on the north
brow of the mountain was eroding. The group also voiced concern that removal of the Star from
the mountain in order to make room for more development would probably be unpopular with
the public. And although they still supported construction of a restaurant, the committee also
began to voice a desire for less invasive development on the mountain top. They maffLrmed their
support for the wildflower garden to be installed by the Mill Mountain Garden Club and
requested funding for additional landscaping and beautification on the summit (Rhodeside &
Harwell, 1991). By the late 1970s, the 1,ong-standing quest to develop the park as a source of
revenue~whether to fill private or public coffers--had fallen out of favor. The City seemed to
be on the cusp of adopting a new approach to Mill Mountain.
By the 1980s, a new attitude toward decision-making on the mountain began to emerge. With the
quest for revenue no longer driving development, a new guiding principle for the park had to be
found. The needs of park users began to move to the fore of planning and development activities
on Mill Mountain. This transition from profit-driven to patron-driven development was also
occurring across the City's planning efforts as a whole, and reflected a national trend toward
greater government accountability to citizens, including the opening up of the urban planning
process to meaningful public participation. In 1981, for example, the Parks & Recreation
Department developed a master plan for the parks system entitled Roanoke's Parks: Today and
Tomorrow. This plan established the City's first process for gathering community input on issues
of park planning, construction, and maintenance. The plan also began to articulate a concrete
vision for the citywide park system based on user input. Planning implications of this user-
centered approach included an expansion of educational and recreational programming in
response to residents' changing recreational interests and an increased emphasis on the
environmental health of the park system in response to growing public concern for the
environment.
It was within this general atmosphere that the Mill Mountain Development Committee and City
Council revisited the language of the Fishbum deed restrictions. Through the lens of this new
era, the Fishburns's wishes seemed to necessitate that the City engage the public more actively in
the planning process. If the mountain were truly to be "for the use and pleasure of the people of
the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and vicinity," then certainly the City would need to understand
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 23
what patrons wanted in the park. The results of this first attempt at gauging the public's desires
resulted in several specific recommendations for Mill Mountain Park in the Today and
Tomorrow document. These included development of nature and fitness trails on the forested
slopes of the mountain and creation of two additional scenic overlooks. Construction of a modest
restaurant near the picnic shelter was also proposed in the document. Although restaurants had
been a consistent element of development proposals on the mountain since the Rockledge Inn
opened in 1892, this plan was the first to suggest a restaurant as a way of better serving park
patrons rather than simply a way of generating revenue. This is not to suggest, however, that the
cost-to-profit ratio of the restaurant would not have been considered at all, simply that in a
patron-oriented development philosophy, economic viability would not be the primary
consideration.
Under this user-centered philosophy, the City began to implement a series of park enhancements
designed to improve patrons' overall experience on Mill Mountain. In a two-phase process from
1983 to 1987, renovations on the mountain included landscaping upgrades, new park furnishings,
underground placement of overhead power lines, the opening up of new views off the mountain,
and the conversion of some vehicular roads to accessible pedestrian paths. The present-day
parking lots were also constructed at this time. The City also completed construction of a
permanent restroom facility with an information kiosk, realignment of the park entrance road at
Fishbum Parkway and improvements to the picnic area.
With many of the short-term issues in the park addressed, by the start of the 1990s, the City was
also ready to take a more proactive role in determining the park's long-term future. In the
preceding years, City Council had reviewed many development proposals from private
companies and community groups for projects on Mill Mountain. These proposals included a
restaurant, a national D-Day memorial (which would eventually be built in Bedford), a zoo
expansion, and a new incline railway. Yet the City still had no concrete development criteria on
which to base decisions about future development. In 1990, the City hired the landscape
amhitecture finn of Rhodeside & Harwell to gather public input and conduct an in-depth site
analysis in order to generate a set of development criteria for the park. The results of the firm's
work indicated that preservation and enhancement of the natural character of the mountain with
the development of compatible forms of recreation should be the main thrust of any future
development. Rhodeside & Harwell then developed a detailed set of criteria that is still in use
today. With the Rhodeside & Harwell work, an important step was taken in defining the park's
future with not only the mountain's natural environment in mind but also the needs and wishes of
park patrons.
By 1996, the City felt it was time to build on the work begun by Rhodeside & Harwell and
establish official language describing the vision for Mill Mountain Park. As a first step in this
process, Mayor David Bowers hosted a "Summit on the Summit" and momentum began to build.
By 1997, after a visioning retreat, the Mill Mountain Development Committee presented the
newly crafted vision and mission statements for the park to the City Council. With the
acceptance of this report by Council, the Development Conunittee hired the landscape
architecture firm Hill Studio to provide a conceptual design plan that would bring the park into
better alignment with its newly crafted vision. Hill Studio was asked to address numerous
improvements, including the renovation of the existing restroom structure into a welcome center,
the construction of a picnic shelter and playground, and identification of an area suitable for a
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 24
concert lawn. At a public meeting held in October of 1997 to discuss the improvements, citizens
enthusiastically endorsed the proposal. After several revisions, the plan was approved by the Mill
Mountain Advisory Committee (formerly known as the Mill Mountain Development Committee)
in December 1997 and by the City Council in April 1998.
Currently, the City continues to implement the plans established in the 1990s. The award-
winning 2,200-square-foot Discovery Center and the picnic shelter were completed in 2001. A
park supervisor was hired in 2001 to oversee the park and the Discovery Center and to develop
additional educational programming focused on Mill Mountain's unique natural environment.
Additionally, conceptual design plans for a "children's adventure area" near the picnic shelter are
under development by Parks and Recreation. This customized play environment will be designed
to both capture the mountain's natural character and to also provid, e a holistic sensory adventure
for children of all ages and abilities.
The City has also worked hard to develop projects not in the Hill Studio plan as they respond to
the needs of park user groups. For example, when the 1995 Conceptual Greenway Plan
developed by Greenways Incorporated documented strong public support for development of a
citywide greenway system, the City moved to begin greenway construction, including
designation of the Mill Mountain Greenway from Downtown Roanoke to the summit of Mill
Mountain. This greenway had been identified in Greenways Incorporated's plan as one of eleven
high priority segments in the City. The Mill Mountain Star Trail, built by volunteers, was
completed in 1999 to serve the park's hikers, especially as a route of passage to the summit for
Roanoke's more eastern residents. This work will also continue through the trails management
plan included with this Management Plan by providing a strategy for making Mill Mountain's
trail system not only more ecologically sound and sustainable, but also more responsive to user
needs, including those of mountain bikers, hikers, bird-watchers, naturalists, and educators.
Through the stewardship of Roanoke Parks and Recreation, Mill Mountain will continue to
expand upon its unique opportunities to reach beyond its own borders and involve citizens in
development and maintenance decisions and activities.
The planning documents that currently guide City development also adv .ance the model of
patron-driven development. The Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Master Plan developed by
the City Parks & Recreation Department in 2000 considers the goals and objectives of Roanoke's
Parks & Recreation system for seven to ten years. Eleven broad action strategies have been
developed to help the department achieve this vision. In general, key aspects of the plan include
continued support for trails and greenways; continued development of programming, especially
for children, teens, families, and seniors (age groups projected to expand in Roanoke in the next
ten years); further maintenance and upgrades to park facilities and landscapes; greater citizen
input; and greater emphasis on environmental stewardship through the planning and design
process.
The citywide master plan entitled Vision 2001/2020: Planning for Roanoke's Future Economic
Development, Neighborhoods, and Quality of Life (2001) is the strongest statement to date for a
citywide citizen-centered development approach. In stark contrast to the early railroad days of
the City in which profits drove urban development, this master plan supports economic vitality
as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. The primmy goal for the City, it states, is to
make Roanoke a "livable community" for its residents. Rather than developing amenities in
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 25
order to create profits, Vision 2001/2020 encourages the generation of revenue in order to fund
amenities and improvements that increase the quality of life for residents. With its current master
plan, the City has codified an important shif~ for the benefit of its citizens.
Mill Mountain has matured alongside the City of Roanoke. From the earliest settlement of the
region, the mountain has figured as an important community resource, whether for its natural
resources or its recreational opportunities. The evolution of the major development trends on the
mountain--from private profit to public revenue to user preference--can also be traced in the
City of Roanoke as a whole, as it has transitioned from a railroad boom town to a diversified
modem economy. Over the years, the mountain has responded to its patrons' changing cultural
attitudes--from recreational opportunities restricted by class and race to the rise of
environmentalism--and changing recreational preferences--from driving to hiking to mountain
biking. Mill Mountain has also become a vital environmental resource for Roanoke by providing
contiguous habitat for plants and animals and helping to protect the air and water quality of the
region. Although the nature of Mill Mountain's importance to the community has changed over
the centuries, its significance to the community has not diminished. Just as native peoples and
the first European settlers depended on the mountain's natural resources to sustain their physical
existence, Roanokers now rely on Mill Mountain to sustain their spirit. The history of city and
mountain are inseparably linked, as is their future.
PART V
EXISTING CONDITIONS: INVENTORY & DESCRIPTION
In Section 3 of this management plan, the significance of Mill Mountain Park is discussed.
Previous Mill Mountain plans have emphasized the importance of the mountain as a visual
resource, as a natural resource (suggesting its ecological values), as a symbol of Roanoke, and as
a place for recreation. Mill Mountain plays a critical role in many different "systems" in the City
of Roanoke, to understand these roles, one must look beyond the boundaries of the park and
consider the park's connections to the City itself and the greater region.
Mill Mountain is part of an urban system - including the City's social and economic systems. It
is nearly surrounded by urban development and is linked to th6 City's neighborhoods (Figure
25). The evolving greenway system strengthens this connection between the Mountain and city
residents. The existing Mill Mountain Greenway and the Star Trail create connections to the
City, and the Roanoke River G~eenway, under development, will provide greater access to Mill
Mountain. The scenic quality of Mill Mountain, its uniqueness as a mountain within city limits,
and the recreational opportunities it provides are values that the city dwellers in Roanoke
cherish. Mill Mountain is a critical part of not only the City's park system, but also the regional
park system.
Mill Mountain is also an important component of the region's ecological system. Figure 26
depicts ecological connections between Mill Mountain and the surrounding area. By examining
this map, it is clear that Mill Mountain'offers a respite for urban wildlife (it is the City's largest
forested patch): In the region, other larger natural areas like the Jefferson National Forest,
Carvins Cove, and Havens Wildlife Management Area provide the most significant ecological
"hubs," but the linear features like the Roanoke River and Tinker Creek and the City's parkland,
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 26
especially Mill Mountain and Yellow Mountain, offer a way to extend habitat into the City and
to points south. Mill Mountain Park offers important urban wildlife habitat and other ecological
services, like benefits to air quality and urban stormwater because of its tree cover. In short, Mill
Mountain is significant both for its many contributions to the urban environment and its role in
the regional ecosystem.
The following sections discuss in detail .the specific characteristics of Mill Mountain Park.
These characteristics are divided into natural resources, cultural resources, visual characteristics,
and park programming and recreational facilities.
NATURAL RESOURCES
TOPOGRAPHY~ GEOLOGY~ & SOILS
The topography, geology, and soil types of Mill Mountain have been analyzed in terms of their
suitability for development. In general, the topography, geology, and soil types of Mill Mountain
present formidable constraints for future development throughout.the park. Most of the mountain
consists of steep slopes (15% and greater) and fragile soils, which present potentially serious
erosion problems as well as higher costs of development in terms of grading and drainage. In
addition, on much of the mountain, the bedrock is estimated to be no more than 5 feet under the
soil surface, so any extensive grading and construction would likely require blasting (Rhodeside
& Harwell, 1991, p. 25).
Elevation. Figure 27 is an elevation map of Mill Mountain with the major drainage swales
delineated. Elevation in Mill Mountain Park ranges from 896 feet to 1800 feet.
Slopes and Topography. Consistent with Rhodeside & Harwell's (1991) site analysis, slopes
(Figure 28) have been divided into categories of 0-8%, 9-15%, 16-25%, and over 25%, although
this fourth category has been further divided into 2 parts - 25%- 40% and greater than 40% to
distinguish the steepest areas on the site. Maintaining consistency with the Rhodeside & Harwell
plan regarding slope categories makes it easier for the City to use the Rhodeside & Harwell
development criteria in the future if it chooses to do so.
· 0-8%: These relatively flat areas present fewer development constraints than the
remainder of the site.
· 9-15%: Development in these areas would likely require terracing, regrading, and
installation of drainage features. Limited development may be acceptable in some of
these areas.
· 16-25%: These areas would require extensive regrading, which in turn would have a
major impact on drainage and soil erosion. Development is not recommended in these
areas.
· 25-40%: Such steep slopes are best preserved as vegetated open space. Removal of
vegetation may lead to slumping and severe erosion problems during moderate to heavy
rains.
· Greater than 40%: These slopes are the steepest on the site. Like the category above,
these areas are best preserved as vegetated open space.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 27
As Figure 28 and Table 1 indicate, 69% of the mountain consists of slopes greater than 25%, and
these areas are not suitable for development. Gentler slopes under 15%, which total 12% of the
park land area, are found predominantly at the summit, where extensive grading has already
occurred, along the saddle area on the southern portion of the mountain, and in the lower
elevations on the east and southeast side of the mountain.
Table 1. Land area in each slope ( ategory
Percent of
Percent slope Area (acres) land area
0 - 8% 21 4
9 - 15% 45 8
16 - 25% 109 19
26 - 40% 206 36
Greater than 40% 187 33
568 100
Geology. Mill Mountain is capped by the Antietam (Erwin) quartzite in a large outlier of the
Blue Ridge thrust sheet now eroded back to the Blue Ridge Mountains on the southeast side of
the Roanoke Valley (Henika, 1997). The Mill Mountain thrust sheet has been preserved on the
gently dipping southeast anticlinal limb of the Crystal Spring structure and in a synclinal trough
to the southeast of Mill Mountain. Several other smaller outliers of the thrust sheet form quartzite
cappings on hills in the densely developed South Roanoke residential areas. Large quartzite
blocks and boulders left on the steep slopes above homes in this area may constitute natural
hazards because of potential landslides during Hurricane Camille-type storms or seismic events
following the documented seismic history of this part of southwestern Virginia.
The Antietam (Erwin) Formation is the uppermost unit of the Cambrian Chilhowee Group of
metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks recognized by the Division of Mineral Resources in the
Roanoke area and along the Blue Ridge northeastward to the Potomac River and Maryland
(Henika, 1981 p. 2-4). The unit is correlative with the Erwin Quartzite southwestwards to
Tennessee.
The Antietam contains thick-bedded, medium-to coarse-grained quartzite in the lower part and
medium-bedded quartzite and phyllite in the upper part. The quartzite ledges are light-gray to
white and commonly show fine cross bedding. Poorly preserved Skolithos "tubes" are in the
more massive beds as vertical striations or localized closely spaced vertical parting surfaces in
the rock. Examination of the bedrock at this location shows that the unit is extremely hard and
resistant to erosion. The rock is closely jointed and breaks up into rectangular blocks.
Excavations in the bedrock generally require blasting. It is extremely abrasive and may be hard
on ripping and grading equipment. In the Roanoke area, the Antietam is generally confined to
ridgetops and steep slopes with strongly acid, very shallow and rocky, excessively drained soils.
Groundwater conditions may be difficult because of extremely deep percolation to water tables
near river level, steep fractures, and exceptionally hard drilling conditions.
An important geological feature at the base of Mill Mountain is Crystal Spring. Crystal Spring is
a huge spring that has been used for public water supply for many years and has had flow rates
reported as high as 6,000,000 gallons per day (Woodward, 1932, p. 147). The spring that once
powered McClanahans Mill was a major attraction to the early railroad builders.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 28
The spring is emergent in an ancient sink that has been breached along the floodplain of the
Roanoke River as it cut against the base of Mill Mountain. The spring is now contained within a
concrete channel that emerges from beneath a ledge of massive Shady Dolomite. The cavern is
developed along the northwestern, overturned limb of a broad subthrust anticline that uplifted the
Shady Dolomite from beneath the Rome-Waynesboro formation in the Big Lick area that is now
downtown Roanoke.
H. P. Woodward (1932, p.92-93) described the earthquake felt in the Roanoke area on Christmas
night 1924 and documented some quake damage here at Crystal Spring. A sixteen-inch cast iron
water main leading from the spring pumping station to a reservoir on the mountain above was
fractured about 40 feet above the spring at the base of the hill. The broken pipe was an ordinary
cast iron leader.., of three-quarter-inch metal. The break cut obliquely across the pipe. The
broken edges of the pipe show that the fracture was caused by wrenching or twisting ,and that it
produced a series of chatter marks along one side of the broken surface. Bollinger and Hooper
(1972, p. 27), classified the Christmas night quake as a category "V' on the modified Mercalli
scale.
Because Crystal Spring is part of the Roanoke public water supply, it is important to recognize
that it is part of an ancient karst aquifer system which was developed in fractured, cavernous
Shady Dolomite beneath the Blue Ridge thrust fault. The fractures in the dolomite are recharged
from above by rain water percolating down through the highly permeable fractured quartzite
caprock and thin, sandy soils developed above the Blue Ridge thrust fault in the mountains
southeast of the spring. Several large sinks that actually penetrated the Blue Ridge fault were the
locus of extensive iron mineralization in quartzite breccias and residual clay pockets developed
on the fractured dolomite below the fault. Many of the larger bodies of iron ore that were mined
along Chestnut Ridge and in the Rorer mines area along the Parkway southeast of Mill Mountain
are evidence of the ancient karst erosion and &positional system which is still very active at
Crystal Spring. A one-hundred-fifty foot diameter sinkhole, some fifty feet deep in the upper
Uniquoi quartzite, is a central feature of the National Park picnic area on top of Roanoke
(Yellow) Mountain. The bottom of the surface sink is at least 600 feet above the top of the
dolomite exposed in quarries on the east and west sides of the northerly trending ridge.
Fortunately, the Crystal Spring recharge area is still relatively undeveloped, forested and largely
inaccessible. It contains abandoned mined lands within the Mill Mountain Park and the Blue
Ridge Parkway Reservation along Chestnut Ridge from Mill Mountain to Roanoke (Yellow)
Mountain. There are few sewer lines to leak and no heavily fertilized yards, crop, or pasture
lands to create rnnoffpollution within the hills to the southeast of the spring. Besides some
degree of protection due to low levels of development, water from Crystal Spring is now treated
by the City of Roanoke, so risk of contamination is less ora factor than it was when it was
untreated.
Soils The soils on the mountain are relatively uniform, consisting primarily of Edgemont
channery sandy loams (Figure 29). What differentiates the Edgemont soils is the degree of slope.
In the areas where the slope ranges from 0-8%, the soils are relatively deep, but the depth to
bedrock decreases as the percentage of slope increases. On the side slopes of Mill Mountain,
these soils present a severe erosion hazard and are best suited to forest. The resistance of the
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Page 29
underlying Tuscarora sandstone to weathering also creates soils that are relatively shallow and
infertile. The following characteristics apply to the Edgemont soils (Natural Resources
Conservation Service, 1997):
Permeability: Moderate or moderately rapid
Available water capacity: Low
Surface runoff: Medium for 15C; Rapid for 15D and 1SE
Depth to bedrock: More than 60 inches
Erosion potential: Medium for 15C; High for lSD and 15E
Organic matter content: Low
Depth to the seasonal high water table: More than 72 inches
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the only Edgemont soils that
do not have severe limitations for development, including recreational development like picnic
areas trails, are the 15C soils, found on the summit of Mill Mountain. It should be noted,
however, that the mapping scale used by NRCS is too coarse (1:24,000) to capture other smaller
areas in the park that might also be 15C, like the areas with slopes less than 15% located on the
eastern and southern portions of Mill Mountain Park.
The only exceptions to the Edgemont soils are located on the southern and western edges of the
Mill Mountain Park site. There is an area of Grimsley cobbly loam on the southern panhandle of
the park. Characteristics of this soil indicate that it is deep and well-drained, a product of
deposition from erosion of slopes above it (found in colluvial fans and foot slopes). It has a
cobbly surface with large stones that limit its development potential. According to the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (1997), the Grimsley soils pose moderate limitations
for recreational development such as camp and picnic areas and trails. On the western side of the
park in the vicinity of the tennis courts is another unique area of soil that is identified by NRCS
'as "urban land complex." Its characteristics are described as "variable," typically the result of
urban land development including substantial grading and/or fill.
DRAINAGE
There is one intermittent stream and several major drainage swales on the southern and
southeastern slopes of the mountain. These are indicated on Figure 27. Almost all of the
concentrated drainage (not generalized sheet flow) coming from Mill Mountain is found on the
side of Mill Mountain that abuts the Garden City neighborhood. Past flooding events in Garden
City have most likely been influenced by the intermittent streams flowing from Mill Mountain.
Keeping the slopes forested and minimizing impervious surface on the mountain help prevent
further exacerbation of this problem.
VEGETATION & PLANT COMMUNITIES
A generalized map of plant communities is presented in Figure 30. Details of the park's
vegetation are discussed below.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 30
Summit Vegetation
Most of the indigenous vegetation at the summit of Mill Mountain has been cleared over the
years during various development projects. This process began as early as 1891, when the area
directly southeast of the present-day lower overlook was cleared and regmded for construction of
the Rockledge Hotel and its grounds. Subsequent development has continued to replace the
natural vegetation with turf and--predominantly non-native---ornamental plantings.
It is also important to note that views to the mountain from the City and the surrounding valley
are of a forested ridgeline. The only exceptions to this are the Rdanoke Star and the antenna
tower.
Significant Trees. The manicured park at the summit contains some of the oldest and largest trees
on the mountain. Most are oaks. These randomly spaced trees, add to the aesthetic appeal of the
park's lawn space and also provide much-needed shade for visitors in the summer. Many of these
large trees, however, have sustained extensive wind and ice damage.
Understory and Young Trees. Most of the flowering understory trees planted at the summit are
healthy and in good condition. One important exception to this is the stand of hemlocks planted
along the Star parking lot, which shows signs of wooly adelgid infection.
Shrubs and Perennials. The ornamental plantings throughout the summit park are predominantly
non-native. Overall, the ornamental shrubs and perennials have suffered substantially from deer
browsing. Perhaps the hardest hit plantings are the Taxus spp. planted along the pathway
between the two overlooks.
Turf. Most of the regularly mown lawn areas are healthy, except in several areas along the
pathways where grading and drainage problems have led to soil erosion.
Wildflower Garden. The purpose of the Wildflower Garden, which was completed in 1977 by the
Mill Mountain Garden Club, was to give visitors a sense of the native vegetation that would have
been found on the summit before development took place. In addition to evergreen and
deciduous trees, the garden contains several varieties of native herbaceous shrubs and perennials.
Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species. The majority of the vegetation within the summit park
area has been intentionally planted as part of an ornamental landscape. The exceptions to this are
the areas of naturalized vegetation that occur along the outer periphery of the park area and an
area along the northern portion of the summit, adjacent to the Roanoke Star, inside the gravel
loop road. A botanical survey found no rare, threatened, or endangered plant species within these
naturalized areas.
Within the ornamental landscape of the summit park, one rare species was found. The
Wildflower Garden currently contains at least two small patches ofJeffersonia diphylla
(twinleaf) between the Discovery Center and the garden's pond. Named for Thomas Jefferson,
this 8- to 10-inch-tall native plant has deeply divided leaves and produces white flowers in
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 31
April-May (Figure 31). It prefers rich, shaded slopes with limestone soil. Although its
occurrence is considered rare, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service does not list this as a threatened
or endangered plant.
Figure 31. Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla). Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
htlp://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/plant/1995.htm
Mountain Slopes
Although heavily logged in the past, the slopes of Mill Mountain are today heavily wooded, and
the dominant visual image of the mountain from Roanoke and the surrounding valley is one of a
forested mountain.
Forest Canopy. A botanical reconnaissance survey was conducted on May 16th, 2005 (Tom
Wieboldt, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, personal communication). Findings
indicate that the mountain is comprised of Appalachian oak forest, a low diversity forest type
dominated by oaks (chestnut, red, black and scarlet) mixed with other hardwoods, especially red
maple. Scattered pine stands occur on portions of some ridges and spurs. These are comprised of
pitch, table mountain, and Virginia pines, and the pines are largely dead due to bark beetle
infestation. Nevertheless, these areas still provide a different community type. Exotic invasive
species are especially frequent and troublesome at lower elevations, but have not much affected
the drier forest at mid-slope and above.
Most of the mountain is underlain by acidic rocks which weather to a fairly sterile soil. This,
combined with a leaf litter mostly of oak, limits the number and diversity of herbaceous plants. A
low elevation area at the south end of the property which shows a more moderate soil type (the
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area of Grimsley soils) was found to be vegetated with a similar forest type to that on the
mountain. It was visited to see ifa mesic, non-oak-dominated forest might be present, but the
area looked similar to the rest of the mountain.
A geologic map consulted for the survey shows a dolomite formation surrounding the mountain.
This would support considerably more mesic vegetation. Only a few such rocks were observed
low on the north slope, and no appreciably different flora was observed. It still could be present
in very small areas very close to the perimeter of the property. Further field work in the summer
and fall of 2005 will investigate this. In general, the more interesting plant communities occur on
the north-facing, more mesic slopes (area shown as greater than 40% slope in Figure 28) and an
area of large trees on the northwest lower slope.
Table 2 contains a list of noteworthy tree species identified in the botanical survey.
Table 2. Noteworthy tree specie~
COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME
Butternut duglans cineria
Pawpaw ,qsimina triloba
Shortleaf pine Pinus echinata
COMMENTS
Becoming scarce due to a canker that is killing most trees
A few scattered individuals; uncommon in this part of the state
The mountain has been heavily logged over the years, as evidenced by the many old logging
roads found on the mountain and the small diameter of the trees. Although documentation
describing these logging activities has yet to be found, it is reasonable to assume that the
mountain has seen several cycles of logging, starting with the earliest European settlement in the
1740s, when Mark Evans and his son Daniel built a gristmill and sawmill at the base of the
mountain, at what would later be known as Crystal Spring (Montgomery, 2002b; Roanoke Times,
July 13, 1995). In the 1850s, part of nero:by Roanoke Mountain was logged to supply cross ties
for the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad (White, 1982; Roanoke Diamond Jubilee Program, 1957).
It is likely that Mill Mountain also supplied construction material for this project, as well as
possibly for the building of the Norfolk & Western and Shenandoah Valley railroads in the
1880s. The mountain would also have provided a convenient (and profitable) soume of wood for
the building booms that accompanied the railroads to Roanoke. By the 1940s, however, the
mountain is reported to be covered with trees and vines (Sponaugle, 1940).
In addition to logging, small areas of trees have also been destroyed by fire in previous years (for
example, a small area along the Star Trail). No fire management plan exists for the park,
although the Roanoke Fire Department does haYe a fire response plan.
Understory Species. The understory of much of the mountain is sparse due to both relatively
infertile soil and deer browsing. This has, in mm, given the forest a very open feeling. The
following herbaceous species were noted in the botanical survey:
Table 3. Noteworthy understory plant species
COMMON NAME SCIENTIFI~ I~IAME ' COMMENTS
Birchleaf spirea Spiraea betulifolia Somewhat unusual in that it becomes very scarce in the mountains
south and southwest of here
Black snakeroot Sanicula odorata
Broadleaf sedge Carexplatyphylla
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Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
Cut-leafed Dentaria laciniata
toothwort
Eastern gray Penstemon canescens
beardtongue
Eastern narrowleaf Carex amphibola
sedge
Eastern woodland Carex blanda
sedge
Fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
Glomerate sedge Carex aggregata
Lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata Quite infrequent to the west
Pink lady slipper Cypripedium acaule
Rosy sedge Carex rosea
Shallow sedge Carex lurida
Shining wedgegrass i Sphenopholis nitida
Singlehead Antennaria sol#aria Several populations seen; this species is common eastward but is
pussytoes generally absent to the west
Slender woodland Care~ digitalis
sedge
Variableleaf Hexastylis heterophylla
heartleaf
Wild comfrey Cynoglossum
virginianum
Wild oregano, Cunila origanoides
dittany
Wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis
Invasive Species. Invasive species are usually non-natives that spread rapidly and often out-
compete more desirable species. If left unchecked, invasives can alter ecosystems and wildlife
habitat. Invasive vines--including grape, honeysuckle, and English ivy--are a major problem on
the forested slopes of Mill Mountain. In areas where they have reached the forest canopy, they
will eventually kill trees if not removed. Invasive vines are especially a problem at the summit of
the mountain, near the Star Trail entrance. The vines have begun killing some of the trees and
give this portion of the park an unkempt appearance. This is particularly undesirable because the
summit area presents an overall image of a more manicured landscape. English ivy has also
become a problem along the Old Toll Road. Kudzu dominates the parking area for the Star Trail
at the base of the mountain. Table 4 lists the exotic invasive species noted in the botanical
survey.
Table 4. Exotic invasive pla, nt species
COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME
Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii
Chinese Wisteria
English Ivy
European Euonymus
Japanese Honeysuckle
Kudzu
Oriental Bittersweet
Wisteria sp. (probably sinensis)
Hedera helix
Euonymus europea
Lonicera japonica
Pueraria lobata
Celastrus orbiculatus
Tree-of-Heaven Ailanthus altissimus
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Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species. There are no known state or federally listed
threatened or endangered plant species in Mill Mountain Park. There are no known rare species
in Mill Mountain Park outside of the Wildflower Garden.
WILDLIFE
Mill Mountain serves as a refuge for urban wildlife. Genemlist species that are fairly tolerant of
disturbances by people dominate, although the mountain does serve as habitat for some interior-
forest dwelling birds. The urban condition of Mill Mountain means that domestic dogs and cats
play a role as predators and limit the occurrence of sensitive species.
Faunal Species. Laurie Spangler of the Mill Mountain Zoo has been keeping a record of the
faunal species she has encountered on Mill Mountain over the past 8 years. She has provided the
following lists of Mill Mountain species (Tables 5 through 8) to the WildlifeMapping program of
the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. These lists are based on informal
observations and are not meant to be exhaustive. They are indicative of developed, light, urban
forests, the primary habitat designation for Mill Mountain as found in the WildlifeMapping
database.
Table 5. Bird species identified on Mill Mountain
COMMON NAMff SCIENTIFIC NAME
American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
American goldfinch Carduelis tristis
American kestrel Falco sparverius
American redstart Setophaga ruticilla
American robin Turdus migratorius
Baltimore oriole Icterus galbula
Barred owl Strix varia
Black vulture Corag~ps atratus
Black-and-white warbler Mniotilta varia
Blackbumian warbler Dendroicafusca
Black-capped chickadee Parus atrica?illus
Black-billed cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Blackpoll warbler Dendroica striata
Black-throated blue warbler Dendroica caerulescens
Black-throated green warbler Dendroica virens
Black vulture Coragyos atratus
Blue jay Cyanocitta cristata
Blue-gray gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
Broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus
Brown creeper Certhia americana
Brown thrasher Toxostoma rt{fum
Brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater
Carolina chickadee Parus carolinensis
Carolina wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
Cedar waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
Chestnut-sided warbler Dendroica pensylvanica
Chinmey swift Chaetura pelagica
Chipping sparrow Spizella passerine
Common grackle ~uiscalus quiscula
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 35
Common raven Corvus corax
Cooper's hawk .4ccipiter cooperii
Dark-eyed junco Junco hyernalis
Downy woodpecker , Picoides pubescens
Eastern bluebird Sialia sialis
Eastern phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Eastern towhee Pi£ilo erythrophthabnus
Eastern wood-pewee Contopus virens
Field sparrow Spizella pusilla
Golden-crowned kinglet Regulus satrapa
Great crested flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Great homed owl Bubo virginianus
Hairy woodpecker Picoides villosus
Hermit thrush Catharus guttatus
House finch Car£odacus mexicanus
Indigo bunting Passerina cyanea
Least flycatcher Empidonax min#nus
Mourning dove Zenaida macroura
Northern bobwhite Colinus virl{inianus
Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Northern flicker Colaptes auratus
Northern goshawk .4ccipiter gentilis
Northern mockingbird Mirnus polyglottos
Pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Pine warbler Dendroica pinus
Purple finch Carpodacus purpureus
Red-bellied woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Red-eyed vireo Vireo olivaceus
Red-tailed hawk Buteojamaicensis
Rose-breasted grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Ruby-crowned kinglet Regulus calendula
Ruby-throated hummingbird .4rchilochus colubris
Ruffed ~rouse Bonasa umbellus
Scarlet tanager Piranga olivacea
Screech owl Otus asio
Solitary vireo Vireo solitarius
Song sparrow ] Melospiza rnelodia
Tree swallow Tach. vcineta bicolor
Tufted titmouse Parus bicolor
Turkey vulture Cathartes aura
, Whitc-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
White-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-throated sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo
Wood thrush Hylocichta mustelina
Worm-eating warbler Helmitheros vermivorus
Yellow warbler Dendroica petechia
Yellow-bellied sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
Yellow-romped warbler Dendroica coronata
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 36
Table 6. Mammal species identified on Mill Mountain
COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME
Eastern chipmunk Tamias striatus
Gray squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Mole spp.
Mouse spp.
Norway mt Rattus norvegicus
Raccoon Procyon lotor
Red fox Vulpes vulpes
Silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans
Virginia opossum Didelphis vir[Iiniana
White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus
Woodchuck Marrnota monax
laole /. l~eptlle ano ampnlolan s ~ecles ioeugllle~l on Mill Mountain
COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME
American toad Bufo americanus
Black rat snake Elaphe obsoleto
Broad-headed skink Eumeces laticeps
Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana
Eastern box turtle Terrapene carolina
Eastern smooth green snake Opheodrys vernalis
Eastern wormsnake Carphophis amoenus amoenus
Five-lined skink Eumecesfasciatus
Jordan's salamander Plethodonjordani
Northern copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix mokesen
Northern ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus edwa~dsii
Spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum
Tree frog
Table 8. Insect species identified on Mill Mountain
COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME
American painted lady Vanessa virginiensis
Black swallowtail Papilio polyxenes
B ack widow sp der Latrodectus mactans
Brown elfin Callophrys augustinus
Bumblebee Bombus spp.
Cabbage white Pieris rapae
Clouded sulphur Colias philodice
Common walkingstick Diapheromerafemorata
Daddy-long-legs Mitopus morio
Eastern tiger swallowtail Papilio glaucus
European skipper Thymelicus lineola
Fieqt skipper Hylephila phyleus
Great spangled fritillatV Speyeria cybele
Milkweed bug
Monarch butterfly Danaus £1exippus
Moth~ Hummingbird Hemaris thysbe
Moths Imperial Eacles imperialis
Moth, Luna Actias luna
Moth, Tulip-tree silk Callosamia angulifera
Moth, Virginia creeper sphinx Darapsa myron
Mourning cloak Nymphalis antiopa
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 37
Orange-striped oakworm ~,lnisota senatoria
Pearl crescent Phyciodes tharos
Praying mantis Mantis religiosa
Red admiral I~anessa atalanta
Silver-spotted skipper Epargyreus clams
Spicebush swallowtail Papilio troilus
Spring azure Celastrina ladon
Walking stick Diaphermomera,femorata
Yellow jacket Vespula macul!f~ons
Zebra swallowtail Eurytides marcellus
193ite-Tailed Deer. Deer have damaged the landscape plants on the summit and browsed most of
the understory on the slopes. Currently, a hunting season sharp-shooter program is in effect on
the mountain to control the population. This program is only a year old, and consequently, the
results of these efforts are not yet known.
Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species. There are no known state or federally listed
threatened or endangered animal species in Mill Mountain Park.
CULTURAL RESOURCES
The following assessment of the cultural resources of Mill Mountain Park was compiled from a
walking tour of the park and the official and unofficial walking trails throughout the mountain
slopes (see Figures 2, 3, and 4 for the location of the features discussed below).The purpose of
this assessment was twofold: (1) to document and provide a preliminary assessment of known
cultural resources, and (2) to identify, document, and provide a preliminary assessment of
previously unidentified or undeveloped cultural resources. All assessments of the current
conditions of these features are based on a visual survey only; in many cases, it may be necessary
to call in engineers, architects, or other experts to more thoroughly assess current conditions and
develop management strategies for specific features.
Summit Resources
The Roanoke Star. Perched 1,045 feet above the City on the northern side of the summit, this 88-
V2-foot-tall neon and steel star is a source of civic pride and identity for Roanoke's citizens.
Visible from much of the City and the surrounding valley, the Star is the most recognized
symbol of the Roanoke, which has come to be known as the Star City of the South. The Star has
also been incorporated into the names of many Roanoke businesses as well as the City's logo.
Along with its overlook, the Star draws many Roanokers and tourists alike and is even a popular
site for marriage proposals and weddings.
Ironically, the star was originally intended as only a seasonal installation. After considering
several different suggestions for Christmas decorations, the City's Merchants Association settled
on the idea of a star atop Mill Mountain to tie in with star decorations used along the City streets
at the time (Roanoke Times & World-News, 1982). First lit at a dedication ceremony on
Thanksgiving Eve of 1949, the Star was touted as "the largest artificial star in the universe," and
word of the novelty quickly spread. Within a month of its debut, it was featured in Life
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 38
magazine, on national radio, and even made the newspapers in Australia. Ultimately, Roanoke's
nickname--The Magic City--was replaced with The Star City. As a result of its popularity (and
despite its critics), the Merchants Association decided to keep it lit every night until midnight.
In addition to its importance to Roanoke's identity, the Star also functions as a form of
community expression. Starting in 1957, the Star, which originally burned white, was turned red
for two nights after each traffic fatality in the City. This practice continued for 17 years. The Star
also burned red after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the destruction
of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. The Star's color scheme was changed to red, white, and
blue in 1974 to celebrate the nation's Bicentennial and again in 2000, when Roanoke was named
an All-America City for a record-tying fifth year. Since the 9-11 terrorist attacks, the Star has
returned to red, white, and blue. The Star was designated a State and National Historic Landmark
in 1998.
The Star has undergone several renovations throughout its lifetime. Its most recent overhaul
came in the spring of 1997, when workers replaced damaged sheet metal,.rewired the lighting,
and painted the entire structure. Officials predicted that another renovation would not be
necessary for another 20 years (WDBJ-7, April 23, 1997). Today the Star and its scaffolding
appear to be in good condition. The plantings around it, however, currently do not provide an
effective screen for the structure's base.
Overlooks. The park currently contains two overlooks with panoramic views of the City and the
Roanoke Valley.
· The M. Carl Andrews Overlook is located adjacent to the Roanoke Star, on the northern
side of the mountain. The wooden overlook currently features a double-sided bench.
Although a modest wooden overlook is evident in this location from the 1950s, the
current overlook was built in 1995 with funding from the Roanoke Times and dedicated
to the memory of M. Carl Andrews, the first chair of the Mill Mountain Development
Committee and leading voice for the preservation of Mill Mountain'for 30 years. He also
served as the Roanoke Times' editorial page editor while the paper was owned by J. B.
Fishburn, the Roanoke businessman who donated the Mill Mountain property to the City
of Roanoke to be preserved as a public park. Although some graffiti is visible on some of
its surfaces, it is otherwise in good condition.
· The lower overlook, located to the west of the Star, is consistent with the Andrews
Overlook in materials and design, except that it lacks a bench. It too displays some
graffiti but is otherwise in good condition.
Incline Railway Station. Although the incline railway running up the northwestern slope of Mill
Mountain was dismantled in 1930, remains of the platform and machinery foundations are still
visible along the perimeter road at the summit, between the parking lot and the zoo. Although
numerous photographs of the incline still exist, all that have been found to date are taken from
the bottom of the mountain. Thus, little has been found in the historical record regarding the
appearance of the station at the top of the mountain.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 39
Rockledge Hotel Footprint. Although only a faint trace of its footprint is visible today on the
lower lawn of the park, the Rockledge Hotel stood on Mill Mountain for over 80 years,
weathering the boom and bust cycles of the local economy and reinventing itself as times
changed. The 28-room inn was built in 1892 by the Roanoke Gas & Water Company, who had
purchased the mountain and Crystal Spring the previous year. The hotel was hastily constructed
to take advantage of the local surge in prosperity created by the coming of the railroads (White,
1982). The resort opened with great fanfare, as coaches waited at the Hotel Roanoke to whisk
railroad officials and other dignitaries to the hotel. Once they arrived at the summit, visitors
enjoyed views of the City below during lunch on the hotel's spacious dining porch.
The Rockledge Inn would ultimately find it impossible to succeed as a overnight destination.
With the opening of the Mill Mountain Incline Railway in 1910, however, the hotel gained new
life as a restaurant and Saturday night gathering spot for locals, as the travel time to the hotel was
reduced from a 2- to 3-hour carriage ride to 4 minutes. Its popularity lasted through the Roaring
Twenties, when the Roanoke German Club's parties there became legendary. The festivities
were ultimately put to an end by the Great Depression, however, and the hotel shut down
permanently in 1929. Nevertheless, the old Rockledge Hotel remained a local landmark for many
Roanokers, and the building was renovated and maintained for occasional use as a recreation
center over the next several decades. In 1964, it was repurposed as the Mill Mountain Playhouse
and hosted live theater until the building burned down in 1976. Interpretive signage might be
used to tell the story of the Rockledge Inn.
Wildflower Garden. The wildflower garden, located between the Discovery Center and the zoo,
was designed by Joe Beer, a former Blue Ridge Parkway landscape architect, and installed by the
Mill Mountain Garden Club in 1973 (Roanoke Times, April 1, 1973). The Garden Club is still
active in its care and maintenance. Today, most visitors take the path through the garden when
walking between the zoo entrance and the Discovery Center/main parking lot. The garden
contains a water feature constructed in the form ora stream and pond.
The garden was designed with native mountain vegetation in order to give visitors a sense of
what the summit environment may have looked like before the land was developed and native
vegetation was replaced by turf and ornamentals.
Mill Mountain Zoo. Mill Mountain Zoo, initiated by Roanoke's Civitan Club, has been a fixture
in Roanoke since it opened in 1952 as a seasonal children's zoo with a nursery rhyme theme.
Originally, the zoological park was mn by the Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department until it
was closed in 1976 because of monetary losses. At this time, the Roanoke Jaycees stepped in and
created a nonprofit corporation to mn the zoo, which reopened in 1977. After reopening, the zoo
under, vent a series of physical improvements and expansions, and the nursery rhyme theme was
replaced by an emphasis on North and South American animals. The Zoo Choo, a miniatu/e G-
16 train, has carded children around the zoo since 1952.
The zoo has evolved and expanded to 7+ acres over the years. Now accredited by the American
Zoo and Aquarium Association, the zoo has been mn by the Blue Ridge Zoological Society since
1988. In the 1980s, plans were suggested to move the zoo to Explore Park, which was then under
construction. These plans fell through, however, and zoo officials decided to keep the facility on
Mill Mountain. In 1991, the zoo adopted a master plan by Hill Studio that emphasizes its Asian
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 40
Highlands collection and ties in with Roanoke's Sister City of Wonju, Korea. Although the
availability of funding has slowed the implementation of the Hill Studio plan, a new tiger exhibit
was built according to the plan in 1992. A snow leopard exhibit was added in 1997.
The zoo currently contains about 200 animals, including five endangered species (tiger, red wolf,
snow leopard, white-naped crane, and clouded leopard). The zoo participates in nine active
species survival programs (red panda, tiger, red wolf, snow leopard, white-naped crane, clouded
leopard, fishing cat, Japanese macaque, and wrinkled hornbill). Yearly attendance reaches about
70,000, with about 45% of visitors coming from outside the Roanoke Valley
(http://www.mmzoo.org/).
Mountain Slopes
The Old Toll Road. A portion of today's Mill Mountain Gmenway now follows the roadbed of
the "concrete road" or Old Toll Road winding up the northwest face of the mountain. In the early
1920s, William P. Henritze bought most of Mill Mountain in hopes of developing a
residential/resort complex there. As one of the first steps in this plan, his Mill Mountain
Corporation sought to capitalize on the building popularity of the automobile by building a
winding concrete toll road up the mountain in 1924 along the approximate route of an older
carriage road. The new road was considered something of an engineering marvel, as it included a
tight switchback in which the road looped over itself by means of a large concrete culvert (for
this reason, the road is sometimes referred to as the Loop Road). For 25 cents, visitors could
indulge in the growing American obsession with recreational driving along the scenic 18-foot-
wide road, which featured a gentle 6% grade all the way to the top.
When the City of Roanoke eventually took possession of the mountain in the 1940s, they
continued to performed basic maintenance on the road, but it soon became impassible for
vehicular traffic beyond the loop culvert and was replaced as the main route to the summit by the
Fishbum Parkway in 1971. Today, the road remains remarkably intact, although the concrete has
been paved over with asphalt and the original wooden railings have been replaced by metal
guardrails painted brown. The road is today preserved as part of the Mill Mountain Greenway
and is closed to vehicular traffic above the loop culvert.
Several historic features of the 1924 toll road remain well-preserved today. These features
include:
Toll House. This structure, located at the entrance to the toll road, includes a stone
archway over the road with an attached toll house. Although the road opened before
construction was completed on the toll house, it should be considered an original feature
of the 1924 road. In general, the structure appears to be in good condition, although a
crack is visible in the toll house's uphill-facing wall. In addition, the wood shingle roof
requires some repairs, and the wood cornice over the archway has suffered some rot.
Photographs from the 1960s indicate that at least at that time, the structure had a tile roof
(see Figures 32 and 33). More research is needed to determine if this roof was the
original.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 41
Loop Culvert. About halfway up the Old Toll Road is "The Loop," a switchback at which
the road loops over on itself by means of a large concrete culvert. Considered an
engineering marvel in its day, the Loop was featured on several City postcards of the time
(Figure 20). The City has continued to maintain the structure, and it appears to be in good
condition overall.
Stone Retaining Walls and Drainage Structures. Stone retaining walls run the length of
the road on its uphill side. With the exception of a few areas where tree roots or erosion
have damaged the walls, they are in remarkably good condition. However, several
"patches" are visible in which cement was used to fill cracks in the mortar. These repairs
are inconsistent with the original construction and materials of the wall. Incorporated into
the retaining walls are two types of drainage structures. They are elegant examples of
early 20th century masonry and engineering. The system does not appear to be
functional; the drains are clogged with soil and leaf litter, and the road's original grade,
which sheet-drained water to the road's interior side, was changed when it was resurfaced
in asphalt so that water now drains off the downhill side. Beyond these observations it
was impossible to determine the integrity of the drainage system on the basis of a brief
walking survey.
Historic Mansions. Although not open to the public, two historic mansions sit along the Old Toll
Road (now the Mill Mountain Greenway). Both were built by William P. Henritze.
· Rockledge Mansion. Rockledge was built in the 1920s with the stone blasted from the
mountain to carve out the building site. The three-story mansion is located adjacent to the
concrete culvert "loop" in the Old Toll Road. Rockledge remained the family home of the
Henritze's until 1983, when it was sold to a Roanoke couple. In 1992, Rockledge was
bought by Ralph Smith, who would later serve as Roanoke's mayor (Roanoke Times,
Sept. 3, 1989). Mayor Smith sold the property in 2005.
· Terra Alta Mansion. The Henritze's also built Terra Alta, the mansion that sits lower on
the mountain slopes, near the entry to the Old Toll Road (Roanoke Times, Sept. 3, 1989).
Incline Railway. Opening in 1910, the 1,000-foot-long incline was considered a marvel (Railway
History Monograph). In addition to the double track, the complex included timber frame
buildings at the top and the bottom for passengers. The power line fight-of-way now visible
behind the hospital is close to the incline's path, but does not follow it. Two unofficial hiking
trails (the Ivy/Water and the Car/Pace Trail) now cross the incline's path. At the summit of the
mountain, in the forest edge along the gravel road leading to the zoo, remains of a building and
two sets of massive concrete footings presumably associated with the incline are still visible.
More research is needed to determine exactly what these were, but when the incline opened, the
Roanoke Times described the machinery housed at the top of the incline as "a large dram around
which the cable winds, a number of smaller wind wheels and a large dynamo and three
transformers" (Roanoke Times, Aug. 14, 1910).
OldLogging Roads. Old logging roads are abundant all over Mill Mountain, especially on its
southern and eastern faces. Many of them have been mapped by the Roanoke Valley Greenways
organization for potential use as hiking or biking trails.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 42
Mill Mountain Greenway. Dedicated in September of 2003, the 3.5-mile Mill Mountain
Greenway extends from Church Avenue, north of Elmwood Park, to the top of Mill Mountain,
via the Old Toll Road (Roanoke Times, Sept. 9, 2003). Eventually, this route will connect with
the Roanoke River Greenway, which, when completed, will follow the river across the length of
the county.
The construction of this regional greenway system enjoys heavy public support. Greenways
Incorporated produced the Conceptual Greenway Plan in 1995 that provided the basic structure
of the system and guidance for implementation. The 1997 Bikeway Plan, developed by the
Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, also identified the Mill Mountain
Greenway and Fishbum Parkway as important bikeways. Inclusion of these roadways in the
Bikeway Plan means that State and Federal funding may be available for roadway
improvements.
Star Trail. The Star Trail was built in 1999 by volunteers. The 1.7-mile dirt trail is restricted to
hikers. A gravel parking lot off of Riverland Road near the power station allows hikers to access
the trail at the foot of the mountain. The Star Trail then crosses Fishbum Parkway and continues
up the southeastern face of Mill Mountain through a series of switchbacks until it reaches the
summit behind the Star. The trail is currently marked at top and bottom by signs and by yellow
blazes along the trail.
Social or Unofficial Trails. Many other trails exist throughout the public lands on the mountain,
but, until recent work by the Roanoke Valley Greenways organization and other volunteers (See
Appendix B), these trails remained unmarked and unmapped. Many of these unofficial trails,
heavily used by those who know about them, evolved organically, not necessarily taking into
consideration sustainable routes or construction methods.
Currently, mountain bikes are permitted only on the Mill Mountain Greenway, but cyclists also
occasionally use the Star Trail and the Monument/Terra Alta trail as bike trails. Because these
trails were not designed with lines of sight and turning radii appropriate for bikes, use of hiking
trails for biking presents possible safety concerns.
Crystal Spring. The many layers of occupation of this site speak to the importance of this natural
water soume. Although modem development has obliterated many of these past layers, a survey
by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources recovered artifacts from the Middle Archaic
(6000-2500 B.C.) and Middle Late Woodland (900-1600 A.D.) periods (Rhodeside & Harwell,
1991). European occupation began in the 1760s, when Mark Evans built a mill near the site (the
precise location of the mill is not known). Since then, the site has seen continuous occupation
and has served as the early water source for Roanoke, as well as a heavily used town park
beginning in 1893 (see Figures 6 and 10). The site currently contains the Crystal Spring Pumping
Station, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open for tours.
Quartzite Quarry Site. This quarry, located south of the mountain near the entry from the Blue
Ridge Parkway, was used by prehistoric Native Americans for stone tool production. It
represents an important cultural resource, because few such sites have been documented or
studied (Rhodeside & Harwell, 1991).
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 43
VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS
Mill Mountain, rising approximately 800 feet over the City to a total elevation of over 1800 feet,
is the most visually prominent natural feature in Roanoke. The Rhodeside & Harwell (1991)
study found that the preservation of views of the mountain from downtown and the surrounding
valley was a significant limiting factor for future development on Mill Mountain: "While soils
and slopes in [some] areas may, in many instances, be deemed suitable for certain types of
construction, their visibility from either downtown Roanoke or the Blue Ridge Parkway
discourages development that may pose threats to the overall scenic quality of the mountain"
(Executive Summary, p. ii).
PARK PROGRAMMING & RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Discovery Center. Opened in 2001, the 2,200-square-foot Discovery Center operates year-round
and fulfills several functions at Mill Mountain Park. Its primary mission is to promote an
awareness of and appreciation for the mountain's natural environment. To this end, the Center
and its staff host a variety of educational exhibits, classes, and activities focusing on topics such
as the geology, ecology, flora, and fauna of the mountain. Examples of the family-oriented
programs recently offered include Introduction to GPS, Conservation Easement Basics, and
watershed hikes. Costs for the Discovery Center's programs range from free to $14, with most
classes offered for $5 or less.
The Center is also affiliated with the Blue Ridge Parkway Association as a Regional Information
Center and provides local tourist information through a touch-screen kiosk and brochure rack. As
part of this program, signs at major intersections along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Roanoke
area direct travelers to the Discovery Center. The Discovery Center also currently offers the only
permanent public restrooms on the mountain. However, these facilities are available only during
the center's business hours.
Mill Mountain Zoo. The 7-acre zoo is open year-round and houses about 200 animals, including
a selection of domesticated animals that children can feed and pet. The zoo offers a variety of
programs, the majority of which are oriented toward families and children (e.g., reduced prices
on Mother's Day and Grandparents' Day). The zoo also serves 42 school districts. Many of the
programs Center on conservation-oriented educational opportunities, such as Zoobilation! for
Conservation and International Migratory Bird Day. The zoo also offers a recycling program for
paper, plastic, and glass, as well as plastic 6- pack rings, tin, and fishing line.
Picnic Facilities. The summit park offers both a covered picnic shelter and free-standing picnic
tables in the lawn. The mstid picnic shelter, built in 2001, is furnished with several picnic tables,
as well as a grill, water fountain, and water spigot. The shelter can be reserved, and has become a
popular place for wedding receptions and family reunions.
Trails and Walking Paths. Two types of trails are available at Mill Mountain. At the summit are
paved, handicapped-accessible pathways that wind through the landscaped park grounds, passing
by both.overlooks. Most trails on the forested slopes are natural surface trails.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 44
Vehicular Roads and Parking Areas. Existing roadways leading to the summit of Mill Mountain
allow convenient access to the park for both City residents (via Walnut Avenue and the Fishbum
Parkway) and visitors from the Blue Ridge Parkway (via the Mill Mountain Spur Road).
Once visitors arrive at the summit, however, the roadways and parking areas tend to be at best
awkward and confusing, and at worst potentially hazardous. The summit has two parking
areas--a 19-space lot (including 2 handicapped parking spaces) adjacent to the Roanoke Star and
the Star Trail and a main parking area adjoining the Discovery Center with space for 59 cars
(including 3 handicapped parking spaces) and a bus lane that accommodates 2 buses or an
additional 6 cars. This main parking area presents several problems. First, the one-way traffic
flow pattern is awkward and not well marked. As a result, drivers often try to make a sharp left
turn into the first row of parking. Second, the lot is too small for special events that draw large
crowds (e.g., zoo events and the concert series formerly held in the park) and forces visitors to
parallel park along the grass shoulder of the Spur Road below the Discovery Center. This not
only poses a risk for visitors (especially young children) who must step onto the roadway to exit
and enter their cars but also presents a maintenance problem for landscape crews. Another major
safety concern is the zoo service vehicles that drive through the main parking lot, past the
Discovery Center, and to the zoo along the paved pedestrian path that parallels the Spur Road.
PART VI
PARK MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Based on the inventory and description of existing natural conditions and cultural features
(Section V), the park mission and significance (Section III), and input from interviews of parks
staff and the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee, the management issues listed in Table 9 have
been identified.
Table 9. Mill Mountain management issues
Issue Proble~ Description Response
Views Preserving views to Mill Mountain from Incorporate viewshed and height
surrounding parts of the City is critical; restxiction protection into local
Maintaining views from the lookout areas is zoning (conservation easement
also important. Height restrictions on the would assist in this effort); place
summit have been discussed, viewshed maintenance plan in the
annual maintenance operation of the
park; Parks Maintenance
Forest cover and forest Mill Mountain is the largest contiguous area Initiate supplemental funding
health of mature tree canopy within the city limits, requests to create forest management
Preserving the ecological functions of the plans through Urban Forestry,
forest is important, but there is no existing Virginia Department of
forest management plan or fire management Conservation and Recreation
>lan for the mountain. Division of Natural Heritage, and
the Virginia Department of Forestxy.
Urban Forestry
Wildlife Status as urban wildlife habitat is important Create programmatic parmerships
and should be protected and/or enhanced, with Virginia Department of Game
Deer control is needed. & Inland Fisheries to inventow
wildlife species and create habitat
management plans; seed funding
. will need to be established through
Mill Mountain Management Plan
Page 45
City sources to match state & federal
grant opportunities. Outdoor
Recreation
Invasive exotic plant species There is a need to control these plant species Develop community awareness via
in some park areas, especially along roads educational venues about the need
and in open areas, for exotics management and create
volunteer database and network to
schedule "greening" programs;
Outdoor Recreation & Park
Maintenance
Stream and drainage swales Stream crossings on trails are currently Within the trail management
unmanaged, process, establish crossing
alternatives in plan and schedule
work days for our established trail
crews and scout groups; new seed
monies will need to be obtained for
matching state & federal grants.
Planning & Outdoor Recreation
Trails Unofficial and unmarked trails are a The trail management process is
~roblem. Questions about which trails can 90% complete; wayfinding, naming,
and should accommodate uses other than mapping, and suitability guidelines
hiking are unresolved. One portion o£a to follow; Planning & Outdoor
lublic trail crosses private land. Recreation
Cultural resources There is currently little maintenance and Supplemental funding needs to be
interpretation of historic artifacts on the requested in department budget for
mountain, historic and educational interpretive
exhibits; Planning & Outdoor
Recreation
Litter control There is a need for volunteer groups to help Establish "Leave No Trace" ethics
with litter on the trails, for packing in and packing out litter.
Outdoor Recreation & Parks
Maintenance
User needs No user needs survey has ever been done for Each program of the Discovery Ctr
the park. currently has a user survey attached
to it as well as drop-in survey
availability. A more comprehensive
survey process needs to be created
for the overall management area to
be conducted every 5 years.
Outdoor Recreation & Plannino~
Safety issues and parking Parking for special events and service The design and operational
vehicle access to the zoo need to be requirements have been identified,
addressed, and a plan has been created and
accepted by the City and the Mill
Mountain Zoo
Planning
Illegal uses and There is evidence of ATV use and other Proper funds need to be identified
encroachment illegal behavior taking place in the more for a survey and appropriate marking
remote portions of the eastern and southern to include all official access
parts of the park. Unclear, unmarked park information kiosks to the park for
boandaries have led to encroachment park usership guidelines
Planning & Outdoor Recreation
Design issues There is a need for aesthetic (design)
guidelines for any new proposed facilities in
the park. On the summit - design issues
include non-native plantings, need for
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 46
erosion control, ADA accessibility, and
access to restrooms during park hours.
Long-term conservation The possibility of placing a conservation The imposition ora conservation
easement on the mountain is being explored, easement be explored and a report
No long-term conservation protection exists returned to the Planning
other than the Fishbum deed restrictions thatCommission within one year of the
cover a portion of the park. The deed adoption of this report by the Mill
restrictions have not been interpreted in a Mountain Advisory Committee
consistent manner over the years.
Environmental education Even with the outstanding efforts of the Outdoor Recreation continues to
DiscoveD' Center, the full potential of bring new programming partners
environmental education opportunities on into the umbrella of the mountain;
Mill Mountain remains untapped, improved marketing of our needs
will strengthen community
awareness of what we have to offer;
possibly a "Friends" organization
may be established to actively lead
the educational efforts under the
leadership of Outdoor Recreation
Trail issues have long been ignored on Mill Mountain, but the spring of 2005 marked a change in
that the trails were inventoried and their locations verified using global positioning systems
(GPS). A trail assessment and trail management plan has been developed concurrently with this
management plan, and it is found in Appendix B. The proposed trail map showing only the trails
that will be maintained into the furore is shown in Figure 34 (revised figure to be inserted).
Designation of park resoume management zones (RMZs), discussed in the following section,
requires an understanding of the landscape resoumes found on Mill Mountain. Management
recommendations for each zone, aimed at addressing the issues outlined above, are also detailed
below.
PART VII
PARK RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ZONES
The park mission and significance, resource inventory, and staff and Advisory Committee input
formed the basis for the designation of RMZs for Mill Mountain Park. These zones group
various areas of the park based on shared characteristics and common management concerns. In
this way, management strategies can be defined for each zone, so that similar areas of the park
are treated in a consistent manner.
The first step in identifying homogeneous areas in Mill Mountain Park that might be logical
management "zones" was to create a composite analysis map from the various analyses detailed
in Part V. Figure 35 depicts this composite analysis. Slope is the most significant factor affecting
development suitability in Mill Mountain Park. An examination of Figure 35 reveals that the
steepest slopes are located on the mountain's north face, and the Fishbum Parkway acts as a
dividing line between the mountain's upper and lower slopes. The area above Fishburn Parkway
contains most of the steepest slopes on the site. Fishbum Parkway is therefore one of the
boundary lines that delineate the RMZs shown in Figure 36.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 47
RMZS AND THE PARK'S MISSION
It is important to note that management recommendations are not simply based on physical
characteristics like those depicted in Figure 35. Management recommendations evolve from the
vision of the park's stewards. In this case, the park's stewards are the members of the Mill
Mountain Advisory Committee and the citizens of Roanoke whose perspectives have been
documented in recent open space and park system plans, as well as previous Mill Mountain
plans.
Various mission statements for the role of Mill Mountain have been expressed over the years and
are summarized in Part III of this report. The main ideas are very broad and lack the precision
necessary to give clear direction when proposals for Mill Mountain are brought before the City
and the Advisory committee:
1. Preserve visual integrity both to and from Mill Mountain.
2. Preserve Mill Mountain as a natural resource.
3. Preserve Mill Mountain as a symbol of Roanoke.
4. Enhance Mill Mountain as a place for recreation.
and "progress with preservation."
Setting the course for the future of Mill Mountain requires clarity of vision and a commitment to
a particular mission that goes beyond what is stated above. The following expansion of the
vision statement is proposed to guide the development of management recommendations for the
RMZs.
The RMZs detailed below are based on the following expanded vision for Mill Mountain:
Mill Mountain will continue to enrich the quality of life for those who live in, work in, and visit
the Roanoke Valley. It is an integral component of the green infrastructure of the region, of our
urban fabric, and of the evolution of the City, that shall be honored andpreserved.
Through sound stewardship, Mill Mountain will offer environmentally sensitive educational,
recreational, and civic opportunities while preserving its natural character and resources.
The following discussion of the RMZs includes the characteristics of each zone and the level or
intensity of activity appropriate to each zone. Five zones are depicted in Figure 36:
Management Zone 1 - Intensive Recreational Development Zone
Management Zone 2 - Natural Resource Protection Zone
Management Zone 3 '- Low Impact Recreation Zone
and two linear zones:
Management Zone 4 - Cultural Resource Zone
Management Zone 5 - Entrance Road Zone
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 48
MANAGEMENT ZONE 1 - INTENSIVE RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ZONE
Management Zone 1 encompasses the Mill Mountain summit, the only portion of the mountain
that is suitable for the development of structures because of its more gentle slopes. This is the
part of the mountain that has already experienced development such as the MillMountain Zoo,
the Discovery Center, and the Mill Mountain Star. Support structures like parking, picnic
shelters, and overlooks are located here. Much of Management Zone 1 has slopes of less than
8%, and the area has an open tree canopy, one that is not as dense as the side slopes of the
mountain.
MANAGEMENT ZONE 2 - NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION ZONE
Management Zone 2 contains the majority of the steepest slopes on Mill Mountain, those over
40%. The steep north-facing slopes in Zone 2 offer the greatest possibility of interesting and/or
unusual plant communities because of the more mesic (moist) conditions found there. If the deer
population can be controlled and other impacts minimized, these areas may exhibit more floral
diversity than they presently do. Management Zone 2 is crossed by several existing trails, but
there are relatively few existing impacts to natural resources in this area other than the trails.
Steepness of slope has been a natural form of protection for this area over the years and is
probably the reason that some of the largest trees on the mountain are found in this zone.
Because of its ecological and physical sensitivity, Management Zone 2 will have the greatest
restrictions on future development.
MANAGEMENT ZONE 3 - Low IMPACT RECREATION ZONE
Management Zone 3 is defined by three main characteristics: it is currently the most remote part
of Mill Mountain Park, it contains the largest area of slight-to-moderate slopes apart from the
summit, and it contains the only true stream in the 570-acre park. A portion of Management
Zone 3 is located on the western edge of the park, near Ivy Trail and the tennis courts. Another
part of this zone, designated Zone 3a, is found on the eastern edge, and it contains an old landfill
and unused water tank. (See Figure 36.) The remote quality of Zone 3 (excluding the portion
with the tennis courts) probably explains why the illegal activities recorded in the park, including
ATV use, have largely occurred here.
The fact that this zone is remote and contains running water for at least part of the year may
explain why wildlife sightings have been reported here. Approximately half of Management
Zone 3 lies near the Garden City neighborhood. Encouraging use of the trails by Garden City
residents could decrease undesirable activities in this area by providing more "eyes on the park."
The gentle slopes in portions of Management Zone 3 would accommodate new trailheads for
access and other low impact recreational amenities such as wildlife viewing platforms or blinds.
SUBMANAGEMENT ZONE 3.A - DISTURBED LANDSCAPE ZONE. Zone 3a shares many of the
characteristics of Zone 3 and is suitable for low impact recreation. What distinguishes Zone 3a is
the fact that this area, located on the eastern edge of the park, is the site of a former landfill. A
gravel road also extends up the steep slope, through the landfill, to a large, unused water tank. In
general, this area is characterized by disturbance of the natural ecology of Mill Mountain, as
Mill Mountain Management Plan
Page 49
evidenced by thin forest cover and significant amounts of invasive plant species, like kudzu,
lining the forest edges. The gravel road found in Zone 3a leads from the Star Trail parking lot to
the beginning of the Star Trail above the water tank.
MANAGEMENT ZONE 4 -- CULTURAL RESOURCE ZONE
Management Zone 4 follows the route of the old Toll Road and the current Mill Mountain
Greenway. This zone offers the best possibility for the interpretation of cultural and historic
resources on the mountain, along with some of the historic features found in Management Zone 1
(see the Cultural Resources section of Part III).
MANAGEMENT ZONE 5 - ENTRANCE ROAD ZONE
Management Zone 5 is identified as the "entrance road zone" to differentiate it from the
surrounding Management Zone 2, the zone with the highest level of resource protection. The
fact that the lower portion of the entrance road, the area near the Fishbum Monument, offers one
of the few locations for future parking or shuttle facilities suggests that the option for limited
development in this area not be curtailed. Management Zone 5 also represents the "arrival
sequence" into the developed portion of the park, and any proposed changes to the roadside
should be considered in light of this zone's role in sustaining the image of the park.
RECOMMENDATIONS BY MANAGEMENT ZONE
Management Zone 1
a. Civic uses, recreational uses, and support services should be allowed in Management
Zone 1.
b. Any development at the summit should remain below the tree line to preserve the
forested ridgeline.
c. Periodic evaluation by the City's urban forester is needed to assess the health of the older
summit trees and ensure that damaged limbs do not pose a hazard to visitors or property.
d. One potential source for replacing dying trees on the summit is the City's
Commemorative Tree Program, which allows individuals to donate a tree to honor an
individual or event on City property. Several commemorative trees have already been
planted in the summit park, but all are flowering understory trees. Amending the list of
tree types that donors can choose from would encourage the selection of overstory trees.
Any new trees planted should be sufficiently large to discourage deer browsing.
e. Currently, the tree canopy directly below both existing overlooks has begun to encroach
on views of the valley below. Overlooks should be maintained and an expanded back-
planting of the native tree-line shall be implemented to preserve the upward viewshed of
the mountain thus enhancing a clean ridgeline. The regular 3-year pruning schedule
should be maintained to preserve views.
f. Hemlock trees at the summit should be replaced as soon as possible with another
species--preferably a native evergreen hedge that would continue to help screen the
electrical shed behind the parking lot and the Star's metal support structure.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 50
g. Given the expressed preference of citizens for a natural environment, the concept of the
native garden on which the Wildflower Garden is based should be extended beyond the
confines of the Wildflower Garden to the entire summit area. Transitioning to a native
palate throughout the summit may also reduce the amount of time and expense required
to maintain ornamental plants that are not particularly suited to the mountaintop
environment.
h. ~ Permanent bathrooms open during park hours should be provided on the summit.
i. A new circulation pattern should be developed for the main parking lot and Discovery
Center area that will separate pedestrian and vehicular pathways. A new route should be
found for service vehicles making deliveries to the zoo. One possibility is to complete the
service entrance constructed off of the Spur Road to the zoo.
j. Conduct a study to determine the feasibility of a special events park-and-ride shuttle
service between the summit and remote parking areas.
k. Design guidelines should be developed to insure that any new development proposed on
Mill Mountain is done in a way that respects the natural character of the mountain.
Management Zone 2.
a. Any development that involved large-scale tree removal on the mountain side would be
highly visible and would contradict the expressed public desire to preserve the forested
slopes of the mountain (Rhodeside & Harwell, 1991, p. iii).
b. A fire management plan for the park should be developed in coordination with the
Virginia Department of Forestry and put in place as soon as possible.
c. A forest health maintenance plan could be developed concurrently with the fire
management plan. This should include a tree inventory and a suggested list of species for
replacement of trees that must be removed for safety reasons.
d. The wildlife data collection begun by Laurie Spangler and organized through the
WildlifeMapping program of the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries should
be continued. Observations such as these, collected over time, are a valuable resource for
both park management purposes and environmental education.
e. A deer exclosure area, fenced to keep deer out, should be develoi~ed. Such exclosures
allow native plants that might currently be limited by browsing to return to an area, and
thus provide an environmental education opportunity.
Management Zone 3.
a. Intermittent streams within this zone should be protected by the City's stream buffer (50
feet on either side of the stream). Prohibiting development within these buffers will help
preserve natural drainage patterns, prevent additional erosion, and preserve stream
quality. When hiking trails must cross these drainage areas, care must be taken to select
the lowest impact route. Constructing bridges over these sensitive areas will ensure that
the natural drainage routes are not blocked or altered.
b. Any development that involved large-scale tree removal on the mountain side would be
highly visible and would contradict the expressed public desire to preserve the forested
slopes of the mountain (Rhodeside & Harwell, 1991, p. iii).
Mill Mountain Management Plan
Page 51
c. This management zone contains several unofficial, unmarked trails. These trails have
been surveyed and recommendations have been made regarding their continued use. The
assessment and management recommendations are contained in Appendix B, Mill
Mountain Trail Plan. The plan provides for multiuse trails in Zone 3, some closures of
unofficial mils, and some single use trails in Management Zone 2.
d. As per the Mill Mountain Trail Plan, existing approved trails should be evaluated and
repaired or rerouted as needed to prevent erosion and other negative impacts. After the
Trail Plan is accepted, the trail system should also he documented and incorporated into
visitor maps. Trail conditions should be periodically evaluated.
Management Zone 4.
a. Develop interpretive signage for the mountain top incline structure that remains.
Selective clearing of low-lying vegetation and debris removal from the area will be
necessary to better reveal the ruins.
b. As is the case wilh the incline railway station, interpretive signs at the site of the
Rockledge Inn and observation towers would add to visitors' understanding and
experience of the park.
c. The Old Toll Road represents an important piece of the cultural legacy of Roanoke. Its
features should continue to be preserved and/or restored as needed, and can be
incorporated into a historic walking tour.
d. A stone mason or architect should be called in to evaluate the toll house, including the
crack in the uphill-facing wall. A strategy should be developed for performing repairs and
periodic maintenance to prevent further deterioration. In addition, tiles from the roof
pictured in photographs from the 1960s are now scattered among the vegetation along the
roadway, and at least one should be preserved in the event that restoration of this roof
becomes feasible.
e. In order to prevent further deterioration of the retaining walls, a stone mason and
engineer should be consulted in order to develop a preservation plan for the wall and
drainage structures.
f. In addition to protecting and preserving the individual elements of the toll road, pursuing
state and federal historic landmark status for the road as a whole should be considered.
Further research into the design and construction of the road would be necessary. An
important facet of this research would be determining if the toll road served as a design
precedent for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Given the proximity of the Parkway to Mill
Mountain, it is possible that Stanley Abbott, the Parkway's designer, visited the Toll
Road while in the area laying out the route for his Parkway. Abbott is already linked to
Mill Mountain in terms of the master plan he developed for it in the 1960s, but it is worth
researching whether this connection extended further back in time.
Management Zone 5.
a. Design guidelines should be deyeloped to maintain the aesthetic quality of the entrance
road sequence.
Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 52
The recommendations for each RMZ, described above, address current concems in Mill
Mountain Park and offer some guidance for future development proposals. However, these
recommendations alone will not provide sufficient guidance to direct action on future proposals
for the mountain. Development guidelines, listed in the next section, together with the set of
management recommendations above, will provide the comprehensive tools necessary to guide
future decisions about the use of Mill Mountain.
DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES
Roanoke Parks & Recreation shall preserve and maintain the natural vegetative resources of
Mill Mountain and will deter from any further fragmentation that would cause harm to the
various viewsheds of the mountain.
· Adhere strictly to the Roanoke Comprehensive Plan, City zoning ordinance, and
management areas as described within this plan.
Establish subcategories of the new City recreation open space (ROS) zoning category
to enhance the long-term preservation of these resources as outlined within this plan.
Any potential human development shall be in strict conformance to the Department's
Planning & Development Guidelines; clearly meet or exceed specific action items within the
City Comprehensive Plan, City zoning ordinance; the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, and
the Mill Mountain Management Plan's Resource Management Zones (RMZs).
Per the approved RMZs described within the Mill Mountain Management Plan, such
designations should be officially included within the subcategories of the City's ROS zoning
criteria. Thus any proposal that would fall counter to such zoning would require the
authorization of three entities for authorization in the following order: the Parks &
Recreation Advisory Board, the Roanoke Planning Commission, and City Council.
Roanoke Parks & Recreation shall conduct a capacity analysis of the top of the mountain to
insure that quantifiable data is obtained tO provide us with our user capacity for any future
structure, program, and/or event.
The Department shall create a sustainable design criteria to establish ecological friendly,
aesthetically pleasing, and unobtrusive design elements for park structures and amenities that
would be utilized on either Mill Mountain or any other natural setting within the Department.
The guidelines would address features such as culverts, trail bridges, educational kiosks and
displays, access control devices, and landscaping materials and methods.
6. Parks and Recreation should explore opportunities as they develop to acquire adjacent
parcels of land to add to the park it if supports the general precepts and mission of the plan.
Mill Mountain Management Plan
P~e53
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Henika, William S. 1997. Economic and environmental geology across the boundary between
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Mill Mountain Management Plan Page 57
APPENDIX A: HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF MILL MOUNTAIN
Entries in italic indicate events that pertain to Roanoke City in general rather than specifically to
Mill Mountain. They are included in the timeline to provide context for the development
described on Mill Mountain.
6000 B.C.-earlyl700s
1740s
1756
1790s
1852, November 1
1874
1881, spring
1881, July15
1882
Indigenous peoples occupy the Roano~ke Valley, including the area
around what will later be called Mill Mountain. They are drawn by
the spring at its base and the surrounding fertile hunting grounds
offered by the salt marshes on which the City of Roanoke will later
be built.
Fleeing a violent Pennsylvania-Maryland border dispute, Mark
Evans builds and operates a grist mill at what will later be known
as Crystal Spring, at the western base of Mill Mountain.
George Washington, a 24-year-old commander-in-chief of the
militia, spends the night at Evans Mill while reviewing local fort
construction for the French and Indian War.
William McClanahan, a colonel in the Revolutionary War and one
of the largest landowners in the Valley, buys Evans Mill and the
surrounding land from the Evans family.
The ftrst Virginia & Tennessee train arrives in Big Lick. The event
is largely ignored by most residents. Only a handful of local
businessmen recognize the potential for economic prosperity that
comes with the railroad
The town of Big Lick is incorporated.
After Big Lick's leaders provide ftnancial incentives, Norfolk &
Western (formerly the Virginia & Tennessee) agrees to route their
Shenandoah Valley line through town, where it will join their
existing line. They also locate their corporate headquarters in
town. This fuels an economic boom and rampant land speculation.
The Roanoke Land & Improvement comPany, a real estate
development subsidiary of Norfolk & Western, is formed Over the
next few years, the company buys more than 1,150 acres in and
around Roanoke and sells most of it as land prices rise.
The Norfolk & Western Railway machine shops, known as the
Roanoke Machine Works, open and become the town's largest
emplayer.
1882, November
1883, January 15
1884, January 31
1880s, mid
1891
1892
The Roanoke Land & Improvement Co. begins buying up farm
land between town and Mill Mountain for housing lots as railroad
jobs draw new residents to town.
The Roanoke Land & Improvement Co. buys McClanahan Spring
(later Crystal Spring) from Elijah McClanahan to supply water to
the railroads. They also buy Mill Mountain from Peyton Terry
(owner of Elmwood), who had purchased it 5 years earlier.
J. B. Austin, president of the Roanoke Land & Improvement Co.,
finalizes plans to build a road up the western face of Mill Mountain
and offers municipal water to the southern half of Roanoke from
Crystal Spring.
A charter is granted to the Rorer Iron Company. Started by local
businessman Ferdinand Rorer, the company buys the mineral
rights to an ore deposit on the western ridges of Roanoke
Mountain. A narrow gauge railroad, which crosses the river below
Wasena Park, is built to link the mines to the Norfolk & Western.
The mine remains open into the 1920s.
Roanoke is granted a city charter after its population swells to
5,000, an eightfoM increase in the 2 ~ years since the arrival of
Norfolk & Western.
The McClanahan Mill is accidentally burned to the ground by a
group of boys carffing an oil lamp to explore the unused structure.
In the midst of the economic boom spurred by the railroads, part of
Mill Mountain, including the summit and Crystal Spring, is
acquired by the Roanoke Gas & .Water Company from its sister
company, Roanoke Land & Improvement. In addition to installing
water mains throughout the city, the company begins to develop
Mill Mountain as a resort. Local contractor F. D. Booth is hired to
build the $10,000 Rockledge Inn as well as a $2,000 observatory at
the summit. This wooden tower stands 60 feet tall from its concrete
foundation to the lookout level, and another 20 feet to the tip of the
flagpole. It includes a searchlight. Booth also builds a dirt road at a
steady 10% slope up from the spring to the summit called Pr6spect
Road.
In order ~o facilitate development of Mill Mountain, Roanoke Gas
& Water Co. builds an iron bridge across the Roanoke River to
extend Jefferson Street to Crystal Spring. They also install a bridge
at Walnut Avenue.
1892, May 3
1892-1893
1893
1893, fall
1900
1902, June 21
1902, fall
1903, June 15
1905, June
The Rockledge Inn and Mill Mountain Observatory open with a
dinner party that includes local business leaders and railroad
executives from as far away as Philadelphia.
Roanoke Gas & Water Co. develops a 20-acre park at the foot of
Mill Mountain around Crystal Spring. The spring's waters are
channeled into a small man-made lake, which is surrounded by turf
and walking paths.
The national economic depression hits Roanoke.
Rockledge Inn closes after failing to attract a steady business. The
2- to 3-hour carriage ride up the mountain is cited as one of the
reasons for its failure.
The Virginia College for Young Ladies opens at the western foot
of Stone Mountain.
Roanoke Hospital opens at the foot of Mill Mountain, at the
present location of Roanoke Memorial Hospital. When the city
runs out of money during construction, Norfolk & Western steps in
with the needed funds.
Roanoke becomes Virginia's third largest city, behind Richmond
and Norfolk, and home to the largest locomotive manufacturing
operation in the South.
Roanoke Railway & Electric Co. pumhases 40 acres at the base of
Mill Mountain, south of Crystal Spring, to develop a recreational
facility named Mountain Park.
Virginia College students hike to the summit of Mill Mountain and
find an elderly African American woman living in the abandoned
Rockledge Inn. She grows tobacco on the hotel's picnic grounds
and cures it in the dining room.
Mountain Park opens. The park includes a dance pavilion, an 800-
seat theater for live performances and motion pictures known as
The Casino, picnic grounds, a bowling alley, and eventually a
roller coaster. The city street car is extended out to the park via
Jefferson Street.
Roanoke Gas & Water Co. starts construction of a new reservoir at
Crystal Spring.
1907
1908-1909
1909, November
1910
1910, Augustl4
1911,May
1914, March 2
1914, May
John Nolen, an urban planner prominent in the City Beautiful
movement, is hired by the Woman's Civic Betterment Club to
develop a master plan for Roanoke. His million-dollar plan,
detailed in Remodeling Roanoke, calls for a linear greenway
extending from the City to Mill Mountain. The plan is recognized
as one of the first in the country to mesh City Beautiful ideals with
urban planning. Only small portions of the plan are ever
implemented.
A short-livedftnancialpanic hits Roanoke. Norfolk & Western
begins laying off employees.
As the economy improves, local businessmen launch another effort
to profit from recreational development of Mill Mountain. They
form Mill Mountain Incline Incorporated to finance construction of
an incline on the western side of the mountain near the hospital.
Initially estimated at $15,000, the project ultimately costs $40,000.
The Roanoke Iron Company fabricates the rails, and Philadelphia's
J. G. Brill Company builds the electric pulley system and the two
cars. Hoping to entice visitors to take the incline to the summit, the
company also leases and refurbishes the Rockledge Inn and its
grounds and builds a new and taller observation tower near the
present-day location of the Star.
Roanoke's population expands to almost 39,000, an increase of
more than 7,000 residents in a decade.
Mill Mountain Incline opens. More than 1,500 passengers turn out
to take a ride on the novelty on opening day.
Continuing their improvements in order to draw more visitors, the
incline owners install new walkways, benches, and swings at the
summit. A gift shop, telescope, and powerful electric searchlight
are added to the observation tower. Despite these efforts, the
incline would never clear a profit after its first season of operation.
After standing for 23 years, the Mill Mountain observation tower is
destroyed during a wind storm.
A second observation tower, similar to its predecessor in design
but 90 feet tall, is constructed through the cooperation of the
Adams, Payne and Gleaves Company, Roanoke Water Company,
and the Mill Mountain Incline Company. Roanoke Railway &
Electric Company rebuilds the searchlight.
1914
1915
1917
1919
1920
1923
1924, August30
1924
1928
1929
1930
1930
The city's population expands to more than 38, 000, with an
additional 1,200 residents in the suburbs.
Roanoke City annexes South Roanoke, including Mill Mountaini
American Viscose Corporation opens a rayon manufacturing
facility in Roanoke that employs 1,000. By 1928, they would
employ 5, 000.
Mill Mountain Incline Inc. sells the railway for $7,000 to Roanoke
Gas & Water.
William P. Henritze acquires most o'f Mill Mountain and the
incline from Roanoke Gas & Water. He forms the Mill Mountain
Corporation in hopes of developing a residential/resort complex on
the mountain.
Roanoke's population increases to 50,000.
Mountain Park closes. With the city's population still growing, the
land is subdivided and advertised as a "high-class" residential
subdivision.
Henritze and his Mill Mountain Corporation open a $90,000
concrete toll road up the northwestern face of the mountain along
the approximate route of the older dirt road. The road features a
unique Loop Bridge, in which the road loops over on itself by
means of a concrete culvert.
Henritze completes construction of his personal residence, which
he names Rockledge, adjacent to the toll road's Loop Bridge.
The first caretaker's house is constructed on the summit.
The Rockledge Inn closes permanently. Over the next 45 years, it
will find limited use as a recreation center.
Mill Mountain Incline closes. After operating at a loss for many
years, the completion of the automobile toll road up the mountain
seals its fate.
The Great Depression hits Roanoke, although its railroad and
other industries help to cushion the blow.
Mill Mountain Incline is dismantled and sold for scrap.
1932
1933
1934
1936
1941
1942
1949, Thanksgiving Eve
1950
1950s
1952
1955
1957
Facing bankruptcy, William P. Henritze offers Mill Mountain to
the City for $165,000, but with its own finances on shaky ground,
the City declines.
The Virginia College for Young Ladies closes.
Creditors foreclose on most of William P. Henritze's holdings on
Mill Mountain. The property is bought for $50,000 by Washington
& Lee University, which offers it to the City for $75,000. The City
again declines.
The 90-foot-tall observation tower at the summit is destroyed by
fire. It had fallen into disrepair in the preceding years and is no
longer used by this time.
Junius B. Fishbum, a prominent local businessman, purchases Mill
Mountain from Washington & Lee University and conveys 100
acres of the property to the City of Roanoke for a park.
The Fishbums give an additional 36 acres on Mill Mountain to the
City.
The Roanoke Star is first lit. Originally intended as a Christmas
decoration by the Roanoke Merchants Association, the Star attracts
so much positive publicity for the city that the group decides to
keep it lit year-round.
The city receives an additional 38 acres of Mill Mountain from the
Fishburns.
A power line right-of-way is cleared up the western slope of Mill
Mountain, near the hospital. This right of way is near (but not on)
the old incline path.
Mill Mountain Zoo, built by the Civitan Club, opens as a petting
zoo with a nursery rhyme theme. The Roanoke Jaycees provide the
miniature Zoo Choo.
Roanoke is named an All-America City.
Junius B. Fishburn dies.
The City's Traffic Safety Council persuades the Roanoke
Merchants Association to mm the white Roanoke Star red for two
nights after every traffic fatality in the City. This tradition would
continue for 17 years.
1958
1960
1963, November
1964
1965, May
1960s, mid
1965, September 7
1967, February 14
1967
1967, September
Viscose Corporation closes and Norfolk & Western lays off2,000
workers. Many of the unemployed find work in the newly opened
General Electric plant in Salem.
City planning efforts turn to revitalizing the struggling downtown,
which has lost residents and businesses to the suburbs.
The Roanoke Star is turned red for three nights to mark the
assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The Mill Mountain Players repurpose the old Rockledge Inn as a
live theater.
Stanley Abbott, designer of and former landscape architect for the
Blue Ridge Parkway, submits his master plan for Mill Mountain
Park. The plan presents Mill Mountain as an extension of the
Parkway and proposes heavy development, including an elaborate
summit complex housing a welcome center, hotel, restaurant, and
theater, and parking for 1,000 cars on the slopes with a tramway
shuttle to the summit. The plan proposes relocating the Star to
Read Mountain.
The Spur Road is constructed to connect the Blue Ridge Parkway
and Roanoke via Mill Mountain. It is hoped that the road will draw
visitors from the Parkway into Roanoke.
City Council appoints the Mill Mountain Development Committee
to guide implementation of the Abbott plan.
Frustrated by the stalled development plans for the park, the
Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce forms its own
committee~the Mill Mountain Park Committee to spur
development.
The Chamber of Commerce's Mill Mountain Park Committee and
the City Council's Mill Mountain Development Committee join
forces, deciding to keep the latter name. M. Carl Andrews is
named chair.
The City of Roanoke purchases an additional 310.33 acres to add
to Mill Mountain Park.
The Department of City Planning releases their Master
Development Plan: Mill Mountain Park, a scaled down version of
Abbott's design. The plan increases parking at the summit and sets
1969, March 10
1970s
1970
1971
1973
1974
1975, January 3
1975, January l3
the relocation of the Star and construction of a restaurant and
visitor center as priorities. With concerns rising about the condition
of the Old Toll Road, construction of a new road to the summit via
Walnut Avenue is recommended.
City Council formally accepts the City Planning Department's
Master Development Plan: Mill Mountain Park, along with the
Mill Mountain Development Committee's recommendation that
the Old Toll Road remain open. Council sets no timeline for
implementing the plan, instead stating that portions will be
undertaken "from time to time."
Passenger rail service to Roanoke ends.
The Mill Mountain Development Committee begins the search for
a developer interested in building a restaurant and perhaps a hotel
at the summit.
The J. B. Fishbum Parkway opens. Running fi.om the intersection
of Walnut Avenue and Sylvan Road to the Spur Road, this
parkway replaces the Old Toll Road as the primary route to Mill
Mountain's summit.
The original caretaker's cottage is demolished to make way for
construction of the Wildflower Garden, designed by former Blue
Ridge Parkway landscape architect Joe Beer. A new caretaker's
cottage is installed near the current Discovery Center.
Work on the Fishburn Memorial, at the intersection of the Fishbum
Parkway and the Spur Road, also begins.
The Roanoke Star begins shining red, white, and blue in
celebration of the nation's Bicentennial.
Mill Mountain Development Committee reports to City Council
that the idea of a hotel on the brow of the mountain has fallen out
of favor. Construction of an overlook restaurant, however, is still
supported. They also state that removing the Star would probably
be publicly unpopular.
Ken Wilson Associates, a developer hired to complete an
economic feasibility study for a restaurant and hotel at the summit,
instead presents City Council with another master plan. Unhappy
with the firm's deviation from its specified task, City Council
shelves the document. Although the plan itself is never pursued,
some of its key elements survive to influence later plans for Mill
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1975, June 24
1976
1977
1981
1982
1983
1984
1980s, early
1985
Mountain, including a focus on drawing City residents rather than
tourists to the park and the retaining of the Star as an important
fixture on the mountain.
The J. B. Fishbum Memorial is dedicated.
The Mill Mountain Playhouse (formerly the Rockledge Inn) bums
down.
Mill Mountain Zoo, mn by Roanoke Parks & Recreation, closes
because of financial troubles.
The Mill Mountain Garden Club completes the Wildflower
Garden.
Roanoke Jaycees reopen the Mill Mountain Zoo as a nonprofit
corporation.
The Parks & Recreation Deparm~ent issues its Roanoke Parks
Today and Tomorrow master plan. It suggests only minor
improvements to Mill Mountain.
An anti-graffiti ordinance is passed by City Council in response to
ongoing vandalism at Mill Mountain Park.
Phase I improvements to Mill Mountain Park begin. This includes
construction of the two present-day parking lots, installation of
wooden bollards to block vehicle access to the paved path behind
the Star parking lot, and renovation of park furnishings and
landscaping (including grading and drainage work). Construction
documents are prepared by Hayes, Seay, Mattem & Mattem.
The Henritze family sells Rockledge, their family home for almost
60 years. It currently remains in private ownership.
The Mill Mountain Development Committee requests that the City
install an entry gate at the summit of Mill Mountain in order to
help prevent unauthorized access a~er park hours.
The Mill Mountain Zoo plans to relocate to Explore Park.
The Comprehensive Development Plan for Roanoke, 1985-2005 is
issued. This city master plan reaffirms Parks & Recreation's
Today and Tomorrow master plan and stresses the development of
greenways, conservation of the city's natural environments, and
provision of youth programs. It emphasizes the creation of
neighborhood parks. Mill Mountain is not mentioned specifically.
1985, July 8
1986, January
1987
1980s, late
1988
1989
1990
Mill Mountain Development Committee requests that City Council
extend the sand-blasting and repainting of the guardrails along the
Old Toll Road up to the Loop Bridge and that repairs be made to
the Toll Booth/Archway.
The Roanoke Star shines md for one week in memory of the
astronauts killed in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
Phase II renovations to Mill Mountain Park are completed. These
include construction of a visitor center with restrooms on the
present site of the Discovery Center, placement of overhead power
lines underground, new lighting on the approach road, realignment
of the park entrance at Fishbum Parkway because of numerous
accidents, and installation of a picnic area and additional walking
paths at the summit.
As part of their 100th anniversary celebration, The Roanoke Times
& WorldNews gives $37,800 to fund construction of a new Star
Overlook. The work includes replacing the wooden retaining wall
around the Star with a stone wall.
City Council seeks a developer for a restaurant to be built on the
grounds of the zoo once it moves to Explore Park.
The City receives numerous proposals for development on Mill
Mountain, including the D-Day Memorial (later built in Bedford)
and the refurbishment of the incline railway. The City hires
Rhodeside & Harwell to establish development criteria for the park
based on in-depth site analysis and public input.
The Blue Ridge Zoological Society takes over operation of the
Mill Mountain Zoo.
The planned move of the zoo to Explore Park falls through. The
Zoo remains on Mill Mountain.
Rhodeside & Harwell submits Mill Mountain Park Design
Evaluation and Development Criteria to the city. After extensive
site analysis and public input, the firm recommends preserving the
natural state of the mountain and outlines long-term goals and
objectives for the mountain, as well as a set of development
criteria. City Council "unanimously concur[s], in general, with the
goals and development criteria developed" on December 17.
1993
1994
1995
1996
1996, September 12
1997, January18
1997, October21
1997, November
1997, November 20
The City receives a recommendation to stabilize the Loop Bridge
on the Old Toll Road rather than reconstruct it.
At the request of Mill Mountain Zoo, Hill Studio develops plans
for a 300-space, multilevel parking garage at the summit. Although
approved by City Council and a committee of city personnel that
evaluated the plan against the Rhodeside & Harwell development
criteria, the project is later abandoned.
The Roanoke Star goes dark for several days after it is damaged by
a 3-acre forest fire.
The M. Carl Andrews Overlook is dedicated at the Star..Andrews
had been editorial page editor of Fi shbum's newspaper, The
Roanoke Times, and had served as the first chair of the Mill
Mountain Development Committee in 1969, a position he served in
for almost 25 years. He'd been a strong advocate for the
preservation of Mill Mountain.
Greenways Incorporated produces the Conceptual Greenway Plan
for Roanoke City and the Valley. One proposed greenway passes
through Mill Mountain. The plan has had wide public support
since its publication.
At the request of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, City Council
agrees to mm the Roanoke Star red for one night after each drug-
or alcohol-related traffic death in the Valley.
Mayor David Bowers hosts a "Summit on the Summit" to develop
short- and long-term goals for Mill Mountain Park.
The Women's Club of Roanoke upgrades the landscaping around
the Star. Parking area improvements are also made.
The Mill Mountain Development Committee holds a visioning
retreat to continue the work of the Summit on the Summit.
A meeting is held in Council Chambers to gather public input into
the vision for Mill Mountain.
The Mill Mountain Development Committee changes its name to
the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee.
Mill Mountain Advisory Committee approves the Mill Mountain
Master Plan developed by Hill Studio. The plan includes
renovation of the existing restroom building as a visitor center,
1997
1998
1998, June
1999
2000
construction of a picnic shelter, and designation of a concert lawn.
Plans for a playground are postponed indefinitely because of a lack
of funding. After heated debate about the planned installation of
the Sister Cities sculptures on Mill Mountain, they are relocated to
Century Square in Downtown Roanoke.
The Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's
Bikeway Plan identifies potential bike routes throughout the
Valley. The Mill Mountain Greenway and Fishburu Parkway are
both included in the plan.
An assessment of park security by the Roanoke City Police
Department is completed.
The Mill Mountain Trails Committee is formed to explore trail
development on the mountain.
The second caretaker's house is removed.
At the request of the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee, City
Council ends the practice ofturuing the Roanoke Star red after
drug- and alcohol-related traffic deaths.
The Star Trail opens. This 1.7-mile-long dirt trail was built by
volunteers.
The Fifth Planning District Commission (consisting of Roanoke
City, Roanoke County, Salem, and Vinton) develops the Roanoke
Valley Open Space Study. Citizen input from focus group surveys
and mapping exercises indicates a high level of public support for
preserving views of forested ridgelines and mountain slopes.
Views of Mill Mountain from the City and surrounding region
were specifically mentioned as important.
The Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Master Plan is approved
by City Council. This is the current parks master plan. Action
strategies that apply to Mill Mountain include developing multiuse
trails and greenways; increasing programming, especially for
children, teens, families, and seniors; and preserving the city's
natural and cultural assets through interpretation and education.
The plan includes a "mini market plan" for Mill Mountain, which
was never acted on. The plan seeks to strengthen the park as a
tourist destination by adding more picnic shelters and a playground
area, as well as upgrading the landscape and giving park amenities
a more consistent look. The plan revives the call for a lookout
restaurant and a tram ride as important sources of revenue. It also
2000
2001
2001, September
2002
2003, September
2005
identifies the limited parking on the mountain as a problem,
especially for special events. City Council approves the plan in
May.
The Roanoke Star's color scheme is changed to red, white, and
blue for three months when Roanoke is named an All-America
City for a record-tying fifth year.
The 2,200-square-foot Discovery Center opens and the present-day
picnic shelter is built.
A Mill Mountain Supervisor is hired, for the park and Discovery
Center.
Vision 2001/2020: Planning for Roanoke's Future Economic
Development, Neighborhoods, and Quality of Life lays out the
City's vision of itself over a 20~year periocl. It identifies the City's
natural environment as one of its most valuable assets and
recommends the protection of environmental, historic, and cultural
tourist attractions from visual or physical encroachment by
incompatible uses. It calls for a comprehensive regional marketing
strategy that promotes Roanoke as an outdoors destination
offering such attractions as the Blue Ridge Parkway, Carvins
Cove, and Mill Mountain.
The Roanoke Star is mined red, white, and blue in response to the
9-11 terrorists attacks.
The Discovery Center receives the Best New Facility Award from
the Virginia Recreation & Parks Society.
The 3.5-mile Mill Mountain Greenway & Birding Trail is
dedicated. 2004-2005 Mark McConnel & Associates develops
plans for a custom playground that reflects the unique mountain
environment of Mill Mountain in materials and form.
The City of Roanoke expands its zoning classifications for open
space. As a result, Mill Mountain Park's total acreage nearly
doubles, to 639 acres.
APPENDIX B
FIGURES 1 - 36
Figure 1. Location map
Mill
Mountain
Figure 2. U.S.G.S. topographic quadrangle
Fi~e 3. Existing conditions
Figure 4. Aerial photograph
Figure 5. Detail of mountain top
Figure 6. C~stal Spring c. 1890
Figure 7. Rockledge Inn
Figure 8. Rockledge Inn porch
Figure 9. First observation tower
Figure 10. Crystal Spring Park c.1915
Figure 11. Mountain Park
Figure 12. Mountain Park aerial view
Figure 13. Casino at Mountain Park
Figure 14. Mountain Park dance pavilion
Figure 15. Mountain Park roller coaste~
Figure 16. Mill Mountain Incline with hospital in background
Figure 17. Side view of the incline
Figure 18. Second observation tower
Figure 19. Carriage Road
Figure 20. Loop-the-loop
Figure 21. 1926 city map
N
Figure 22. Land acquisition
i ~ Pan~ Bounda~es
Figure 23. Mill Mountain Star c. 1950
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Figure 24. Mill Mountain Zoo
Figure 25. Urban connections
Figure 26. Ecological connections
Figure 27. Elevation
Figure 28. Slope
Figure 29. Soils
Figure 30. Vegetation
Figure 32. Toll road entrance
Figure 33. Toll road exit
Figure 34. Circulation - roads and trails.
Build f~ Mul~t-u~
~ Steers
Figure 35. Composite analysis
Figure 36. Resource Mangement Zones
Legend
~ Mana~n~nt Zone
~ Maria ,gement Zone 3
Manab~ement Zone
mmmm Cultural Resource Zone
mmmmmm Fm~m I~ive Zone
~ Pflvat~ Prop~r~y
~...
Mill Mountain
Trails Plan
Submitted to
City of Roanoke Parks & Recreation
and the
Mill Mountain Advisory Committee
September 1, 2005
Table of Contents
I. Preface
II. Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
III.
Introduction
A. Brief History of Mill Mountain's Trails
B. Project Partners and Scope of Work
C. Existing Direction Relevant to Trails
D. Goals, Objectives, and Strategies for the Trail System
IV.
Trail Inventory
A. Description of Project Study Area
B. Data Collection Process and Methods
C. Summary of Current Trail Conditions
D. Access and Parking
Trail Management Issues
A. Sustainable Trail Design
B. Trail User Designation
C. Trail Standards
D. User Conflicts and Responsible Behavior
VI.
Trail Recommendations
A. Trail Prescriptions for Usage and Closure
B. Trail Names and Termini
C. Trails by User Group
D. Specific Trail Improvement Recommendations
E. Trail Difficulty Rating
F. Access and Parking
VII. Trail Management Recommendations A. Illegal Uses
B. Operations and Maintenance Plan
C. Volunteer Assistance
D. Resource Protection Issues
E. Signage
F. Education
VIII. List of Resources
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
- Trail Inventory Forms
- Trail Data Sheets
- Trail Management Issues
- Guidelines and Etiquette for Trail Users
I. Preface
from Donnie Underwood, Roanoke Parks and Greenways Planner
...the perfect setting for leaving the paradigm of our life situation behind for just long enough
to begin to feel and see what really concerns us ......
Trails, open spaces and our parks am, indeed, vital structural components to a community due to
their provision of, at least for a moment in time, a perfect setting. A park trail is not simply a
route from here to there, rather it is a place to reconnect with ourselves and nature. In the
development and care of these trails, we need to think about the experience for which we provide
stewardship ....... what will it look, feel, smell, taste, and sound like to each user?
Gifford Pinchot, Chief Forester under President Theodore Roosevelt, coined it best when
charged with the administrative task of creating a policy directive that could be used to guide
resource management for a wide variety of issues including wildlife, forestry, public parks and
open spaces ....... "the greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time"; thus, the
phrase for ever-after would be known as conservation,t
Sound conservation and stewardship are at the heart of Roanoke's philosophy regarding
appropriate access to our natural landscapes. It was this same ethic that prompted both the Mill
Mountain Advisory Committee and the Department of Parks and Recreation to work jointly
towards a sound and sustainable access plan for Mill Mountain's trails; in essence, the Mill
Mountain Trails Management Plan.
The process that you are about to discover is best described as a "labor of love" that was crafted
by eight individuals who cherish the resource known as Mill Mountain. With an excess of two-
hundred service hours logged and countless additional hours of data analysis spread-out over
numerous evenings and weekends, our trails task force made up of volunteers and City staff has
brought this management plan to fruition for the enjoyment of trail users for decades to come.
It is the trail user, both you and I, and thousands of users yet to come that are indebted to the care
and dedication this team has forged for our enjoyment ..........................
The Mill Mountain Trail Task Force - "The Team"
Brian Batteiger, Chair of Valley Area Shared Trails
Liz Belcher, Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission
Paul Chapman, Roanoke Parks and Recreation
Dick Clark, Mill Mountain Advisory Committee
Tom Clarke, Roanoke Parks and Recreation
Betty Field, Mill Mountain Advisory Committee
Bill Gordge, Pathfinders for Greenways
Linda Oberlender, Pathfinders for Greenways
Donnie Underwood, Roanoke Parks and Recreation
3
II. Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
BMP - Best Management Practices, standards of the profession for the best ways in which to
implement actions
Front countW - A natural area close to population centers, as opposed to backcountry which is
remote and removed from access points
GPS - Global Positioning System, equipment communicating with satellites to pinpoint locations
and provide mapping
IMBA - International Mountain Bicycling Association, an organization promoting the sharing of
trails with mountain bikers
MMAC - Mill Mountain Advisory Committee, a City Council appointed board of citizens.
Multi-use - Trails that are used by more than user group, such as hikers, mountain bikers, and
equestrians. Also referred to as shared-use trails
NPS - National Park Service, an agency in the Department of Interior, responsible for
management of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Sustainable Trail Design - What is a sustainable trail? The National Park Service has defined
sustainable trails as follows:
Sustainability is the ability of the travel surface to support current and anticipated
appropriate uses with a minimal impact to the adjoining natural systems and cultural
resources. Sustainable trails have negligible soil loss or movement and allow the
naturally occurring plant systems to inhabit the area, while allowing for the occasional
pruning or removal of plants necessary to buiM and maintain the trail. If well built, a
sustainable trail minimizes seasonal muddiness and erosion. It shouM not normally
affect fauna adversely nor require rerouting and major maintenance over long periods of
time.
- US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Natural Resource Management
Guidelines, 1997
Team - Trail Plan Team
UTAP - Universal Trail Assessment Process, a system developed by Beneficial Designs to rank
the accessibility of trails for handicap users
VAST - Valley Area Shared Trails, a group representing a variety of trail users and dedicated to
assisting local governments with expanding trail opportunities
Vision 2001 - City of Roanoke's Comprehensive Plan
III. Introduction
A. Brief History of Mill Mountain's Trails
For centuries Mill Mountain has drawn people to its slopes and summit for natural
resources and recreation. As early as 6,000 B.C. indigenous people were attracted to the large
natural spring at the base of the mountain. In 1882, the first documented road was built up the
western slope to increase the municipal water supply. Later, other roads and trails were built
either to bring people to the summit for outdoor recreation, to provide access to the forested
slopes for loggers or fire management, or to reach the mountainous area behind Mill Mountain.
A 1943 map shows most of today's roads and trails as existing fire trails. The trail system also
holds regional, state, and national significance via the Mill Mountain Greenway Trail which
connects to downtown Roanoke, the Star Trail which is on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife
Trail, and Ridgeline and Wood Thrush trails through Mill Mountain Park which connect to the
Blue Ridge Parkway trail system.
Due to the mountain's unique character and prominence, City Council created 'The Mill
Mountain Development Committee", later known as the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee
(MMAC). This appointed body's role is to advise City Council, via the Department of Parks and
Recreation, on any and a~ll development proposals for the park. In 1998, the MMAC established
a trails subcommittee. This subcommittee worked with the Department of Parks and Recreation
to investigate possible trail connections using existing paths. The result was a proposed trail from
the base of the mountain near Riverland Road to the summit, behind the Mill Mountain Star,
later known as the "Star Trail". The MMAC recommended this action to City Council, and the
trail was built by volunteers and opened in 1999.
In 2001, the Department of Parks and Recreation was approached with the notion of
having the trails on the mountain open for mountain bike usage. City policy at the time
prohibited bicycle usage within public parks except on paved roads. A group of trail users from
the differing user-groups (hikers, bikers, and equestrians) together with staff from Parks and
Recreation coordinated to form the Valley Area Shared Trails (VAST) group. VAST has resulted
in over one-hundred thirty men, women, boys, and girls joining forces to help create and repair
trails on Mill Mountain as well as other natural trails in the Roanoke Valley.
In 2003 the most recent initiative by Parks and Recreation and the MMAC began to help
enthusiastic volunteers inventory existing trails on the mountain and obtain accurate GPS
locations of each pathway, trail, and fire road. Over the years a labyrinth of old road beds, trails,
and utility corridors had developed on Mill Mountain. Many 0fthese receive significant use as
trails, but are unmarked and inconsistently maintained. In some areas only people who know
where the trails are located, where they begin and end, can find the connections. Within the last
two years, both the MMAC and Department of Parks and Recreation have taken great strides in
changing public policy and steering an ethic of responsible natural resource stewardship
regarding the mountain and how human access is best managed. The initiative of this trail
management plan was a direct result of a series of consistent and thoughtful processes led by
City staff and dedicated volunteers.
B. Project Partners and Scope of Work
In the winter of 2005, Parks and Recreation created a team of volunteers and staff from
the Greenway Commission, Pathfinders for Greenways, and the Valley Area Shared Trails group
to address the growing need for managing Mill Mountain's trails. As part of the land-use
planning process of Parks and Recreation and the MMAC, the team's initial assignment was to
inventory existing trails and utilize Best Management Practices (BMP's) for trail assessment to
identify which trails were best suited for the different types of usage (hiking, biking, and
horseback riding). The process of developing that plan highlighted the importance of the trail
5
system for outdoor recreation and environmental education opportunities. Consequently, the trail
team developed a trail management plan which could be incorporated into the Mill Mountain
Land-Use Plan.
The Trail Plan Team's objectives were:
1) To inventory and map existing trails, road beds, and paths within the Park.
2) To evaluate the suitability of each trail for use by hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers.
3) To identify an official trail network for Mill Mountain Park.
4) To explore connecting the trail system for Mill Mountain Park with the Blue Ridge Parkway
and Roanoke Valley Greenway trails.
5) To identify the issues, challenges, and opportunities for managing the trail system.
6) To identify needs, such as improvements to trails and ancillary facilities.
7) To identify operation and maintenance issues to be addressed by Parks and Recreation.
8) To provide input from representative trail users for the planning process.
C. Existing Direction Relevant to Trails
The Trail Plan Team reviewed existing deeds, goals, plans, study findings and vision
statements to crystallize direction pertinent to trails. These include:
Fishbum Deed (1941):
[Mill Mountain ...]"Developed and forever preserved, improved, and maintained for the use and
pleasure of the people of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and vicinity".
Rhodeside and Harwell (1991):
"B. Presentation of Goals and Objectives
1. Preserve visual integrity both to and from Mill Mountain.
2. Preserve Mill Mountain as a natural resource.
3. Preserve Mill Mountain as a symbol of Roanoke.
4. Enhance Mill Mountain as a place for recreation.
· Maintain Mill Mountain as a predominantly passive park environment.
· Enhance the close relationship between the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mill
Mountain by developing scenic and nature-oriented recreational opportunities on
the Mountain."
Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2000):
Action Strategies:
9. "Develop trails, greenways, and on-road bicycle facilities, doing so in a way to
interconnect shopping areas, schools, work sites, parks, other important places in the valley, and
future open spaces. Where appropriate, trails should be multi-use mils, accommodating
activities such as hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding.
The development of greenways has very strong grassroots support throughout the City and
Roanoke Valley."
Vision 2001/2020 (2001)
EC A7 "Promote trails on City-owned land, where feasible and suitable."
EC A8 "Promote and increase access to trails and natural areas by providing
parking, guide maps, and appropriate marking."
Mill Mountain Vision Statement (2005):
"Mill Mountain will continue to enrich the quality of life for those who visit, work and live in the
Roanoke Valley. It is an integral component of the green infi'astructure of the region, or our
urban fabric, and of the evolution of the City, which shall be honored and preserved.
Through sound stewardship, Mill Mountain will offer environmentally sensitive
educational, recreational, and civic opportunities while preserving its natural character and
resources."
A review of the literature about Mill Mountain, and a series of meetings with representative
citizen's groups indicated that the mountain has been viewed in many ways by the people of
Roanoke. These views generally fit within four descriptive categories:
1. Mill Mountain as a beautiful, natural environment that should be retained
2. Mill Mountain as an important symbol for the City of Roanoke
3. Mill Mountain as a significant visual landmark
4. Mill Mountain as a recreational resource
D. Goals, Objectives, and Strategies for the Trail System on Mill Mountain
The Trail Plan Team developed the following goals and objectives for the trail system on Mill
Mountain.
Goal:
To provide a sustainable network of trails which provides residents and visitors with
opportunities to enjoy the natural environment in ways which fulfill their physical, emotional,
and spiritual needs while protecting the mountain resources.
Objectives:
To provide opportunities for multiple uses, including hiking, mountain biking, bicycling, and
horseback riding.
To provide opportunities for disabled users and young people.
To provide sustainable trails.
To provide trails with a range of difficulties, but generally rated as easy to more difficult.
To provide linkages to other trail networks, including Roanoke Valley greenways and Blue
Ridge Parkway trails.
To provide a spectrum of opportunities for educators, including scientists, artists, naturalists, and
teachers.
Strategies:
Provide loops.
Provide sustainable trails built to standards of U.S. Forest Service and International Mountain
Bicycling Association (IMBA).
Provide connectivity among trails and destinations.
Provide for multi-use trails, including hikers, mountain bikers, bicyclists, and equestrians.
Provide signage and wayfinding.
Develop a cadre of volunteers to assist with maintenance.
Provide parking for a variety of users and vehicles.
IV. Trail Inventory
A. Description of Project Study Area
The project study area included 574-acres of Mill Mountain Park. In addition, the Team
assessed the Fern Park Trail as a potential connection to the Blue Pddge Parkway trails. Mill
Mountain Park is approximately a mile from Interstate 1-581 and abuts the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Park is predominately a natural area, except for approximately 10 acres at the summit that
are maintained for the Mill Mountain Star, picnic area, Discovery Center, wildflower garden,
scenic paths, Mill Mountain Zoo and parking areas.
Vicinity Map for Mill Mountain Park
Craig County
Roanoke County
Botntourt County
Franklin County
8
B. Data Collection Process and Methods
Pl'oce$$
The team used the following process:
1. Inventory
a. Development of inventory forms and system.
b. Training and procedure review with team.
c. Inventory of existing trails and road beds.
d. Review of potential trails and connections.
2. Mapping of existing and potentials trails.
3. Review and definition of standards by user group.
4. Review of trail data to determine user suitability and difficulty.
5. Coordination with Mill Mountain Management Plan team.
6. Recommendations for each trail of user groups and actions needed.
7. Composition of trail plan for presentation to Mill Mountain Advisory Committee.
Methods
The team review.ed several existing trail inventory systems, including the U.S. Forest
Service, National Park Service, and Appalachian Trail Conference. Four of the Team members
had been involved with the Blue Ridge Parkway trail inventory and plan, which used the
Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP). The team decided to use a simplified version of
that process. The UTAP system is a method developed by Beneficial Designs for assessing the
accessibility of the trail for wheelchairs. The system records trail characteristics such as corridor
width, tread width, slope, cross slope, obstacles and condition. Because UTAP is most useful
when a trail system is complete, the Team made modifications to the forms to make them more
suitable for collection of pertinent data. A sample cover sheet, data sheet, guidelines to the team,
and a UTAP instruction sheet are included in Appendix A.
The inventory data was collected in leaf-off season in the winter of 2005. Trails were
mapped using Trimble GeoExplorer and TDC1 GPS equipment with assistance from the
Roanoke Valley Governor's School. There are significant gaps in satellite coverage for certain
parts Of the mountain due to topographical and forest canopy challenges; these sections were
mapped multiple times. The raw data and draft mapping were then presented to Virginia Tech
for GPS correction and final trail mapping.
With regard to trail names, some of the trails had existing colloquial names. These were
used during inventory. Others were given names by the team as illustrated via the tables on the
next page that show the trails which were inventoried and those which were only mapped. Those
which were only mapped were~either "not yet in existence but potential connections" or created
by "illegal motorized activity".
9
Trails Assessed with Inventory Names
Name Used During Inventory Segment Start Segment End
West Side
Car Trail Prospect Road at Big Sunny Robin Hood Rd.
Connecting Trail Car Trail Saddle
Fern Park Trail - Upper Developed area House site
Fern Park Trail - Lower Developed area Upper trail
lan's Spot Fishburn Parkway Dead end below Monument Trail
Ivy Trail Ivy Street Woodcliff Road
Kepley Trail Saddle Morrison Street
Mill Mountain Greenway Prospect Road at Sylvan Discovery Center
Mill Mountain Greenway Extension Saddle Discovery Center
Mill Mountain Star Trail - Lower Parking lot at Rivedand Edge of woods near water tower
Mill Mountain Star Trail - Upper Edge of woods near water tower Mill Mountain Star Trail Connectio~
Mill Mountain Star Trail Connection Parking lot at Star (going to dght) Star overlook
Monument Trail Monument near Fishburn Parkway Star Trail
Terra Alta Trail Star Trail Sylvan Road
Watchtower Trail Mill Mountain Star Trail Connectior Mill Mountain Greenway
Garden City Side
ATV Trail - Unauthorized Tree line at Parkway Contour Road
Bear Hero Trail Triangle Corner on NPS Monumer Better Yet Trail
Better Yet Trail NPS Monument Trail 3 ravine convergence
Contour Road - Garden City NPS boundary by ravine "The Flat"
Contour Road Spur #1 Contour Rd Segment 3 Fishburn Parkway
Contour Road Spur #2 The Flat Fishburn Parkway
H20 Trail The Flat Hilltop Contour Rd.
Hilltop Contour Road Powerline Crown Point St.
Hilltop Loop Trail The Flat Hilltop Contour Rd.
NPS Monument Trail Virginia Pine Lane Triangle Corner
Neighborhood Loop Contour Rd #4 Contour Rd #5
~/irginia Pine Lane Hartsook Blvd, NPS boundary/NPS Monument Tr.
The table below shows the routes which were mapped, but not inventoried because they either
were not built yet or were illegal ATV paths.
Trails Mapped but Not Assessed - Potential Connections,or Closures
Mapped Trails Not Inventoried- Potential Connections or Closures
Name Used During Inventory Segment Start Segment End
ATV Trail 2 - Unauthorized Contour Road/Neighborhoood Tr. Contour Road Segment 5
ATV Trail 3 - Unauthorized Contour Road Segment 3 Contour Road Segment 4
ATV Trail 4 - Unauthorized Contour Road Segment 2 Back yard on Estates Drive
Crown Point Connector - new Crown Point St. Contour Road Segment 5
Fern Park Trail - new Upper trail Chestnut Ridge Trail
Kepley Trail (New to replace road );Near Morrison St. Yellow Mtn Road.
Powerline Trail Riverland Rd. Trailhead Hilltop Contour Road
Tower-Flat Connector ]'he Flat Water tower
Yellow Mtn. Connector Virginia Pine Lane Yellow Mtn Road
10
N
Inventory of Existing Trails on Mill Mountain - Winter 2005
Legend
: Ullofllcial Trails
0 500 1,000 2.0~eet
l!
C. Summary of Current Trail Conditions
Most of the trails on the mountain are in good condition with little erosion. This stability
is largely attributable to the age of the roadbeds and the rockiness of the soil. Some of the road
beds with excessive grade (>20%) are eroded and rutted, particularly the Hilltop Contour Road.
Other erosion is evident on the multiple trails made by all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motor
bikes on the Garden City side of the mountain. There is one creek crossing on the Contour Road
Trail which has been significantly rutted out by ATVs.
The table below summarizes the trail conditions found during inventory. Data
sheets are in Appendix B.
Typical Typical Max Sustained
Name Used During Inventory Length Width Grade Grade Surface
West Side
24" for 1328' 23% for 50'
Car Trail 3839' 60" for 2511' 5% 21% for 30' Natural
27% for 140'
Connecting Trail 702' 36" 22% 24% for 140' Natural
25% for 81'
Fern Park Trail - Upper 1674' 24" 9% 21% for 84' Natural
45% for 15'
lan's Spot 375' 48" 17% 20% for 60' Natural
25% for 230'
Ivy Trail 3540' 110" 3% (paved section) Gravel
21% for 150'
~epley Trail 3383' 48" 12% 19% for 205' Natural
12% for 435'
Mill Mountain Greenway 6481' 210" 10% 11% for 410' Paved
Mill Mountain Greenway Extension 4000' 24" 8% 15% for 50' Natural
Mill Mountain Star Trail - Lover 1296' 168" 11% 14% for 225' Gravel
35% for 70'
Mill Mountain Star Trail - Upper 7204' 48" 12% 21% for 90' Natural
Mill Mountain Star Trail Connection 468' 144" 3% 7% for 150' Gravel
Monument Trail 4214' 24" 8% 18% for 85' Natural
24% for 60'
Terra Alta Trail 3952' 24" 8% 17% for 110' Natural
Watchtower Trail 1228' 60" 7% 12% for 205' Natural
Garden City Side
>20 for 200'
ATV Trail - Unauthorized 1495' 46" 15% >15 for 500' Natural
Bear Hera Trail 300' 84" 20% 28% for 75' Natural
Better Yet Trail 1100' 84" 15-20% >20 for 225' Natural
Contour Road - Garden City -~1 968' 48" 6% 18% for 75' Natural
Contour Road - Segment #2 1293' 60" 10% 23% for 110' Natural
Contour Road - Segment #3 99' 72" 5% 5% Natural
Contour Road - Segment ~ 1058' 60" 5% 12% for 60' Natural
21% for 55'
Contour Road - Segment #5 2417' 72" 10% 19%for 65' Natural
Contour Road Spur #1 1668' 72" 10% 16% for 220' Natural
Contour Road Spur #2 236' 72" >15% 19% for 170' Natural
H=O Trail 1194' 72" 6% 11% for 110' Natural
1/2=5% ·15%for400'
Hilltop Contour Road 2342' 60-72" 1/2=16% in two places Natural
>17% for 410'
Hilltop Loop Trail 830' 54" 15% 22% for 160' Natural
NPS Monument Trail 1059' 96" 8% 10% for 210' Natural
Neighborhood Loop 298' 48" 8% 10% for 75' Natural
Vir~linia Pine Lane 2233' 96" 8% 20% for 60' Natural
12
D. Access and Parking
Mill Mountain's strategic location between South Roanoke, Garden City, and the Blue
Ridge Parkway contributes to its functioning both as a neighborhood park and an important
destination site. Many people walk, bike, or ride to the trails from their homes. Others drive to
one of the parking lots and use the trails from there. Some of the trails with termini on
neighborhood streets are principally accessed without a vehicle; others have minimal on-street
parking. The table below lists the various access points and facilities.
Inventory of Access to Mill Mountain Trails
Number of
Location Type Vehicles Other facilities
54 cars; Visitor center; bathrooms;
Mill Mountain Discovery Center Parking Lot 3 buses,RVs Dicnicking; overlook
Mill Mountain Star Parking Area Parking Lot 15 Overlook; bathroom; kiosk
Riverland Road Trailhead Parking Lot 10 Brochure dispenser
Crown Point St. On street parking 4 ,None
Fern Park/Jefferson St. On street parking 2 !Park, playground
Fishburn Parkway at Monument On street parking 3 Designated by curbing
Fishburn Parkway at Star Tr. On street parking 2 Designated by guardrail
Hartsook Blvd. On street parking 6 None
Mordson Street On street parking 2 None
Robin Hood Road On street parking 2 None
Woodcliff Road On street parking 4 Gate, utility building
Yellow Mtn. Rd. - east side On street parking 6 Gravel pull-off
Ivy Street Walk/ride-in 0 Gate
Prospect Road at Big Sunny Walk/ride-in 0 None
Prospect Road at Sylvan Walk/ride-in 0 None
Yellow Mtn. Rd. - west side Walk/ride-in 0 None
]3 ~
V. Trail Management Issues
The team members recognize that accommodating the trail needs of both residents and
visitors to the Roanoke Valley, while protecting the resource base, is a challenging task. Mill
Mountain provides an urban, "front count~" trail system that could see hundreds of users a
week. Long term management will require sustainable trail design and the continued
development of a partnership approach to planning and managing trail resources.
The team identified the following issues which Parks and Recreation managers will need
to address in managing the trails. Additional information is provided in Appendix C.
A. Sustainable Trail Design
Sustainable trails are needed to protect the soils of Mill Mountain and provide facilities that
require minimal maintenance. Trails should be located in such a way that they can be used
without significant trail degradation or erosion. Such trails are aligned with a rolling contour
design, using grade dips as a standard
drainage structure to remove rain water. The
IMBA book Trail Solutions is an excellent
resource for designing trails.
B. Trail User Designation
In developing this plan, the team discussed
strategies available to manage types of use
on trails. These strategies include single use
trails for different user groups, multi-use
trails for all or portions of trail networks,
and time-sharing programs in which various
user groups are allowed on the trail at
different times of the week. This plan
recommends that most trails on the
mountain allow multi-use with hikers,
mountain bikers, and equestrians, but that
some trails be reserved for single use.
Two ko, considerations in designing
sustainable trails are proper siting and
construction to reduce erosion. Trail erosion
is caused ~1' o combination qf grade, water.
soil 0,~e, and trail users. Water damages the
trail su~ifaee hy removing soil when il.flows
across its sutyface. The steeper the grade, the
more veloci(v and power the water has to move
material downhill Trail users increase this
erosion potential ~v loosening the suSJace pf
the tread, making it eosier Jbr water lo scour it
away. In order to prevent erosion, il is critical
to site the trail in a manner that encourages
sheet flow (a dis~ersed flow ~f water across
the traiO rather than channeling lhe water
down the trail, ]eading 1o a down-curling (~'tlle
trail tread.
Blue Ridge Par~ay Trail PI~, Final Draft
C. Trail Standards
The team reviewed trail design standards from a wide range of agencies and published
sources, as listed at the end of this document. After review and comparison of recommendations,
Park staff selected the U.S. Forest Service guidelines for use in developing this plan.
14
U. S. Forest Service Trails Management Handbook Guidelines, Region 8
11/8/91
Hiker Mountain Bike Homeback
Grade
Max for Easiest 20% for 100' 10% for 100' 15% for 200'
Max for More Difficult 30% for 300' 30% for 300' 25% for 300'
Max for Most Difficult +30% for 500' +30% for 500' =30% for 500'
Max. sustained 5%, 10%, 15%
Turning radius 6', 3', 2'
Clearing Iwidth x ht)
Easiest 48" x 8' 48" x 8' 8' x 10', 6' between trees
More Difficult 36-48" x 8' 36-48" x 8' 6' x 8'
Most Difficult 36' x 8' 36" x max. 8" 3-4' x max 8'
Tread (width & surfaceI
Easiest 18-24", spot gravel 24", relatively smooth 24", surface for stability
More Difficult 12-18", some obstacles 12-24", rough sections 24", leave roots&recks
Most Difficult 12", no graded tread 12", some portage 18", not graded exc. >30% side slope
D. User Conflicts and Responsible Behavior
Trail conflicts develop for a variety of reasons, usually related to users expectations and
desired experience. Many conflicts occur because of inconsiderate user behavior. Such conflicts
can be avoided by education on trail etiquette, posting of guidelines and regulations, and
enforcement of rules. Frequency of contact is an important factor, as hikers normally travel at 2
miles per hour, horses at 5-6 mph, and mountain bikers at 3-15 mph. Interaction among users can
be reduced through careful design and construction or management actions by Parks and
Recreation, such as restricting the direction of usc, days of use, or types of users. The team
recommends an educational program to instill a trail ethic of etiquette in all users.
All trail users should know who has the right of way. Bikers yield to hikers and horses,
with hikers also yielding to horses.
Trail Right of Way Symbol
TRAIL COURTESY
YIELD
TO
Etiquette guidelines for various users are included in Appendix D. All users should be courteous,
speak to others and homes when approaching to pass, restrict noise, and "leave no trace".
15
VI. Trail Recommendations
A. Trail Prescriptions for Usage and Closure
The team reviewed each trail in light of the standards presented above in Section V-C and
the goals and objectives from Section III-D. The recommendations are shown in the tables
below and on the following page:
Trail Uses and Closures
Name Used During Recommended Recommended Use Rationale
Inventory Name
West Side
Open to hikem, mtn. Historically open; grades moderate, condition
Car Trail Big Sunny Trail bikem, equestrians good.
Open; one way for Historically open; grades steep; one way
Connecting Trail Riser Trail horses and mtn. uphill needed for safety and sustainability.
bikes
Extend to Chestnut Not part of Mill Mtn Park or Plan; provides
Fern Park Trail Fem Park Trail Ridge Trail; hikem connectivity to Parkway trails and access for
only Mill Mtn. Parkway trails ara hiker, equestrian
nnlv
lan's Spot No name Close Too steep; does not connect to trails.
Open to hikem, mtn. Easy grade, good condition; too close to
Ivy Trail Crystal Spring Trail bikes neighborhoods for homes.
Open to hikers, mtn. Historically open; fair-good condition; major
Kepley Trail Ridgeline Trail bikers, equestrians connector to Parkway's Chestnut Ridge Trail.
Mill Mountain Mill Mountain Open to all Historically open; paved; connection to
Greenway Greenway downtown.
Mill Mountain Open to hikers, mtn. In Greenway Plan; connectivity to Discovery
Sreenway Extension Ridgeline Trail bikem, equestrians Center
Open to hikem, mtn. Gravel mad suitable for any use; sign as
Mill Mountain Star Wood Thrash-Star ~)ikem, equestrians access to Star and Wood Thrash Trails.
Trail - Lower Access Trail Consider improvement or off-mad mute.
Need connection to Roanoke River
Mill Mountain Star Star Trail Open to hiking only Built for hikers; steep grades; modify termini
Trail - Upper so that qravel mad is not part of Star Trail
Mill Mountain Star No name Open to hikem, mtn. Major connection to Star from parking lot and
Trail Connection bikem, equestrians trail; more of a pathway than trail
Open to hikem, mtn. Good sidehill trail; good connectivity;
Monument Trail Monument Trail bikers, equestrians; combining the two will simplify trail system.
combine with Terra
Alta
Open to hikers, mtn. Good sidehill trail; good connectivity;
Terra Alta Trail Monument Trail bikers, equestrians; combining the two will simplify trail system.
combine with
Monument
Open to hiking only Good width and grade, but steps required to
Watchtower Trail Watchtower Trail connect to Mill Mountain Greenway/Prospect
Road
!
!
16
Name Used During Recommended Recommended Use Rationale
Inventory Name
Garden City Side
Close Illegal Parkway access; too steep; not
ATV Trail - Unauthoriz, No name
sustainable.
Bear Here Trail No name Close Too steep; not sustainable
Close Too steep; not sustainable; no access on
Better Yet Trail No name
downstream end
Open to hikers, mtn. Good sidehill trail; dual track; sustainable.
Contour Road - Wood Thrash Trail bikers, equestrians Need connections on each end to form
Garden City -~1 continuous trail from Yellow Mtn. Road to
~vnt~r tnw~r nnd Riv~dnncl Rd Trnilh~nrl
Contour Road - Wood Thrush Trail Open to hikers, mtn.' Combine with segment #1 above.
Segment #2 bikers, eauestrians
Contour Road -
Segment #3 Wood Thrush Trail Open to hikers, mtn. Combine with segment #1 above.
biker~, ~questdans
Contour Road - Wood Thrush Trail Open to hikers, mtn. Combine with segment #1 above.
Segment #4 bikers, eauestdans
Contour Road -
Segment #5 Wood Thrush Trail Open to hikers, mtn. Combine with segment #1 above.
biker~, equestrians
Contour Road Spur No name Not recommended Connects to J.P. Fishbum Parkway, but
#1 auardrail blocks users.
Contour Road Spur No r~ame Not recommended Connects to J.P. Fishbum Parkway, but
#2 qwrdrail blocks users.
H20 Trail No name Do not open Currently grown up; do not open; connection
to Hillside trails not recommended.
Close Too steep; very eroded in places; not
Hilltop Contour Road No name sustainable; provides illegal access to ATVs
and motor bikes
Hilltop Loop Trail No name Close Too steep; not sustainable
Open to hikers, mtn. Sustainable; connection from Contour Road
NPS Monument Trail Wood Thrush Trail bikers, equestrians Trail to Yellow Mtn. Rd.; used by NPS for
boundary maintenance
Neighborhood Loop No name Close Dead end into a yard on Estate St.
Open to hikers, mtn. Needs rehabilitation, but could be sustainable
Virginia Pine Lane Virginia Pine Trail bikers, equestrians and provides best access to Garden City
neiohborh~d.
ll~apped Trails
ATV Trail 2 - Close ATV created; significant erosion and stream
Unauthorized No name deqradation.
A'I'V Trail 3 - Close ATV created; stream degradation.
Unauthorized No name
ATV Trail 4 - Close Too sieep; dead end into a yard.
Unauthorized No name
Crown Point No name Do not open Trail access at Hartsook instead. No need to
Connector - new build if access closed.
Fern Park Trail - new Fern Park Trail Build Provides connection from Fern Park Trail to
Chestnut Ridoe and thus Ridqeline Trail.
Kepley Trail (New to FUture Possible short connection in futura if road
replace road ) Ridgeline Trail
walk on Morrison becomes Dr0blematic.
Powertine Trail No name' Close Steep; not sustainable; illegal motorized use.
Build Connection from Contour Road Trail/F(at to
Tower-Flat Connector Ridgeline Trail water tower and Riveriand Rd. Trailhead;
,rovides connection for multi-use on Garden
~.il~ ~id~
Yellow Mtn. Build Connection from NPS Monument Trail to
Connector Ridgeline Trail Yellow Mtn. Rd for multi-use trail. Need NPS
!
B. Trail Names and Termini
The team reviewed the existing colloquial and inventory names and the City standard
practices for naming facilities. The trail recommendations above involve combining several of
the trails into continuous sections. The following names are recommended for the trail system.
Mill Mountain Trail System Names
Name Used Durin~l Inventory Official Name
INest Side
Car Trail Big Sunny Trail
Connecting Trail Riser Trail
Ivy Trail Crystal Spring Trail
Keple¥ Trail Ridgeline Trail
Mill Mountain Greenway Mill Mountain Greenway
Mill Mountain Greenway Extension Ridgeline Trail
Mill Mountain Star Trail - Lower Wood Thrush - Star Access Trail
Mill Mountain Star Trail - Upper Star Trail
Mill Mountain Star Trail Connection No name
Monument Trail Monument Trail
Terra Alta Trail Monument Trail
Watchtower Trail Watchtower Trail
Garden City Side
Contour Road Trail - Segments 1-5 Wood Thrush Trail
NPS Monument Trail Wood Thrush Trail
Virginia Pine Lane Virginia Pine Trail
Tower-Flat Connector Wood Thrush Trail
Yellow Mtn. Connector Wood Thrush Trail
The termini of the official trails are shown in the table below.
Termini of Trails in Mill Mountain System
Trail Name Termini
Big Sunny Trail Mill Mtn. Greenway/Pmspect Rd to Robin Hood
Crystal Spring Trail Ivy St. to Woodcliff Rd
Mill Mountain Greenway Sylvan Rd. to Discovery Center
Monument Trail The Monument to Sylvan Rd.
Ridgeline Trail Discovery Center to Yellow Mtn. Rd.
Riser Trail Big Sunny Trail to Mill Mtn. Park entrance
Star Trail Wood Thrush-Star Access Trail to Star
Virginia Pine Trail Hartsook Blvd. to Wood Thrush Trail
Watchtower Trail Star to Mill Mtn. Greenway/Pmspect Rd.
Wood Thrush Trail Wood Thrush - Star Access Trail to Yellow Mtn. Rd
Wood Thrush - Star Access Trail Riverland Road Trailhead to water tower
18
---=-=-.- ~stin~ fo~ Multi-use
~sssss~ ~ulid f~ Multi-use
Official Mill Mountain Trail System
C. Trails by User Group
The table below shows facilities open to each user group.
Hikers Mountain Bikes Road Bicycling Horses
Big Sunny Trail Big Sunny Trail I.P. Fishbum Parkway Big Sunny Trail
Crystal Spring Trail Crystal Spring Trail Mill Mountain Greenway Mill Mountain Greenway
Mill Mountain Greenway Mill Mountain Greenway Mill Mountain Spur Road Monument Trail
Monument Trail Monument Trail Ridgeline Trail
Ridgeline Trail Ridgeline Trail Riser Trail
Riser Trail Riser Trail Virginia Pine Trail
Star Trail Virginia Pine Trail Wood Thrush Trail
Wood Thrush - Star
Virginia Pine Trail Wood Thrush Trail Access Trail
Wood Thrush - Star Access
Watchtower Trail Trail
Wood Thrush Trail
Wood Thrush - Star
Access Trail
!
!
D. Specific Trail Improvement Recommendations
The recommendations in the table below are in addition to general recommendations
above and signage issues.
Trail Name Recommendations
1. Acquire a permanent easement across the Pace property, and
Big Sunny Trail work with property owners to acquire necessary public trail
easements.
2~ Widen trail sections near Prospect Road to 24-36".
Crystal Spring Trail 1. Improve surface for trail use.
Mill Mountain Greenway 1. Install entrance sign.
2. Provide brochures at Discovery Center.
Monument Trail 1. Widen any areas that are not yet 24".
2. Post warning signs on steep slopes near Sylvan.
Ridgeline Trail 1. Install grade reversal at top of steep hill.
2. Coordinate with Mill Mountain Zoo to relocate fencing and
complete trail.
3. Consider a side trail to views from the rocks.
Riser Trail 1. Post for one way use uphill by mtn. bikes and horses.
2. Consider improvemantJalternatives to accommodate two way use.
Star Trail 1. Revise termini to start at end of gravel road near water tower.
2. Rehabilitate eroded sections, eliminate braided sections, install
reverse grades where needed.
3. Establish a nature trail section or loop near the Discovery Center,
~ncorporating a wildflower section.
I. Rehabilitate, installing grade reversals, access control, and
Virginia Pine Trail
drainage features.
Watchtower Trail 1. Install steps at wall on Prospect Road.
Wood Thrush Trail 1. Build three sections of trail to provide continuous route.
2. Coordinate with Blue Ridge Parkway on construction of section
near Yellow Mtn. Rd., including improvements at Yellow Mtn. Road
with directional signage and map of trail network.
Wood Thrush - Star Access Trail 1. Improve surface for trail users or consider alternate location.
20
Connections to Other Systems
1. Complete new connection from Fern Park to Chestnut Ridge Trail with
Fern Park Trail si~lnage to Ridgeline Trail.
2. Regrade intersection of upper and lower trails.
1. Provide connections and signage at Yellow Mountain Road on east and
Chestnut Ridge Trail west sides.
1. Provide connection from Riverland Road Trailhead to Roanoke River
Roanoke River Greenway Graenwa¥.
E. Trail Difficulty Rating
Trails on Mill Mountain were given difficulty ratings based on trail assessment data and
the Team's input. Rating each trail's difficulty can: 1) help users make informed decisions,
2)encourage visitors to use trails that match their skill level, 3) minimize risk and injuries and 4)
improve visitors' experiences. Trail difficulty ratings should be posted on trails, kiosks, and
maps.
The difficulty of the trail will vary depending on the user and mode of travel. Hikers can
negotiate most obstacles. Mountain bikers are more affected by trail surface obstacles. Horses
are less affected by distances, but restricted by clearances. In general, the following factors are
important in rating trail d, iffieulty: tread width, trail clearance, tread surface, trail grade, natural
obstacle, and technical features.
Trail difficulty ratings are assigned under ideal conditions and are based on difficulty
compared to other routes in the area. A trail rated easy by local standards could possibly be rated
moderate or difficult elsewhere. Conditions are always subject to change due to weather and
other unusual conditions. The following system will be used on Mill Mountain trails.
O (Easy) These routes are appropriate for novice through advanced users. They generally
follow obvious, well-marked trails and roads. Grades are gentle, and few obstacles will be
encountered.
I~l l(More Difficult) These routes are appropriate for intermediate through advanced users.
al ITerrain ~ay be steeper, trails narrower, and some obstacles may be encountered.
~b [(Most Difficult) These routes are recommended for physically fit users. Terrain is steep,
~ land technical obstacles may be encountered.
The following table shows the recommended trail difficulty rating by user group for the
Mill Mountain Trail System.
Degree of Difficulty
Hiker Horseback Mountain Bike Road Bicycling
Trail Name
Big Sunny Trail · · · n/a
Crystal Spring Trail · n/a · .n/a
Mill Mountain Greenway [] [] []
Monument Trail · · [] n/a
Ridgeline Trail [] · [] n/a
Riser Trail ~' · ~ n/a
Star Trail [] n/a n/a n/a
Virginia Pine Trail [] [] [] n/a
Watchtower Trail · n/a n/a n/a
Wood Thrush Trail · · · n/a
Wood Thrush - Star Access Trail [] · [] n/a
Roads
J.P. Fishbum Parkway n/a n/a n/a i
Mill Mountain Spur Road n/a n/a n/a
· = Easy ~ = More Difficult ~' = Most Difficult
F. Access and Parking
Existing access and parking options facilitate dispersed use of the P~rk trails. Limited or
dedicated parking should be allowed at all on-street access points. All of the parking lots are full
on occasion, but restriction of parking is one technique to prevent overcrowding on trails.
Parking Improvements
Parking Lots
Discovery Center Parking Lot 1. Provide clear signage for access to trails.
2. Install kiosks with maps, trail routes and difficulty, rules, and
contacts.
3. Continue to allow trailers to park in bus slots.
Mill Mountain Star Parking Area 1. Provide clear signage for access to trails.
2. Finish kiosk.
Riverland Road Trailhead 1. Enlarge to accommodate horse trailers. ,
2. Install kiosks with maps, trail routes and difficulty, rules, and
contacts.
On-street Parking
Crown Point St. 1. Close to parking.
Fern Park/Jefferson St. 1. Continue to allow parking and consider expansion.
Fishbum Parkway at Monument 1. Retain; sign trails.
Fishburn Parkway at Star Tr. 1. Retain.
Hartsook Blvd. 1. Provide trail signage and kiosk.
Morrison Street 1. Allow on-street parking.
Robin Hood Road 1. Allow on-street parking.
Wcodcliff Road 1. Allow on-street parking.
Yellow Mtn. Rd. Parkin,~ 1. Improve parkin,q area with accommodation for horse trailers.
Walk/ride-in Access
Ivy Street No parking.
Prospect Road at Big Sunny No parking.
Prospect Road at Sylvan No parking.
Yellow Mtn. Rd. - west side No parking.
22
Equestrian users are currently the ones for whom parking is most difficult. Vehicles with
trailers require longer parking spots and larger turning radius. The following recommendations
should be considered in addressing equestrian parking:
2.
3.
4.
5.
Work with the Blue Ridge Parkway in establishing horse trailer parking at Chestnut
Ridge Overlook or Roanoke Mountain Campground.
Enlarge or redesign the Riverland Road Trailhead to accommodate horse trailers.
Explore parking options in partnership with AEP.
Allow trailers to park at the Discovery Center parking lot, and consider horses in any
re-design of parking areas.
Explore improvements to the Yellow Mountain Road pull off to make it accessible for
horse trailers.
VII. Trail Management Recommendations
The team discussed issues related to specific trails as well as many management issues.
The Team proposes the following recommendations for implementation of the plan.
A. Minimize illegal uses and activities.
B. Develop an operations and maintenance schedule for the mils.
C. Develop a volunteer program.
D. Establish trail management guidelines for resource protection.
E. Improve trails with siguage.
F. Enhance educational program.
A. Illegal Uses
Numerous illegal activities were noticed during inventory of the trails. These include
ATV and motor bike use, littering, dumping, and destruction of vegetation. There should be a
multi-pronged approach to reduce illegal activities on Mill Mountain Park Trails.
1. Signs should be erected at borders where access challenges are most prevalent.
2. Siguage at tmilheads should indicate roles of the trail.
3. Signage at trailheads should give contact information for reporting trail conditions
and illegal activities.
4. Park staff should coordinate with Roanoke City Police Department for assistance
in law enforcement, including regular patrolling of parking lots, ticketing illegal
activities, and trail patrolling with police on bikes and horses.
5. Volunteer monitoring should be encouraged.
6. Because dumping encourages more dumping, staff should utilize clean-up
programs such as Clean Valley Day and inmate labor to clean up existing
problems.
7. An "Adopt-A-Trail" program is highly recommended to provide more frequent
monitoring.
B. Operations and Maintenance Plan
Parks and Recreation staff should complete a maintenance plan for the Mill Mountain
Trail system and incorporate it into their annual maintenance operations. This plan will specify
maintenance schedules and responsibilities, amenities and improvements needed, budgets,
materials, supplies, and specific trail maintenance management staffing through the department's
Parks Maintenance Division. In addition, the process should address policies on special events,
event bonding, camping, volunteers, special uses, and patrolling. Periodic coordination with
23
other departments on search and rescue, fire prevention and suppression, access maps for
emergency services, and communication channels with reports to Parks staff should also be
addressed.
C. Volunteer Assistance
Roanoke is indebted to the trail volunteers who have dedicated countless hours and labor
in helping to maintain the trails upon Mill Mountain. Both the Department of Parks and
Recreation as well as the team recommends that the Parks and Recreation establish a cadre of
Mill Mountain trail volunteers (similar to the existing team at the Carvins Cove Natural Reserve)
to assist with maintenance, construction, and monitoring. This program should be established
under the existing Parks and Recreation trail volunteer program and be coordinated by Parks and
Recreation. Volunteers should receive training on their duties, report quarterly on standard
reports, and log volunteer hours. An overseer should be assigned for each trail. The program
could include an annual meeting of Mill Mountain trail volunteers and partners with a cook-out,
annual recognition of groups and departments, identification for volunteers such as t-shirts, a tool
shed and inventory, and a quarterly newsletter.
D. Resource Protection Issues
Parks and Recreation staff will need to develop specific resource protection guidelines for
trail management. These might include:
1. Vegetation management, including tree protection, invasive species, and protection of
sensitive communities adjacent to trails.
2. Conformity with Land Use Zones in Mill Mountain Management Plan.
3. Temporary trail closures after rain events or when conditions warrant.
4. Stream crossings, using bridges over perennial streams and hardened crossings at dry
stream beds.
5. Monitoring of trail conditions, using standard Forest Service methods, with annual
photographs taken at key impact areas.
6. Recognition and elimination of bootleg trails.
7. Annual review of impacts to prevent tread changes and correct problem areas.
8. System for users to provide comments and input, such as kiosk and web site.
9. User counts using trail counters.
E. Signage
Parks and Recreation is finalizing a signage plan that will be implemented in all City
owned parks, recreation facilities, greenways, trails, and front-country trails. The plan will be
implemented on Mill Mountain Park's trails once complete. Signs will address:
Wayfinding, with trail names, difficulties, and distances to destinations
· Rules and regulations
· Trail etiquette
· Interpretation of natural and cultural features
In addition, the signage program will include: · Kiosks at trailheads
· Trail blazing, possibly with each trail in a different color
· Brochures and maps
24
Conceptual Samples are shown below.
F. Education
'Z= _ _ ---- I
25
The Parks and Recreation Department has a very active educational program at the
Discovery Center. Enhancement of the program in relation to trails will involve providing
additional information to users and utilizing trails more for environmental education. Options
include:
1. Provide trail etiquette information at all trailheads and parking areas.
2. Utilize the yield symbol on all trails and provide educational brochures on techniques for
approaching horses.
3. Provide safety information on all kiosks.
4. Provide simple brochures and maps of the trail network, with permitted uses and
difficulty ratings.
5. Expand birding information for those utilizing the Birding and Wildlife Trail.
6. Expand the wildflower garden to adjacent trails, using native plants. Involve partners
such as Mill Mountain Garden Club and Blue Ridge Native Plants Society.
7. Expand environmental education programs for schools utilizing trails.
8. Utilize City's marketing avenues to provide information on the trails, special events,
etiquette, and programs.
VIII. List of Resources
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) (1991), Guide
for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, Washington DC, 44p.
Birkby, Robert (1996), Lightly on thc Land: Thc SCA Trail-Building and Maintenance Manual,
Student Conservation Corps Inc., published by The Mountaineers, Seattle, WA, 271p.
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Volume 1, Part 4, Vehicles and Traffic Safety, Sec 4.3
Bicycles, Revised as of July 1, 1998
Community Trails Handbook (1997), The Brandywine Conservancy, Inc., Chadds Ford, PA,
97p.
Daly, Judi, "Sharing the Trail with Horses: Understanding Their Instincts," article published by
American Trails, in Trail Tracks, Stuart MacDonald, editor, Volume 32, Number 2, Summer
2003, p. 22.
Duffy, Hugh (1991, June), Developing Sustainable Mountain Trail Corridors, National Park
Service, Rivers & Trails Program, Denver, CO.
Edwards, Rich (2003 January), A Report and Recommendations for the Blue Ridge Parkway
Trails in the Roanoke Area (2003, January), Unpublished report, International Mountain
Bicycling Association, 1 Op.
Finstick, Eric, "Managing Heavily-Used Trails: Alternative Day Zoning," article published by
American Trails, in Trail Tracks, Stuart MacDonald, editor, Volume 32, Number 2, Summer
2003, p. 26.
Flink, Charles, and R. Seams (1993), Greenways: A Guide to Planning, Design, and
Development, Washington DC, Island Press, 351 p.
Graefe, A.R~ Kuss, and Vaske (1990), Visitor Impact Management: The planning Framework,
National Parks and Conservation Association, Washington DC, 106p.
Hooper, Lennon, (1988), NPS Trail Management Handbook, National Park Service, Washington,
DC.
Kelley, Michael (1998, October), Bikes and Horses: A Case for Sharing, presented at the
National Symposium on Horse Trails in Forest Ecosystems, Clemson University.
Marion, Jeffery, Joseph Roggenbuck, and William Manning (1993), Problems and Practices in
Backcountry Recreation Management: A Survey of National Park Service Managers, Denver,
CO, National Park Service, Natural Resources Publication Office, 65p.
McCoy, M. and M. Stoner (1992) Mountain Bike Trails: Techniques for Design, Construction,
and Maintenance, Missoula, MT, Bikecentenial, 19p.
Miller, Jay S, (1983) Construction & Maintenance of Horse Trails, prepared in cooperation with
Arkansas Trails Council, U.S. Forest Service, Arkansas Trail Ride Association, and the
Northwest Arkansas Horse Trail construction volunteers, 32p.
26
Moore, Roger, (1994) Conflicts on Multiple-Use Trails: Synthesis of the Literature and State of
the Practice, sponsored by The Federal Highway Administration and the National Recreational
Trails Advisory Committee, (Report #FHWA-PD-94-031), Washington DC, 70p.
National Park Service Management Policies (2001), Chapter 9, Park Facilities, National Park
Service, Washington DC.
Parker, Troy Scott, (2003), Natural Surface Trail Design: The Pattern That Works,
Natureshapes, Inc.
Parker, Troy Scott, (1994), Trails Design and Management Handbook, Open Space and Trails
Program, Pitkin County, CO.
Proudman R.D and Raj ala (198 I) Trailbuilding and Maintenance, Boston, MA, Appalachian
Mountain Club, 286p.
Rathke, David M. and Melvin Baughman (1994), Recreational Trail Design and Construction,
Minnesota Extension Service and University of Minnesota, 28p.
Ritter, Mike, Jan Ritter, Joey Klein, Rich Edwards, and Jen Edwards, (2001), Building Better
Trails: Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Outstanding Trails, International Bicycling
Association, Boulder, CO, 64p.
Roanoke Valley, Blue Ridge Parkway Trail Plan, Final Draft, (2004 January 20), Unpublished
plan compiled by Blue Ridge Parkway, Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission, National Park
Service Rivers and Trails Program, and Roanoke Valley Blue Ridge Parkway Planning Team,
79p.
Ryan, Karen-Lee, editor (1993), Trails for the Twenty-First Century: Planning, Design, and
Management Manual for Multi-Use Trails, Rails-To-Trails Conservancy, Island Press,
Washington DC, 214p.
Standard Specifications for the Construction of Trails (1984, June), US Forest Service,
Engineering Staff, Washington DC, EM-7720-102, 140p.
Steinholtz, Robert T. and Brian Vachowski, (2001, September), Wetland Trail Design and
Construction, USDA Forest Service, Technology and Development Program, Missoula, MT,
0123-2833-MTDC, 82p.
Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook (2000, August), USDA Forest Service,
Technology and Development Program, in collaboration with the Recreational Trails Program of
the Federal Highway Administration, Missoula, MT, 139p.
Trail Solutions: IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack, (2004), International Mountain
Bicycling Association, Boulder, CO, 272p.
27
United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, (1999),
Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access. FHWA-HEP-99-006, HEHE/8-99/(SM)E, and
FHWA-EP-01-027, HEPH/8-01 ( 1 OM)E, 2 volumes.
United States Forest Service, Angeles National Forest, (1991, February), Trail Selection Criteria
for Mountain Bike Use on Existing Forest Trails.
Universal Trail Assessment Process Training Guide (1998), Beneficial Designs Inc., PAX Press,
Santa Cruz, CA, 74p.
Virginia Bicycle Facility Resource Guide, (2002, January) Virginia Department of
Transportation, Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginia Greenways and Trails Toolbox, (2000), Department of Conservation and Recreation,
Commonwealth of Virginia.
28
Appendix A
Trail Inventory Forms
Trail System
Trail Name
Mgt. Agency
Mill Mountain
Roanoke Parks and Rec
Existing Potential
Assessment Date
Assessment Team
Status
Termini
Trailheads/Access
Attractions/Detractions
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
__Hiking
Bicycling
Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
End
Max
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
__Yes __No
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Guidelines for Mill Mountain Trail Assessment
1. Fill out one Trail Cover Sheet and at least one Data Collection Form for each trail.
2. Fill out one Data Collection Sheet for each Trail Segment.
3. Use the Universal Trail Assessment Process Fast Facts Sheet for guidelines.
4. Start a new segment (and new Data Collection Form) if:
* trail surface changes signficantly, e.g. from gravel to natural
* trail crosses a read or intersects another trail
* trail changes from existing to potential
5. On the Data Collection Sheet, put a station marker whenever:
* trail changes direction by · 15degrees
* trail grade or cross slope changes by >5%
* trail grade (up or down) changes for more than 20 feet
* the last station flag is almost out of sight
* surface type changes
* intersection with other trails
6. Short dips, ruts and bumps can be recorded as features instead of stations.
7. For Features:
* Feature Numbers should be consecutive - 1,2,3,4, etc.
* Feature Distance should correspond to the Station reading frem the wheel at that location.
* Provide as many details as possible.
* The Features list can be longer or shorter than the Station list.
* Natural features (large rocks, etc) do not have to have a Condition ranking.
* Be sure to note vertical obstructions as well as items on the surface.
Universal Trail Assessment Process
Fast Facts
~ Width - Tape Measure
~ ~t~a~lwidth of c~ear pa~ of trevelor visible tmii
Trail Bed Zone (T)
· Covers visible tr~ ~igM*of-way,
· Height ~ on de~gnateo user gre~ (e.g. 84' tot
a ~Mestrien trail, 3m lot an equss~an ting).
Visual Field Zone (V)
· InC~des slgrflflcanl f eatt/ms visible or aocesssd frem
Tread Obetructlon - Tape Measure
· Feature wilhtn T Zone that may ot~mct psssage or be
· For tread obattuctions 1oo nomerous ~o measure
irxtMeuslly (such a~ mo~s and reeks), mmn:l the
distance where the tread obstructions begin and end.
· Comolete all feature boxes.
· Measure remairang ;mad wide.
Vertical Obstruction - VO
· Obstmctlono that pmtn;de acmes or down into the
T Zono but do not nonlact tread surface.
pushed away.
· C, omoie~e afl f~atu~e ~
Minimum Clearanoe Width - MCW
· Occurs whe~ boundary on bo~h sldus of the troll limlts
the passage space to less than the design width and
there is no alterr~ path.
· Ob)ects essily i:~h~ away do not cause an MCW.
· Boundary height based on user grou~.
· Record MCW in~orn~tion or cause as a Feature.
Surface Characteristics
Detet~ surface firmness at representative Iocetio~
Paved P Solt
~ H V~ ~ V
~ F
~~ ~n ~ ~ at
Agg~/ rca Soil
Bedrock Rock/Boulder Vegetatkm- notur
~ same Rubb~ Wa~r
Co~ Sand Wood * chtp/mulcl
Crushed stone (fines) Shell Wood - decking
Enl~ wnod fiber Snow
E,x~mq~# of Trail Fe~tmre~
root vmted~r
Nmi F#tur#
watedall
dmpoff noxious plant
ford miling
geolhermal water crossing
abutment retaining wall
crib trestle
Built F~tur#
bench pianio
b~dge picnic area
causeway step
c~nU~ng turn ss4~:hl~=k
~ way trail
mate~als, db~enstnos, text,
and any graphics.
141 Fast Fa~s 2~g Final
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Appendix B
Trail Data Sheets
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name ATV Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status x Existing
Termini Start: Fishburn Pkwy
End: Near Saddle
Potential
Trailhds/Access
Assessment Date 2/1/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Liz Belcher
Paul Chapman
Bill Gordge
Tom Clarke
Attractions/Detractions
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
Usage/Activities
__Walking/jogging
__Hiking
Bicycling
__Horseback dding
ATV
Camping
Other
1495
46
End
Max
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Trail Junctions
Garden City)
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Bear Here Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status x Existing
Termini Start: Triangle Corner
End: Better Yet Trail
Potential
Trailhds/Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
End
Max
Usage/Activities
__Walking/jogging
__Hiking
__Bicycling
__Horseback riding
x ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/22/2005
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Detractions) Very Steep
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Better Yet Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini
Start:
End:
x Existing Potential
NPS Monument Rd.
3 ravine convergence
Trailhds/Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
__Bicycling
__Horseback riding
x ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
. Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/22/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Obedender
Dick Clark
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Relativel, old rd.- trenched.
some ATV use
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
lO0m
.u. II II [
I-!
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Connecting or Woodcliff Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini Start:
End:
Trailhdsl Access
x Existing Potential
Intersection w/Car Trail
Intersection w/Kepley Trail
near Fishburn Monument.
Assessment Date 2/8/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Paul Chapman
Christine Langan
Attractions/Detractions
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
Usage/Activities
__Walking/jogging
__Hiking
Bicycling
__Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
702'
42"
End
Max
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Steep grade
Unmaintained but in good shape
Maintenance
X
Well maintained
Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Trail System Multiple
Trail Name Garden City Contour Road
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini Start:
End:
Trailhds/Access
.x. Existing Potential
Assessment Team
BilI.Gordge (2/1/05, 2/15/05)
P.Chapman (2/1/05, 2/15/05)
Liz Belcher (2/1/05, 2/15/05)
Tom Clarke (2/1/05)
Dick Clark (2/15/05)
L. Oberlender(2/1/05, 2/15/05)
Attractions/Detractions
Trail Junction
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
. Bicycling
Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
End
Max
Allowed?
__Yes
__Yes
__Yes
__Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
_ _Partly maintained
Unmaintained
o o o o o o o o o o ~!~ o o o o ~
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Contour Spur Trail #'
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini Start:
End:
Trailhdsl Access
x Existing Potential
Contour Rd. Intersection
Near Fishburn Pkway @
rock out crop
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
__Hiking
Bicycling
__Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/1/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Bill Gordge
Paul Chapman
Tom Clarke
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Contour Spur #2 Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini
Start:
End: Fishburn Pkwy
...~_x Existing Potential
Flat w/Contour Road
Trailhds/Access none
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
236
72
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
Bicycling
Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes x No
Yes ~xNo
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/15/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Paul Chapman
Liz Belcher
Bill Gordge
Attractions/Detractions
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Very wide, old roadbed to a fiat loading
area or building site.
Maintenance
Well maintained
_x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
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Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Fern Park Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status x Existing
Termini Start: Fern Park
End:
x Potential
Trailhds/Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
End
Max
Usage/Activities
x Walking/jogging
x Hiking
Bicycling
. Horseback dding
ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
~xYes No
x Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/10/2005
Assessment Team
Betty Field
B. Fitzpatrick
Liz Belcher
Tom Clarke
Dick Clark
Linda Oberlender
Attractions/Detractions
Roanoke to Chestnut Ridge Trail &
Mill Mt.
Trail Junction
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
_x_Partly maintained
Unmaintained
0
U.
0
~ 0 m
~1
/
-
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name H20 Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini Start:
End:
Trailhds/Access
Existing ~X Potential
Flat on GC Contour Road
Hilltop Contour Rd
(near powerline)
None
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
1194
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
Bicycling
Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
x Other
Illegal Dumping
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes x No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/17/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Obedender
Gary Oberlender
Betty Field
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
roadbed w/numerous trees
i in it, Good location if cleared. Good
continuation of Contour Rd. Trail.
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
. Partly maintained
X Unmaintained
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Hilltop Contour Rd. '~
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status x Existing
Termini Start: Powerline
End: Crown Point St.
Potential
TrailhdslAccess Crown Point St
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
2342'
End
Max
Usage/Activities
.x. Walking/jogging
x Hiking
x Bicycling
? Horseback riding
x ATV
Camping
x Other
Utility Maintenance vehicles
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes x No
Yes No
Yes ? No
Yes ? No
Assessment Date 2/17/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Gary Overlender
Betty Field
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Much of trail is good contour road, but
, into
Crown Point)
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
E
I-
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Hilltop Loop Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status x Existing
Termini Start: Flat
End: Hilltop Contour Rd.
Potential
Trailhds/Access none
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
83O
End
Max
Usage/Activities
x Walking/jogging
..x. Hiking
? Bicycling
? Horseback riding
x ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
~xYes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes _x_No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/17/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Obedender
Gary Oberlender
Betty Field
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
connection from fiat to
3. Would be better to use H20
trail
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Mostly on old road. Gully erosion on
Trenchin~l of road/trail
Maintenance
Well maintained
x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name lan's Spot Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini
Start:
End:
x Existing Potential
Ditch at edge of Fishburn Pkwy
New Monument trail
Trailhds/Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
375
48
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
__Bicycling
__Homeback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 3/10/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Trenchin( of road/trail
Maintenance
Well maintained
x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
El
E
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Ivy Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status ~( Existing
Termini Start: Woodcliff Rd.
End: Ivy St at Henritze House
Potential
Trailhdsl Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length 3540'
Average Width 9'
Average Slope
Elevation Start End
Min Max
Usage/Activities
x Walking/jogging
.x, Hiking
x Bicycling
? Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
x Other
stray vehicles
Allowed?
x Yes No
x Yes No
x Yes No
x Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes x No
Assessment Date 2/10/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Betty Field
Tom Clarke
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Recently graveled
Trail Junctions
None
Trail Notes
Recently changed by Water Authority
from a woods road/trail to a road.
sudace.
Maintenance
Well maintained
Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Kepley Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini
Start:
End:
x Existing Potential
Saddle/Fishburn Monument
Morrison Rd. @ Kepley House
Trailhds! Access Fishburn Parkway at
Monument
Morrison Rd.
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
3383
48"-72"
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
Bicycling
Horseback riding
ATV
__Camping
Other
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes NO
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/8/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Paul Chapman
Christine Langan
Attractions/Detractions
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Mostly on old road. Gully erosion on
'ades
Trenching of road/trail
Maintenance
Well maintained
.x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
~~ o c .-~
m mm mm mm mm mm mm mm
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Mill Mt. Greenway
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini
Start:
End: Discovery Center
~x Existing Potential
Prospect/Sylvan intersection
Assessment Date 3/10/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Trailhds/Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
Usage/Activities
~ Walking/jogging
x Hiking
x Bicycling
__Horseback dding
ATV
__Camping
Other
6481
210"
Trail Junctions
End
Max
Allowed?
x Yes
x Yes
.x. Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Trail Notes
No
No
No
No
No Maintenance
No
No
No
x Well maintained
Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Trail Name Monument Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status ~x Existing
Termini Start: Fishburn Pkwy
End: Prospect Rd.
Potential
Trailhdsl Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
4214
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
Bicycling
Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Paul Chapman
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
·
!
!
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Neighborhood Loop'
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status x Existing
Termini Start: Contour Trail4
End: Contour Trail 5
Potential
Trailhds/Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
Bicycling
Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/15/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Paul Chapman
Bill Gordge
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name NPS Monument Rd.'
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status _x Existing
Termini Start: VA Pine gane
End: Triangle Corner
Potential
Trailhdsl Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
Bicycling
Horseback riding
x ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
, Yes No
Yes No
yes No
Yes NO
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
~,ssessment Date 2/22/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Contour Rd.
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Ends at Triangle of roads around 2 NPS
monuments
Maintenance
Well maintained
x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
o ~ ~
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Star Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini
Start:
End:
x Existing Potential
Parking lot- Riverland
Mill Mtn Star trailhead
Trailhds! Access
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
Bicycling
Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date Mulitple
Assessment Team
Attractions/Detractions
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Assessed in 5 section, first three
continuous stations, 4 & 5 separate
Maintenance
Well maintained
. Partly maintained
Unmaintained
E
C
~o'o
'0 0 m
E
"0 0 m
.~ >
I-!
' ~~ Ill
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Terra Alta Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status .x Existing
Termini Start: Star Trail
End:
Potential
Driveway off Sylan/Prospect
Trailhdsl Access Sylvan/Prospect
Summary Trail Data
Total Length 3952'
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start End
Min Max
Usage/Activities
X Walking/jogging
x Hiking
x Bicycling
x Horseback riding
x ATV
x Camping
Other
Allowed?
x Yes No
x Yes No
x Yes No
x Yes No
Yes x No
Yes x No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 2/6/2005
Assessment Team
Brian Batteringer
Dave Tompkins
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Graat Trail
Connection to town
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
1. Issue: finish connector from Terra
Alta to Toll Gate?
~ could be one trail w/
Monument Trail
Maintenance
x Well maintained
Partly maintained
Unmaintained
!
:
|
Trail Name VA Pine Lane Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status x Existing
Termini Start: Hartsook St.
End:
Trailhds/Access
Potential
NPS boundary (potentially
Yellow Mt. Rd.)
Hartsook St.
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
wide constructed road, often
trenched
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
__Hiking
__Bicycling
__Horseback riding
x ATV
Camping
Other
Trail Junctions
End
Max
Allowed?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Trail Notes
Not cleared beyond NPS boundary
No i~in: Road
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Maintenance
Well maintained
x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Trail System Mill Mountain
Trail Name Watchtower Trail
Mgt. Agency Roanoke Parks and Rec
Status
Termini Start:
End:
Trailhds/Access
x Existing Potential
Star Trail across from Watch
Tower Steps
Mill Mt. Greenway (Prospect)
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
1228
24-96
End
Max
Usage/Activities
__Walking/jogging
__Hiking
__Bicycling
__.Horseback riding
ATV
Camping
Other
Allowed?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Assessment Date 3/10/2005
Assessment Team
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Liz Belcher
Attractions/Detractions
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Maintenance
Well maintained
x Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Status . Existing _~_x Potential
Termini Start: Va Pine Lane
End: Yellow Mt Rd/Chestnut Ridge
Trail
Trailhds/Access Yellow Mt Rd
Summary Trail Data
Total Length
Average Width
Average Slope
Elevation Start
Min
End
Max
Usage/Activities
Walking/jogging
Hiking
Bicycling
Horseback riding
A'I'V
Camping
Other
Allowed?
, Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes NO
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Linda Oberlender
Dick Clark
Liz Belcher
~ AttractionslDetractions
~ Great Opportunity to connect to
t short
of new sidehill construction on
NPS land
Trail Junctions
Trail Notes
Would be approximately 200- 400 yds
Maintenance
Well maintained
Partly maintained
Unmaintained
Appendix C
Trail Management Issues
In developing the Blue Ridge Parkway Trail Plan, Final Draft, the Parkway trail
committee looked at a variety of trail management issues, including design, maintenance
and user conflicts. The following excerpts are taken from that Plan. These issues and
others are more fully discussed in the List of Resources referenced at the end of the Mill
Mountain Trail Plan.
Resource Protection
"Trails must be properly designed and sited in order to minimize erosion and
subsequent impacts to local natural and cultural resources, such as archeological sites,
plants, wildlife, and water features. As trails experience erosion, or form depressions
with standing water, many trail users will ride or walk around the degraded site, creating
a wider trail. Increasing trail width leads to trampling of vegetation, and creates larger
canopy openings, which are detrimental to many wildlife species.
"Sediment from eroding trails can increase water turbidity in adjacent streams or
rivers. Turbid conditions can reduce the availability of light to aquatic plants, and
smother the breeding grounds of both invertebrates and ftsh. Because of these
environmental impacts it is important to locate trails, especially those that will receive
heavy use, in a manner that avoids wet areas, steep slopes, and/or highly erodible soils. '
(pp. 18-19)
Sustainable Trail Design
"Most trail designers have recognized that the easiest and most effective way in
which to reduce erosion and protect the trail tread is through contour trail design.
Contour trails, also referred to as sideslope trails, follow grades that are ~ to ~ of the
side Mope of the hill, and outslope slightly toward the low side. These features
encourage sheet flow of water across the trail, and thus minimize erosion by redirecting
water off the trail. Grade reversals or "dips" are also used to reduce erosion by
redirecting water off the trail." (p.l 7)
Benefits and Challenges of Shared-Use Trail System
"Trail managers face many challenges in their attempts to provide a safe and
high quality trail user experience, while protecting the area's natural resources. This
becomes increasingly difficult as the number and diversity of trail users increase.
Researchers believe that people who participate in outdoor recreation activities do so for
certain desired outcomes, such as solitude, challenge, spend time with family or friends,
experiencing nature or others. These desired outcomes vary differently across user
groups, within user groups, and even within individuals on different outings. In fact,
individuals are often attempting to satisfy multiple desires in a single outing.
"In a perfect world, land managers wouM be able to provide a high quality
opportunity for every type of experience trail users might possibly seek, but given the
sheer numbers of trail users with differing preferences, a limited land base, limited
budgets, and limited staffing, this is rarely possible. ,,t multi-use trail, deftned as a trail
that is used by more than one user type (or for more than one activity), is favored by
managers in addressing the increasing needs for close-to-home outdoor recreation. An
important caveat is that all three challenges of resource protection, visitor experience,
and safety need to be achieved ' (p. 17)
Managing Trail User Conflict
"The combination of trail conditions, levels of trail use, and mix of users may lead to
conflicts among various user groups. Conflicts are related to several factors including:
existing trail conditions, such as poor sight lines, narrowness, or wide open sections
of trail that may encourage excessive speed
a lack of knowledge of, or disregard for, trail user etiquette and trail regulations,
the relative or perceived different speeds of various user groups, and
a high concentration of users in one area resulting in aperception of crowding.
"Mitigation measures for trail use conflicts generally fall within one of four
categories: education, regulations and enforcement, site design improvements, and
monitoring. Education is a critically important tool in addressing user conflicts by
promoting a shared-use ethic based on trail etiquette. Techniques frequently used by trail
mangers include: signage, brochures, ranger patrols, trail guides, presentations to civic
organizations or user groups, and volunteer patrols.
"In a recent study of backcountry recreation management in 93 National Parks
(Marion, Roggenbuck, and Manning, 1993), managers listed actions they had taken to
reduce crowding and conflict in backcountry areas. The top five responses are listed
below:
1. Inform visitors about crowded conditions they may encounter in certain areas.
2. Encourage quiet behavior and activities.
3. Inform visitors about conflicting uses they may encounter in certain areas.
4. Encourage use of less popular access points and backcountry areas.
5. Encourage off season use.
"Conflicts on trails can be a serious issue, and there may be some situations when
site conditions warrant the designation of separate trails for different aser groups. This
strategy also has its drawback. Some trail designers have found that single use trails can
be expensive, difficult to enforce, and may limit opportunities for communication among
user groups (McCoy and Stoner, 1992). These researchers believe that positive
interaction among user groups on a trail is the best way to foster communication,
understanding, and a strong cooperative trail community." (pp. 19-20)
Safety
"Trail design, education, and enforcement aH play a part in ensuring safety on
the trail. During the trail design process, attention shouM be given to ensuring adequate
sight Hnes and stopping site distance. This is particularly true of shared use trails where
user groups travel at different speeds. The Community Trails Handbook developed by the
Brandywine Conservancy (1997), recommends a stopping site distance of SO feet for
shared-use trails, with sight lines of 6O feet. This is consistent with recommendations
from the Angeles National Forest trail selection criteria for mountain bike use which
recommend 50feet stopping sight distance on forest trails with grades of 10-15%. Sight
distances shouM increase as the speeds, tread width, and surface quality increase (US
Forest Service, 1990).
"Strategies to slow down speeds of mountain bikers include: establishing a
maximum gradient for the trail, limiting the length of steep slope areas, adding level
sections and/or grade reversals for long downhill sections, reducing trail width and
adding turns to limit sight distances. (Edwards, 2003,).
"Finally, education between the various users groups is critically important for
each trail user to have an awareness of the needs and constraints of others using the
trail. Trail etiquette signs or "rules of the trail" shouM be posted at major access areas.
In addition, joint training events can be hem to build understanding between trail users."
(pp. 21-21)
Appendix D
Guidelines and Etiquette for Trail Users
In order for a multi-use trail system to work well, all users must exhibit high
standards of behavior and protect the resource they use. The following guidelines for trail
etiquette are accepted standards for each user group. The Mill Mountain Trail Plan
encourages posting these guidelines and utilizing brochures and other techniques to
educate users on trail etiquette and practices.
Etiquette and Safety for Hikers
The following guidelines are taken from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor
Ethics. Leave No Trace is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and
inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships.
These principles can be applied for bicyclists and horseback riders as well hikers.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
· Know the regulations andspecial concerns for the areayou'll visit.
· Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
· Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
· Visit in small groups. Split largerparties into groups of 4-6.
· Repackage food to minimize waste.
· Use a map and compass to eliminate the use ofmarkingpaint, rock cairns or
flagging.
2. Travel on Durable Surfaces
· Concentrate use on existing trails.
· Walk singlefile in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
· Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out
all trash, leftover food and litter.
· Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200feet
from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
· Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
4. Leave What You Find
· Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and
artifacts.
· Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as youfind them.
· Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
· Do not buiM structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
5. Respect WtTdlife
· Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
· Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural
behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
· Protect wildlife andyourfood by storing rations and trash securely.
· Controlpets at all times, or leave them at home.
· Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
6. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
· Respect other visitors andprotect the quality of their experience.
· Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
· Step to the downhill side of the trail when encounteringpack stock.
· Take breaks away from trails and other visitors.
· Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises
http://www.lnt.org/pro grams/lnt7/#1nt 1
Etiquette and Safety for Equestrians
These guidelines are posted by Equestrian Trails, Inc., a nonprofit corporation
established in 1944 with the charter to be "Dedicated to the Acquisition and Preservation
of Trails, Good Horsemanship, and Equine Legislation."
· Make sure your horse has the temperament and training for riding on congested
public trails. Busy multi-use trails are not the proper place for schooling green
horses.
· Advise other trail users of your horse's temperament, e.g. a horse with a tendency
to Mck shouM always wear a red ribbon on the tail or a stallion shouM wear a
yellow ribbon. Assume that not everyone will know what these ribbons mean, so
be prepared to explain or take the necessary precautions to avoid trouble.
· Obeyposted speed/gait limits and use common sense in crowded areas.
Cantering/galloping on crowded trails endangers everyone.
· Move to the right to allow faster trail users to pass.
· Announce your intentions to pass other trail users and reduce speed in order to
pass safely. Pass on the left only.
· Remove your horse from the trail ifyou begin experiencing behaviorproblems.
· Stay on equestrian approved trails.
· As a courtesy to others in your group, use appropriate hand signals for turning,
slowing, etc., and give verbal warning for dangers on the trail (e.g. holes, low
branches).
· Remember that other trail users may not be familiar with horses or their reactions
to new experiences. Your horse may be another trail users introduction to horses,
what you do is a reflection of the local horse community. Cheerfully answer
questions about your horse. You are an ambassador for the entire equestrian
community.
· Do not clean out your trailer in theparking area.
· On multiple use trails, step offthe trail (if possible) if your horse needs to relieve
himself or kick the droppings off the trail.
http://www, etinationai.com/trailetiq uette, html
Etiquette and Safety for Mountain Bikers
The International Mountain Bicycling Association guidelines are recognized
around the world as the standard code of conduct for mountain bikers.
1. Ride on Open Trails Only.
Respect trail and road closures (ask if uncertain); avoid trespassing on private
land; obtain permits or other authorization as may be required. Federal and state
Wilderness areas are closed to cycling. The way you ride will influence trail management
decisions and policies.
2. Leave No Trace
Be sensitive to the dirt beneath you. Recognize different types of soils and trail
construction; practice low-impact cycling. Wet and muddy trail~ are more vulnerable to
damage. When the trailbed is soft, consider other riding options. This also means staying
on existing trails and not creating new ones. Don't cut switchbacks. Be sure to pack out
at least as much as you pack in.
3. Control Your Bicycle!
Inattention for even a second can cause problems. Obey all bicycle speed
regulations and recommendations.
4. Always YieM Trail
Let your fellow trail users know you're coming. A friendly greeting or bell is
considerate and works well; don't startle others. Show your respect when passing by
slowing to a walking pace or even stopping. Anticipate other trail users around corners
or in blind spots. Yielding means slow down, establish communication, be prepared to
stop if necessary and pass safely.
5. Never Scare Animals
All animals are startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement, or a
loud noise. This can be dangerous for you, others, and the animals. Give animals extra
room and time to adjust to you. When passing horses use special care and follow
directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain). Running cattle and disturbing
wildlife is a serious offense. Leave gates as you found them, or as marked.
6. Plan Ahead
Know your equipment, your ability, and the area in which you are riding -- and
prepare accordingly. Be self-sufficient at all times, keep your equipment in good repair,
and carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions. A well-executed
trip is a satisfaction to you and not a burden to others. Always wear a helmet and
appropriate safety gear.
http://www, imba.com/about/trail rules.html
The Roanoke Times
Roanoke, Virginia
Affidavit of Publication
The Roanoke Times
................................................. + ........................
MARY F. PARKER
CITY OF ROANOKE CLERK'S OFFICE
215 CHURCH AVE SW RM 456
NOEL C. TAYLOR MUNICIPAL BLDG.
ROANOKE VA 24011
REFERENCE: 32143302
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NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARIN
State of Virginia
City of Roanoke
I, (the undersigned) an authorized representative
of the Times-World Corporation, which corporation
is publisher of the Roanoke Times, a daily
newspaper published in Roanoke, in the State of
Virginia, do certify that the annexed notice was
published in said newspapers on the following
dates:
City/County of Roanoke, Commonwealth/State of
Virginia. Sworn and subscribed before me this
_~_~z___day of February 2006. Witness my hand and
official seal.
__~_~d3_~_~_~ Notar~ Public
My commission e~--~7,~--3~ ~00
PUBLISHED ON: 02/15 02/17
(9437524)
TOTAL COST: 187.68
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Notice is hereby given pursuant to §15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as
amended, that Vision 2001 - 202Q, the City's Comprehensive Plan, is proposed to be
amended to include the Mill Mountain Park Management Plan ("Plan") as an element of such
Comprehensive Plan, such Plan guiding the future management, maintenance and
development of Mill Mountain Park and its resources by developing Resource Management
Zones, which classify various areas of the park based on shared characteristics and common
management concerns, and a Trails Plan, which addresses issues relating to the use, location
and names of all existing and proposed trails on Mill Mountain.
A copy of the proposed Mill Mountain Park Management Plan to be considered by
City Council is on file in the Office of the City Clerk, Room 456, Noel C. Taylor Municipal
Building.
A public hearing will be held before the Council of the City of Roanoke on Tuesday,
February 21, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the
Council Chambers, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue, S.W., Roanoke,
Virginia, at which time citizens of the City shall be given an opportunity to appear and be
heard by Council on the subject of this proposed amendment.
If you are a person with a disability who needs accommodations for this hearing,
please contact the City Clerk's Office (853-2541) before 12:00 noon on Thursday,
February 16, 2006.
GIVEN under my hand this 7th day of February ,20 o6 .
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk.
K:\N OTICES/N- AMENDCO Mp REHENS IVEPLAN (MILL MT) 022106 DOC
Notice to Publisher:
Publish in the Roanoke Times once on Monday, February 13, 2006 and Friday, February 17, 2006.
Send bill and affidavit to:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
215 Church Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-2541
or[ or
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC
City Clerk
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
February 24, 2006
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
File #51-289
Jesse A. Hall
Director of Finance
Roanoke, Virginia 24014
Dear Mr. Hall:
I am attaching copy of Ordinance No. 37319-022106 amending the Fee
Compendium to reflect the new zoning designations and associated fees, effective
February 21, 2006.
The abovereferenced Ordinance No. 37319-022106 was adopted by the Council of
the City of Roanoke at a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21,
2006, and is in full force and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attachment
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEW1 ~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06~Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
Jesse A. Hall
February 24, 2006
Page 2
pc:
Richard A. Rife, Chair, City Planning Commission, 1326 Grandin Road, S. W.,
Roanoke, Virginia 24015
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Martha P. Franklin, Secretary, City Planning Commission
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda cerTespondenoe 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 21st day of February, 2006.
No. 37319-022106.
AN ORDINANCE amending the Fee Compendium to reflect new zoning designations and
associated fees; providing for an effective date; and dispensing with the second reading of this
ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke as follows:
1. Fees to process applications for amendments to the zoning map shall be amended to
include the following:
Rezoning to Residential Districts RA, R-12, R-7, R-5, R-3,
RM-1, RMo2, RMF
$600 + $25 per acre
or any portion thereof
Rezoning to Commercial Districts CN, CG, CLS
$900 + $25 per acre
or any portion thereof
Rezoning to Industrial Districts
$900 + $25 per acre
or any portion thereof
Rezoning to Special Purpose Districts
D, Downtown
MX, Mixed Use
IN, Institutional District
ROS, Recreation and Open Space
AD, Airport Development
$900 + $25 per acre
or any portion thereof
Rezoning to Planned Unit Developments Districts
MXPUD, Mixed PUD
INPUD, Institutional PUD
IPUD, Industrial PUD
$1,000 + $25 per acre
or any portion thereof
Rezoning to Overly Districts
H-l, Historic Downtown
H-2, Neighborhood Historic
ND, Neighborhood Design
RCC, River and Creek Corridor
CS, Comprehensive Sign
$250
Amendment to Proffered Conditions
$500.00
K:~ORDINANCES~O-AMEN D FEE COMPENDIUM (ZONING FEES) 011706.DOC
2. The Fee Compendium of the City, maintained by the Director of Finance and
authorized and approved by the City Council by Resolution No. 32412-032795, adopted March 27,
1995, effective as of that date, shall be amended to reflect the new and amended fees with regard to
subdivision and zoning fees.
3. Resolution No. 32412-032795 is hereby amended to the extent and only to the extant
of any inconsistency with this Ordinance.
4. The fees established by this Ordinance will become effective immediately upon its
passage, and shall remain in effect until amended by this Council.
5. Pursuant to §12 of the Roanoke City Charter, the second reading of this Ordinance by
title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
City Clerk.
L:~ATTOP~/EYXDATA~LP51 ~ORDINAN~.a. MEIk~ FEE COM~EIxVDILIM (ZONING FEF~) 011706.1X~
CITY OF ROANOKE
PLANNING BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 166
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
Telephone: (540)853-1730 Fax: (540)853-1230
E-mail: planning @ ci.roanoke.va.us
February 21,2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
Subject:
Proposed Amendments to Fee
Compendium
Planning Commission Action:
Planning Commission public hearing was held on Thursday, January 19,
2006. Presentation was made by City staff. There was no public comment
on the matter. By a vote of 7-0, the Commission recommended that City
Council amend the City's Fee Compendium.
Background:
With City Council's adoption of a new zoning ordinance and official zoning
map for the City of Roanoke on December 5, 2005, all zoning district
designations changed. The existing fee compendium does not incorporate
the new zoning districts and associated filing fees.
Consideration:
The proposed fee schedule incorporates all residential districts into one fee
category and groups all overlay zones and special purpose districts into
separate categories. All fees, with the exception of those fees associated
with residential and overlay districts, are proposed to remain the same.
The overlay district filing fees have been raised to incorporate the new
zoning overlay districts; however, the charge for acreage has been dropped.
The residential fees have been adjusted to reflect a common fee for both
single family and multifamily filings. Fees are established in amounts to
reflect generally the level of staff time to process the applications,
undertake analysis, and compile staff reports.
The following fees should be assessed to process applications for
amendments to the zoning map:
Rezoning to
Residential Districts
RA, R-12, R-7, R-5, R-3, RM-1
RM-2, RMF
$600 + $25 per acre or
any portion thereof
Rezoning to
Commercial Districts
CN, CG, CLS
$900 + $25 per acre or
any portion thereof
Rezoning to Industrial Districts
I-1, I-2
$900 + $25 per acre or
any portion thereof
Rezoning to Special Purpose Districts
D, Downtown
MX, Mixed Use
IN, Institutional District
ROS, Recreation and Open Space
AD, Airport Development
$900 + $25 per acre or
any portion thereof
Rezoning to Planned Unit Developments Districts
MXPUD, Mixed PUD $1,000 + $25 per acre
INPUD, Institutional PUD or any portion thereof
IPUD, Industrial PUD
Rezoning to Overlay Districts
H-l, Historic Downtown
H-2, Neighborhood Historic
ND, Neighborhood Design
RCC, River and Creek Corridor
CS, Comprehensive Sign
$250
Amendment to Proffered Conditions
$500
Recommended Action:
The Planning Commission recommends that City Council amend the City's
Fee Compendium to reflect the changes in the aforementioned fees.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard A. Rife, Chairma~
City Planning Commission
/f
cc: Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
Rolanda Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
The Roanoke Times
Roanoke, Virginia
Affidavit of Publication
The Roanoke Times
............................................... + .......................
MARY F. PARKER
CITY OF ROANOKE CLERK'S OFFICE
215 CHURCH AVE SW RM 456
NOEL C. TAYLOR MUNICIPAL BLDG.
ROANOKE VA 24011
REFERENCE: 32143302
09425188
NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARIN
State of Virginia
City of Roanoke
I, (the undersigned) an authorized representative
of the Times-World Corporation, which corporation
is publisher of the Roanoke Times, a daily
newspaper published in Roanoke, in the State of
Virginia, do certify that the annexed notice was
published in said newspapers on the following
dates:
City/County of Roanoke, Commonwealth/State of
Virrql~i ia. Sworn and subscribed before me this
__~__~_ _day of February 2006. Witness my hand and
~i. cial seal. ~
My commission expgre~ /~4 _-_~-' -
d.,~_-'_ _'~ ............
;~UBLISHED ON: 02/13
TOTAL COST: 171.12
_~_~?__o_~_~ ..... ~_~_ ?_~_ o_~_ ............................ + ......................
Authoriz %b~,'~ ~ ~ y'~
Signature:___~_~___~_~R~___~_~_~¥_~__'__'_, Billin~ Services Representative
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Pursuant to the provisions of§l 5.2-2204, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, the Council
of the City of Roanoke will hold a Public Heating on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., or as
soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the Council Chambers of the Noel C. Taylor Municipal
Building, located at 215 Church Avenue, S.W., Roanoke, Virginia 24011, in order to consider an
amendment to the City's fee compendium to establish new filing fees for petitions to rezone and for
petitions to amend existing zoning proffers.
The proposed new fees are necessitated by the adoption of a new zoning ordinance for the
City which establishes new zoning districts throughout the City. Questions about the content of the
proposed amendment should be directed to the Office of Planning Building and Economic
Development, 853-1730.
Citizens shall have the oppommity to be heard and express their opinions on said matter.
If you are a person with a disability who needs accommodations for this hearing, please
contact the City Clerk's Office (853-2541), before 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 16, 2006.
GIVEN under myhand this 7th day of February ,2006 .
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk.
K:~NOTICES\N -AMEND FEE COMP ENDIUM ZONING DOC022102 DOC
CITY OF ROANOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
February 24, 2006
File #42-166-373
Darlene L. Burcham
City Manager
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Ms. Burcham:
I am attaching copy of Ordinance No. 37320-020606 authorizing execution of a
lease agreement with Juan E. Garcia, Owner, Paradiso Cuban Restaurant, for the
lease of approximately 190 square feet of space located within City-owned property
known as the City Market Building, 32 Market Square, for a term of three years
beginning March 1, 2006 through February 28, 2009, upon certain terms and
conditions, as more fully set forth in a letter from the City Manager addressed to the
Council under date of February 21, 2006.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 2:[, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Attach ment
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
Darlene L. Burcham
February 24, 2006
Page 2
pc:
Mr. Juan E. Garcia d/b/a/ Paradisco Cuban Restaurant, 1049 Forest Park
Boulevard, N. W., Roanoke, Virginia 24017
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
R. Brian Townsend, Director, Planning Building and Economic Development
Lisa Poindexter-Plaia, Economic Development Specialist
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 215t day of February, 2006.
No. 37320-022106.
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the lease of approximately 190 square feet of space located
within City-owned property known as the City Market Building, located at 32 Market Square, for a
term of three (3) years beginning March 1, 2006, through February 28, 2009; authorizing the
appropriate City officials to execute a lease agreement therefore; and dispensing with the second
reading of this ordinance by title.
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on February 21, 2006, pursuant to §§15.2-1800(B)
and 1813, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, at which hearing all parties in interest and citizens
were afforded an opportunity to be heard on the proposed lease.
THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that:
1. The City Manager and the City Clerk are hereby authorized to execute and attest,
respectively, in a form approved by the City Attorney, an agreement with Juan E. Garcia, the owner
and operator of Paradiso Cuban Restaurant, for the lease of approximately 190 square feet of space
located within City-owned property known as the City Market Building, located at 32 Market
Square, for a term of three (3) years beginning March 1, 2006, through February 28, 2009, upon
certain terms and conditions, and as more particularly described in the City Manager's letter to this
Council dated February 21, 2006.
2. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading of this
ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
c!tycler .
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 364
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1591
Telephone: (540) 853-2333
Fax: (540) 853-1138
City Web: ',vww.roanokeva.gov
February 21, 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of Council:
Subject: Market Building Lease
Background:
The City of Roanoke owns the City Market Building located at 32 Market Square,
Roanoke, Virginia 24011. The City of Roanoke began management of the
Building on May 1, 2005, after the former management company, Advantis Real
Estate, terminated the management contract for this property.
Juan E Garcia, the owner and operator of Paradiso Cuban Restaurant, has
requested a lease agreement for approximately 190 square feet to operate a
restaurant serving Cuban cuisine. The proposed lease agreement is for a three
(3) year period, beginning March 1, 2006, through February 28, 2009. The
proposed agreement establishes a base rent rate of the following:
Period PerSquare Monthly Rent AnnualRent
Foot Amount Amount
3/1/06 - 8/31/06 $36.47 $577.44 $3,464.65
9/1/06 - 2/28/07 $28.00 $443.33 $2,660.00
3/1/07 - 2/29/08 $28.84 $456.63 $5,479.60
3/1/08 -2/28/09 $29.71 $470.33 $5,643.99
The initial two six month periods of the proposed rent provides a transition
from the lease rate in Mr. Garcia's previously expired lease into the new per
Honorable Mayor and Members of Council
February 21,2006
Page 2
square foot rent structure that has been identified in the Market Building for
food court tenants. The common area maintenance fee is $300.00 per month
that will increase by 3.00% upon each anniversary of this Lease. Paradiso
Cuban restaurant has been a tenant of the Market Building since November 1,
1995. There is no renewal provision in this lease.
Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager to execute a lease agreement with Juan E Garcia
d/b/a Paradiso Cuban Restaurant, for approximately 190 square feet in the City
Market Building located at 32 Market Square, Roanoke, Virginia 24011, for a
period of three (3) years, beginning March 1, 2006, and expiring February 28,
2009. All documents shall be upon form approved by the City Attorney.
Respectfully submitted,
Darlene L. Bu~cham
City Manager
DLB:Ipp
C~
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Rolanda Russell, Assistant City Manager
Brian Townsend, Director Planning, Building and Economic Development
David Collins, Assistant City Attorney
Lisa Poindexter-Plaia, Economic Development Specialist
CM06-00026
LEASE
Between
THECITYOFROANOKE
and
Juan E Garcia d/b/a Paradiso Cuban Restaurant
LEASE
INDEX
HEADING
PREMISES
TERM
BASE RENT; ESCALATIONS
COMMON AREA MAINTENANCE
LANDLORD OBLIGATIONS
TENANT'S OBLIGATIONS
USE OF PREMISES
EXCLUSIVITY
ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLEI-rlNG
IMPROVEMENTS
SURRENDER OF PREMISES
INSPECTION
INSOLVENCY OR BANKRUPTCY OF TENANT
TRANSFER OF LANDLORD'S INTEREST
ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATE
DAMAGE TO THE PREMISES
DEFAULT OF TENANT
CONDEMNATION
COVENANTS OF LANDLORD
NO PARTNERSHIP
BROKERS COMMISSION
NOTICES
HOLDING OVER
BENEFIT AND BURDEN
GENDER AND NUMBER
ENTIRE AGREEMENT
C:\DOCUME~I\CMSMI 000\LOCALS~I \TEMP~NOTESFFF6g2\PARADISE CUBAN LEASE DOC
T
PAGE
1
1
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
INVALIDITY OF PARTICULAR PROVISIONS
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
INSURANCE
SECURITY DEPOSIT
INDEMNIFICATION
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS
FORUM SELECTION AND CHOICE OF LAW
FORCE MAJEURE
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE
RULES AND REGULATIONS
SIGNAGE
GUARANTY
7
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
10
10
10
10
11
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
Exhibit D
Exhibit E
Exhibit F
Floor Plan
Common Area Floor Plan
Menu
Rules and Regulations
Sign Regulations
Guaranty
C:\DOCUME~I\CMSM1 000\LOCALS-I\TEMP\NOTESFFF692\PARADISE CUBAN LEASE I)OC
TT
LEASE
THIS LEASE is made this .... day of .................... 2006 by and between the
CITY OF ROANOKE (hereinafter referred to as ALandlord~), and Juan E Garcia d/b/a
Paradiso Cuban Restaurant, (hereinafter referred to as ATenant~),
WlTNESSETH:
In consideration of the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto
mutually agree as follows:
1. PREMISES Landlord hereby leases to Tenant and Tenant hereby leases from
Landlord, for the term and upon the conditions hereinafter provided, a section of
the building known as the Roanoke City Market Building (herein referred to as the
ABuilding~) located at 32 Market Square, Stall #131, Roanoke, Virginia 24011, as is
delineated on Exhibit AA8 hereto, which is hereafter referred to as the APremises.8
The Premises consists of approximately 190 square feet of space.
2. TERM The term of this Lease shall commence on March 1, 2006
(ACommencement Date8) and shall expire at ] 1:59 o=clock p.m. on February 28,
2009. A key will be given to Tenant upon execution of the Lease.
3. BASE RENT; ESCALATIONS The base rent for the first year of the term
shall be based on cost per square foot. Tenant shall pay as base rent for the
Premises for each ,ear of the Lease according to the followinc schedule:
Period Per Square Mo~nthly Rent ' Annual Rent
Foot Amount Amount
3/1/06 to 8/31/06 $36.47 $577.44 $3,464.65
9/1/06 to 2/28/07 $28.00 $443.33 $2,660.00
3/1/07 to 2/29/08 $28.84 $456.63 $5,479.60
3/1/08 to 2/28/09 $29.71 $470.33 $5,643.99
If the Commencement Date is other than the first day of the month, the first year of
the Lease term shall be deemed to be extended to include such partial month and
the following twelve (12) months, so as to end on the last dayofthe month. In the
event the Commencement Date is other than the first day ofacalendar month, the
Base Rent ("Rent") (as well as the Common Area Maintenance Fee provided
hereunder) for the portion of the then current calendar month shall be prorated on
the basis of a thirty (30) day month and shall be paid immediately upon the
commencement of the Term.
On the first anniversary of the Lease, and upon each successive anniversary
thereafter, the monthly rent for the next twelve (12) months shall be increased by
three percent (3%) of the previous year=s monthly rental.
Rent shall be paid monthly. The first monthly payment shall be made at the time of
execution of this Lease by the parties; the second and all subsequent monthly
payments shall be made on the first day of each and every calendar month during
the term. Any monthly payment of rent which is not received by Landlord by the
end of the fifth (5th) day of the month shall be assessed a late charge in the
amount of five percent (5%) of such total monthly rent payment. All delinquent
rent, and other charges due under this Lease shall accrue interest at a rate equal to
the current prime rate, as established by the United States Government, plus two
percent (2%) per month or the maximum amount permitted by law, from the due
date of such payment and shall constitute additional rent payable by Tenant under
this Lease and shall be paid by Tenant to Landlord upon demand. Payment shall
not be deemed as received if Tenant's payment is not actually collected (such as
payment by insufficient funds check). Tenant shall pay rent to Landlord at City of
Roanoke, 111 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Roanoke, Virginia 24011, Attention:
Director of Economic Development, or to such other party or at such other address
as Landlord may designate from time to time by written notice to Tenant, without
demand. Checks shall be made payable to Treasurer, City of Roanoke.
4. COMMON AREA MAINTENANCE Tenant agrees to pay Landlord, as
additional rental, Tenant's proportionate share of the costs ("Common Area
Maintenance Fee") of maintaining, operating, repairing, replacing and insuring the
"Common Areas" defined herein.
The Common Area Maintenance Fee for this lease will be a flat fee charge of
Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) per month. [These fees will increase by three (3%)
percent upon each anniversary of this Lease.
The term "Common Area Maintenance Fee" includes all costs and expenses of every
kind and nature paid or incurred by Landlord in operating, managing, equipping,
policing, lighting, repairing, replacing items in the Building and maintaining the
Building. Such costs and expenses will include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) utilities (electric, gas, waste removal, water and sewer charges, storm water
charges; individual telephone service is specifically excluded),
(b) insurance premiums for public liability and property damage for the
Building(excluding Tenant's Premises)
(c) maintenance costs of heating, ventilating and air conditioning,
(d) insect and rodent treatment,
(e) snow and ice removal,
(f) electrical and plumbing repairs in the Common Areas of the Building,
(g) management costs and repairs to the structure of Building which includes
roof and wall repairs, foundations, sprinkler systems, utility lines, sidewalks
and curbs,
(h) security camera systems,
(i) lighting,
(j) sanitary control, drainage, collection of rubbish and other refuse,
(k) costs to remedy and/or comply with governmental and/or environmental and
hazardous waste matters(excluding Tenant's Premises)
(I) repair and installation of equipment for energy saving or safety purposes,
(m) reserves for future maintenance and repair work (which Tenant hereby
authorize Landlord to use as necessary),
(n) depreciation on equipment and machinery used in maintenance, costs of
personnel required to provide such services,
(o) all costs and expenses associated with Landlord's obligation to repair and
maintain and such other items of cost and expense which are relatable to
proper maintenance of the Building and its Common Areas.
The "Common Areas" are defined as all areas and spaces in the Building and
equipment in the Building, as further shown on the attached Exhibit B provided by
Landlord for common or joint use and benefit of the tenants of the Building, their
employees, agents, servants, customers and invitees. The Common Areas further
include, without limitation, roofs, walls, vacant areas, food court, elevator(s),
restrooms, stairways, walkways, ramps, foundations, signs (excluding Tenant's
signage), security cameras, lighting fixtures and equipment, and the facilities
appurtenant to each of the aforesaid, and any other facilities maintained for the
benefit of the Building. Landlord shall have the right to modify the Common Areas
from time to time as deemed reasonable by Landlord.
5. LANDLORD'S OBLIGATIONS
responsible for the following:
Landlord hereby agrees to provide and be
C:\DOCUME~I\CMSM1.000\LOCALS-l\TEMP~NOTIESFFF692\PARADISE CUBAN LEASE DOC
(a)
make all structural and capital repairs and replacements to items in the
Building and to the Common Areas, as defined above, and to maintain the
Building and its Common Areas. Structural and capital repairs and
replacements are defined as repairs or replacements which include but are
not limited to repairs or replacements to the roof, elevators, electrical wiring,
heating and air conditioning systems, toilets, water pipes, gas, plumbing,
other electrical fixtures and the exterior and interior walls. Structural and
capital repairs to Tenant's Premises are specifically excluded.
(b)
pay for the cost of Tenant's utilities (gas, electric, heating, water, telephone
service specifically excluded) and all other services identified through use of
funds from the Common Area Maintenance Fee described above.
(c) provide a key to Tenant upon execution of the Lease Agreement,
6. TENANT'S OBLIGATIONS Tenant, at its sole cost and expense, agrees to
provide and be responsible for the following, in addition to its other responsibilities
pursuant to this Lease.
(a)
Tenant shall keep and maintain the Premise in good repair, condition and
appearance during the term of this Lease, ordinary wear and tear excepted,
and not use any part of the Premises or the Common Areas of the Building in
a negligent manner.
(b)
Tenant shall take good care of the Premises, its fixtures, and appurtenances
and suffer no waste or injury thereto, and shall pay for all repairs and
replacements to the Premises, necessitated by Tenant's actions, whether
capital, structural as defined above, or otherwise.
(c)
Tenant shall surrender the Premises at the end of the term in as good
condition as Tenant obtained the same at the commencement of the term,
reasonable wear and tear excepted.
(d) Tenant shall operate its business as described in Section 7 of this Lease.
(e) Tenant shall pay rent timely as provided in Section 3 of this Lease.
(f) Tenant shall obtain the insurance as required in Section 29 of this Lease.
7. USE OF PREMISES The Premises shall be used for the purpose of
conducting therein the sale of Restaurant serving Cuban cuisine. Tenant covenants
and agrees that at all times during the term hereof, Tenant will actively conduct
such a business in the Premises, keep the Premises amply stocked with good and
fresh merchandise and keep the Premises open for business during the customary
business hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (not less than eight (8) hours per day,
Monday through Saturday) of the Building as established or as may be amended by
Landlord and (ii) the Premises shall be used only for such purpose. The Building will
be closed for the following Holidays or as observed: New Year's Day, Memorial Day,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Nothing herein shall require the
City of Roanoke to open the Building outside of the above designated hours. The
Premises shall not be used for any other purpose without the written permission of
Landlord. Tenant shall not open the Building to the public outside of the customary
business hours or on the Holidays stated above.
8. EXCLUSIVITY Tenant operates a restaurant serving Cuban cuisine as
outlined in attached menu noted as Exhibit "C". Tenant must obtain written
approval of Landlord before adding any item, other than soft drink beverages, to its
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menu and shall paya $100 per item to the Landlord if Tenant does not obtain such
approval. If menu changes persist beyond thirty (30) days without the written
approval of the Landlord the tenant is thereby in default of its Lease. Landlord and
Tenant acknowledge that it is the intent of the parties that current and prospective
tenants of the Building not be allowed to market products that would impair the
sales of the other tenants of the Building. Accordingly, Landlord agrees not to
lease to tenants selling similar food, cuisine or fare as existing tenants of the
Market Building, as determined in the sole discretion of the Landlord, or which will
in the opinion of the Landlord be inconsistent with the intended uses of the
Building. Tenant further agrees not to market any product that would impair a
current Tenant's sales. Tenant acknowledges and agrees that if there is any
disagreement over whether any item sold by a tenant is an item sold by another
tenant of the Building that would impair Tenant's sales, such dispute shall be
determined and resolved in the Landlord's sole discretion.
9. ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING Tenant shall not voluntarily or
involuntarily assign this Lease in whole or in part, nor sublet all or any part of the
Premises without following the procedures detailed herein and obtaining the prior
written consent of Landlord, in Landlord's sole discretion. The consent by Landlord
to any assignment or subletting shall not constitute a waiver of the necessity for
such consent in any subsequent assignment or subletting.
In the event that Tenant receives a bona fide written offer from athird party for the
sublease or assignment of the Premises, Tenant shall forthwith notify Landlord in
writing, attaching a copy of such offer, of Tenant's desire to sublet or assign this
Lease upon the terms of such offer, whereupon Landlord shall have thirty (30) days
to accept or reject such assignment or sublease.
10. IMPROVEMENTS Landlord must approve all alterations, redecorations,
or improvements in and to the Premises in writing beforehand. Such alterations,
redecorations, additions, or improvements shall conform to all applicable Building
Codes of the City of Roanoke, federal and state laws, rules and regulations.
11. SURRENDER OF PREMISES At the expiration of the tenancy hereby
created, Tenant shall peaceably surrender the Premises, including all alterations,
additions, improvements, decorations and repairs made thereto (but excluding all
trade fixtures, equipment, signs and other personal property installed by Tenant,
provided that in no event shall Tenant remove any of the following materials or
equipment without Landlord's prior written consent: any free standing signs, any
power wiring or power panels; lighting or lighting fixtures; wall coverings; drapes,
blinds or other window coverings; carpets or other floor coverings; or other similar
building operating equipment and decorations), broom cleaned and in good
condition and repair, reasonable wear and tear excepted. Tenant shall remove all
its property not required to be surrendered to Landlord before surrendering the
Premises and shall repair any damage to the Premises caused thereby. Any
personal property remaining in the Premises at the expiration of the Lease shall be
deemed abandoned by Tenant, and Landlord may claim the same and shall in no
circumstance have any liability to Tenant therefore. If physical alterations were
done by Tenant, Landlord, at its option, may require Tenant to return Premises to
its original condition (condition at occupancy)when Tenant vacates Premises. Upon
termination, Tenant shall also surrender all keys for the Premises to Landlord and, if
applicable, inform Landlord of any combinations of locks or safes in the Premises.
If the Premises are not surrendered at the end of the term as herein above set out,
Tenant shall indemnify Landlord against loss or liability resulting from delay by
Tenant in so surrendering the Premises, including without limitation, claims made
by the succeeding Tenant founded on such delay. Tenant's obligation to observe or
perform this covenant shall survive the expiration or other termination of the term
of this Lease.
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12. INSPECTION Tenant will permit Landlord, or its representative, to enter
the Premises, upon reasonable notice to Tenant, without charge thereof to Landlord
and without diminution of the rent payable by Tenant, to examine, inspect and
protect the same, and to make such alterations and/or repairs as in the judgment
of Landlord may be deemed necessary, or to exhibit the same to prospective
Tenants during the last one hundred twenty (120) days of the term of this Lease.
13. INSOLVENCY OR BANKRUPTCY OF TENANT In the event Tenant makes
an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or a receiver of Tenant's assets is
appointed, or Tenant files a voluntary petition in any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceeding, or an involuntary petition in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding is
filed against Tenant and the same is not discharged within sixty (60) days, or
Tenant is adjudicated as bankrupt, Landlord shall have the option of terminating
this Lease. Upon such written notice being given by Landlord to Tenant, the term
of this Lease shall, at the option of Landlord, end and Landlord shall be entitled to
immediate possession of the Premises and to recover damages from Tenant in
accordance with the provisions of Article 17 hereof.
14. TRANSFER OF LANDLORD=S INTEREST Landlord shall have the right to
convey, transfer or assign, by sale or otherwise, all or any part of its ownership
interest in the property, including the Premises, at any time and from time to time
and to any person, subject to the terms and conditions of this Lease. All covenants
and obligations of Landlord under this Lease shall cease upon the execution of such
conveyance, transfer or assignment, but such covenants and obligations shall run
with the land and shall be binding upon the subsequent owner(s) thereof or of this
Lease during the periods of their ownership thereof.
15. ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATE Tenant agrees, at any time, and from time to
time, upon not less than ten (10) days' prior notice by Landlord, to execute,
acknowledge and deliver to Landlord, a statement in writing addressed to Landlord
or other party designated by Landlord certifying that this Lease is in full force and
effect (or, if there have been modifications, that the same is in full force and effect
as modified and stating the modifications), stating the actual commencement and
expiration dates of the Lease, stating the dates to which rent, and other charges, if
any, have been paid, that the Premises have been completed on or before the date
of such certificate and that all conditions precedent to the Lease taking effect have
been carried out, that Tenant has accepted possession, that the Lease term has
commenced, Tenant is occupying the Premises and is open for business, and
stating whether or not there exists any default by either party contained in this
Lease, and if so specifying each such default of which the signer may have
knowledge and the claims or offsets, if any, claimed by Tenant; it being intended
that any such statement delivered pursuant hereto may be relied upon by Landlord
or a purchaser of Landlord's interest and by any mortgagee or prospective
mortgage of any mortgage affecting the Premises. If Tenant does not deliver such
statement to Landlord within such ten (10) day period, Landlord may conclusively
presume and rely upon the following facts: (i) that the terms and provisions of this
Lease have not been changed except as otherwise represented by Landlord; (ii) that
this Lease has not been canceled or terminated except as otherwise represented by
Landlord; (iii) that not more than one (1) month's minimum rent or other charges
have been paid in advance; and (iv) that Landlord is not in default under the Lease;
and (v) no disputes exist. In such event Tenant shall be estopped from denying the
truth of such facts. Tenant shall also, on ten (10) days' written notice, provide an
agreement in favor of and in the form customarily used by such encumbrance
holder, by the terms of which Tenant will agree to give prompt written notice to any
such encumbrance holder in the event of any casualty damage to the Premises or in
the event of any default on the part of Landlord under this Lease, and will agree to
allow such encumbrance holder a reasonable length of time after notice to cure or
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cause the curing of such default before exercising Tenant's right of self-help under
this Lease, if any, or terminating or declaring a default under this Lease.
16. DAMAGE TO THE PREMISES If the Building or the Premises shall be partially
damaged by fire or other cause without the fault or neglect of Tenant, its agents,
employees or invitees, Landlord shall diligently and as soon as practicable after
such damage occurs repair such damage at the expense of Landlord, provided,
however, that if the Building is damaged by fire or other cause to such extent that
the damage cannot be fully repaired within ninety (90) days from the date of such
damage, Landlord or Tenant, upon written notice to the other, may terminate this
Lease, in which event the rent shall be apportioned and paid to the date of such
damage. During the period that Tenant is deprived of the use of the damaged
portion of Premises, Tenant shall be required to pay rental covering only that part
of the Premises that Tenant is able to occupy, and Rent for such occupied space
shall be the total rent divided by the square foot area of the Premises and
multiplied by the square foot area that the Tenant is able to occupy.
17. DEFAULT OF TENANT If Tenant shall fail to pay any monthly installment of
Rent and/or as required by this Lease, or shall violate or fail to perform any of the
other conditions, covenants or agreement on its part contained in this Lease and
such failure to pay Rent or such violation or failure shall continue fora period often
(10) days after the due date of such payment or after written notice of any such
violation or failure to perform by Tenant, then and in any of such events this Lease
shall, at the option of Landlord, cease and terminate upon at least ten (10) days'
prior written notice of such election to Tenant by Landlord, and if such failure to
pay rent or such violation or failure shall continue to the date set forth in such
notice of termination, then this Lease shall cease and terminate without further
notice to quit or of Landlord's intention to re-enter, the same being hereby waived,
and Landlord may proceed to recover possession under and by virtue of the
provisions of the laws of Virginia, or by such other proceedings, including re-entry
and possession, as may be applicable. If Landlord elects to terminate this Lease,
everything herein contained on the part of Landlord to be done and performed shall
cease without prejudice, however, to the right of Landlord to recover from the
Tenant all rental accrued up to the time of termination or recovery of possession by
Landlord, whichever is later. Should this Lease be terminated before the expiration
of the term of this Lease by reason of Tenant's default as hereinabove provided, or
if Tenant shall abandon or vacate the Premises before the expiration or termination
of the term of this Lease, Landlord shall use its best efforts to relet the Premises on
the best rental terms reasonably available under the circumstances and if the full
rental hereinabove provided shall not be realized by Landlord, Tenant shall be liable
for any deficiency in rent. Any damage or loss of rental sustained by Landlord may
be recovered by Landlord, at Landlord's option, at the time of the reletting, or in
separate actions from time to time, as such damage shall have been made more
easily ascertainable by successive relettings, or at Landlord's option, may be
deferred until the expiration of the term of this Lease in which event the cause of
action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the date of expiration of such
term. The provisions contained in this paragraph shall not prohibit any claim
Landlord may have against Tenant for anticipatory breach of the unexpired term of
this Lease.
18. CONDEMNATION If any part of the Building or a substantial part of the
Premises shall be taken or condemned by any governmental authority for any public
or quasi-public use or purpose (including sale under threat of such a taking) then
the term of this Lease shall cease and terminate as of the date when title vests in
such governmental authority, and the annual rental shall be abated on the date
when such title vests in such governmental authority. If less than a substantial part
of the common area of the Premises is taken or condemned by any governmental
authority for any public or quasi-public use or purpose, the rent shall be equitably
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adjusted on the date when title vests in such governmental authority and the Lease
shall otherwise continue in full force and effect. Tenant shall have no claim against
Landlord (or otherwise) for any portion of the amount that may be awarded as
damages as a result of any governmental taking or condemnation (or sale under
threat of such taking or condemnation) or for the value of any unexpired term of
the Lease. For purposes ofthis Article 18, a substantial part ofthe Premises shall
be considered to have been taken if more than fifty percent (50%) of the Premises
are unusable by Tenant.
19. COVENANTS OF LANDLORD Landlord covenants that it has the right to
make this Lease for the term aforesaid, and that if Tenant shall pay the Rent and
perform all of the covenants, terms and conditions of this Lease to be performed by
Tenant, Tenant shall, during the term hereby created, freely, peaceably and quietly
occupy and enjoy the full possession of the Premises without molestation or
hindrance by Landlord or any party claiming through or under Landlord.
20. NO PARTNERSHIP Nothing contained in this Lease shall be deemed or
construed to create a partnership or joint venture of or between the Landlord and
Tenant, or to create any other relationship between the parties hereto other than
that of Landlord and Tenant.
21. BROKER'S COMMISSION Tenant represents and warrants that it has
incurred no claims or finder's fees in connection with the execution of this Lease.
22. NOTICES All notices or other communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed duly given if delivered in person or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested, first-class postage prepaid, (i)if to Landlord at City
of Roanoke, 111 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Roanoke, Virginia 24011, Attention:
Director of Economic, and (ii) if to Tenant, at 1049 Forest Park Bird NW, Roanoke,
VA, unless notice ofachange of address is given pursuant to the provisions of this
Article.
23. HOLDING OVER In the event that Tenant shall not immediately surrender
the Premises on the date of expiration of the term hereof, Lease shall automatically
renew itself month to month, at twice the Rent rate for the last year of the Lease
plus all other charges accruing under this Lease, and subject to all covenants,
provisions and conditions herein contained. Landlord and tenant shall both have
the right to terminate the holdover tenancy upon thirty (30) days written notice.
Tenant shall not interpose any counterclaim(s) in a summary proceeding or other
action based on holdover.
24. BENEFIT AND BURDEN The provisions of this Lease shall be binding upon,
and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and each of their respective
representatives, successors and assigns.
25. GENDER AND NUMBER Feminine or neuter pronouns shall be substituted for
those of the masculine form, and the plural shall be substituted for the singular
number, in any place or places herein in which the context may require such
substitution.
26. ENTIRE AGREEMENT This Lease, together with any exhibits attached
hereto, contains and embodies the entire agreement of the parties hereto, and
representations, inducements or agreements, oral or otherwise, between the parties
not contained in this Lease and exhibits, shall not be of any force or effect. This
Lease may not be modified, changed or terminated in whole or in part in any
manner other than by an agreement in writing duly signed by both parties hereto.
27. INVALIDITY OF PARTICULAR PROVISIONS If any provision of this Lease or
the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall to any extent be invalid
or unenforceable, the remainder of this Lease, or the application of such provisions
to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is invalid or
unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each provision of this Lease shall
be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
28. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES Tenant covenants and warrants that Tenant,
and Tenant's use of Premises and any alterations thereto will at all times comply
with and conform to all laws, statues, ordinances, rules and regulations of any
governmental, quasi-governmental or regulatory authorities ("Laws") which relate to
the transportation, storage, placement handling, treatment, discharge, generation,
removal production or disposal (collectively "Treatment") of any waste petroleum
product, waste products, radioactive waste, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB),
asbestos, lead-based paint, or other hazardous materials of any kind, and any
substance which is regulated by any law, statute, ordinance, rule or regulation
(collectively "Waste"). Tenant further covenants and warrants that it will not engage
in or permit any person or entity to engage in any Treatment of any Waste on or
which affects the Premises.
Immediately upon receipt of any Notice (as hereinafter defined) from any person or
entity, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a true, correct and complete copy of any
written Notice. "Notice" shall mean any note, notice or report of any suit,
proceedings, investigation, order, consent order, injunction, writ, award or action
related to or affecting or indicating the Treatment of any Waste in or affecting the
Premises.
Tenant hereby agrees it will indemnify, defend, save and hold harmless Landlord
and Landlord's officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, partners, and
the respective heirs, successors and assigns (collectively "Indemnified Parties")
against and from, and to reimburse the Indemnified Parties with respect to, any and
all damages, claims, liabilities, loss, costs and expense (including, without
limitation all attorney's fees and expenses, court costs, administrative costs and
costs of appeals), incurred by or asserted against the Indemnified Parties by reason
of or arising out of: (a) the breach of any representation or undertaking of Tenant
under this section or (b) arising out of the Treatment of any waste by Tenant or any
licensee, concessionaire, manager or other party occupying or using the Premises.
Landlord is given the right, but not the obligation, to inspect and monitor the
Premises and Tenant's use of the Premises, including the right to review paperwork
associated with Treatment activities in order to confirm Tenant's compliance with
the terms of this Section. Landlord may require that Tenant deliver to Landlord
concurrent with Tenant's vacating the Premises upon the expiration of this Lease,
or any earlier vacation of the Premises by Tenant, at Tenant's expense, a certified
statement by licensed engineers satisfactory to the Landlord, in form and substance
satisfactory to Landlord, stating that Tenant, and any alterations thereto and
Tenant's use of the Premises complied and conformed to all Laws relating to the
Treatment of any Waste in or affecting the Premises..
Tenant agrees to deliver upon request from Landlord estoppel certificates to
Landlord expressly stipulating whether Tenant is engaged in or has engaged in the
Treatment of any Waste in or affecting the Premises, and whether Tenant has
caused any spill, contamination, discharge, leakage, release or escape of any Waste
in or affecting the Premises, whether sudden or gradual, accidental or anticipated,
or any other nature at or affecting the Premises and whether, to the best of the
Tenant's knowledge, such an occurrence has otherwise occurred at or affecting the
Premises.
29. INSURANCE
Prior to the delivery of possession of the Premises to
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Tenant, Tenant shall provide Landlord evidence satisfactory to Landlord (i)that fire
and casualty and workers' compensation policies in amount and in form and
content satisfactory to Landlord have been issued by a company or companies
satisfactory to Landlord and will be maintained throughout the course of Tenant's
work at Tenant's cost and expense and (ii) that Tenant has complied with the
comprehensive liability insurance requirements set forth in the following paragraph.
Tenant will, at all times commencing on the date of delivery of possession of the
Premises to Tenant, at its own cost and expense, carry with a company or
companies, satisfactory to Landlord, comprehensive general liability insurance
including public liability and property damage, in a form satisfactory to Landlord,
on the Premises, with the combined single liability limits of not less than One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence, which insurance shall be written or
endorsed so as to protect Landlord, its officers, agents and employees as additional
insureds. The Tenant agrees that the above stated limits and coverages are
minimum limits and coverages, and that Tenant shall provide such additional
insurance as set forth above, in such amounts and against such risk as may be
required in the Landlord's sole but reasonable judgment, to equal the amounts and
types of coverages carried by prudent owners and operators of properties similar to
the Building. Tenant shall increase such limits at its discretion or upon reasonable
request of Landlord but not more often than once every year and such increases
shall not be in excess of generally accepted standards in the industry. Tenant
covenants that certificates of all of the insurance policies required under this Lease,
and their renewal or replacement, shall be delivered to Landlord promptly without
demand upon the commencement of the term of this Lease and upon each renewal
of the insurance. Such policy or policies shall also provide that it shall not be
cancelled nor shall there by any change in the scope or amount of coverage of the
policy without thirty (30) days prior written notice to Landlord. If same is not
provided with ten (10) days after demand, Landlord is authorized to secure such
policy from such companies as it deems appropriate and collect from Tenant in
such a manner as it deems appropriate the cost of the premium.
30. SECURITY DEPOSIT
Intentionally omitted
31. INDEMNIFICATION Tenant agrees to save and to protect, indemnify and
hold Landlord harmless from and against and to reimburse Landlord from any and
all liabilities, damages, costs, expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees, causes of action, suits, claims, demands, or .judgments of any
nature whatsoever arising from injury to or death of persons or damages to
property resulting from Tenant's use of the Premises caused by any act or omission,
whether intentional or otherwise, of Tenant or its employees, servants, contractors
or agents.
32. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS Tenant agrees to and will
comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations.
Tenant acknowledges and agrees that it will dispose of trash and grease in the
containers designated by the Landlord for such disposal and not dispose of such
substances in a manner that would violate applicable federal, state and local laws,
ordinances or regulations.
33. FORUM SELECTION AND CHOICE OF LAW By virtue of entering into this
Lease, Tenant submits itself to a court of competent jurisdiction in the City of
Roanoke, Virginia, and further agrees that this Lease is controlled by the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia and that all claims, disputes, and other matters shall
only be decided by such court according to the laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
34. FORCE MAIEURE In the event that either party hereto shall be delayed or
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hindered in or prevented from the performance of any act required hereunder by
reason of strikes, lockouts, labor troubles, inability to procure materials, failure of
power, restrictive governmental laws or regulations, riots, insurrection, war, or
other reason of a like nature not the fault of the party delayed in performing the
work or doing acts required under the terms of this Lease, then the time allowed for
performance for such act shall be extended bya period equivalent to the period of
such delay. The provisions of this Section shall not operate to excuse Tenant from
the prompt payment of rent, Common Area Maintenance Fee or any other payments
required by the terms of this Lease.
35. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: During the performance of this
Agreement, Tenant agrees as follows:
(a)
Tenant will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for
employment because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age,
disability, or any other basis prohibited by state law relating to discrimination
in employment, except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification
reasonably necessary to the normal operation of its business. Tenant agrees
to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for
employment, notices setting forth the provisions of this nondiscrimination
clause.
(b)
Tenant, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on
behalf of Tenant, will state that Tenant is an equal opportunity employer.
(c)
Tenant will include the provisions of the foregoing subsections (a) and (b) in
every contract or purchase order of over ten thousand dollars and no cents
($10,000.00) so that the provisions will be binding upon each contractor or
vendor.
36. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE:
(a)
During the performance of this Agreement, Tenant agrees to (i) provide a
drug-free workplace for its employees; (ii) post in conspicuous places,
available to employees and applicants for employment, a statement notifying
employees that the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation,
possession, or use ofacontrolled substance or marijuana is prohibited in the
workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for
violations of such prohibition; (iii) state in all solicitations or advertisements
for employees placed by or on behalf of Tenant that Tenant maintains a
drug-free workplace; and (iv) include the provisions of the foregoing clauses
in every subcontract or purchase order of over $10,000, so that the
provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor.
(b)
For the purposes of this section, "drug-free workplace" means a site for the
performance of work done in connection with a specific contract awarded to a
contract awarded to a contractor, the employees of whom are prohibited
from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation,
possession or use of any controlled substance or marijuana during the
performance of the Agreement.
37. RULES ANDREGULATIONS Tenant agrees to comply and adhere to
Landlord's rules and regulations concerning the Building as stated in the attached
Exhibit "D" attached hereto and made part of this Lease
38. SIGNAGE Tenant agrees to comply and adhere to Landlord's regulations
concerning signage as stated in the attached Exhibit "E" attached hereto and made
part of this Lease.
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39. GUARANTY
Intentionally omitted.
Witness Signature
Witness Printed Name
Witness Signature
Witness Printed Name
Witness Signature
Witness Printed Name
Witness Signature
Witness Printed Name
LANDLORD:
CITY OF ROANOKE
By:
Print Name: DarleneBurcham
Title: City Manaqer
TENANT:
Juan E Garcia d/b/a Paradiso Cuban Restaruant
By:
Print Name: luan E Garcia
Title:
EXHIBIT A
FLOOR PLAN
EXHIBIT B
COMMON AREAS FLOOR PLAN
Attach here
EXHIBIT C
MENU
Attach here if Food Court Tenant
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13
TO BE PROVIDED BY TENANT
EXHIBIT D
RULES AND REGULATIONS
All trash must be kept in a covered container, or if requested by Landlord,
in a Dumpster or similar container furnished and serviced at Tenant's
expense.
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2. Tenant shall keep lights on in show windows, leased food court space and
lights on under marquee, if any, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
10.
11.
Tenant agrees to handle all deliveries and refuse through the Salem
Avenue entrance (if one) of the Premises.
No sign shall be permanently affixed to the plate glass of any window
without prior written consent of Landlord.
No solicitation material shall be displayed inside the building or affixed to
the exterior of the building.
Tenant shall keep Premise's, windows and window frames clean (inside and
out) at all times and wash them weekly.
Tenant shall keep Premises' floors free of trash, chewing gum and other
debris, and shall scrub and wax all tile or plastic flooring at least weekly.
Tenant is responsible for the replacement of light bulbs in its space
Tenant is responsible for the replacement of air-filters and the monthly
maintenance of their exhaust fans in its Premises by a licensed contractor
on a basis predetermined by the Landlord.
Tenant shall be responsible for breaking down and having all cardboard
boxes ready for pick up.
(Applies only to Food Court Vendors) Providing the availability of space for
the purpose of storage, Landlord will allocate equally among all food
vendors a set amount of space for the storage of a freezer or a
refrigerator, food items and paper products. Items must be stored in
accordance with Health and Fire codes. No restaurant equipment (unused
or in disrepair) is to be stored in the area under any circumstances. Any
prohibited items stored in this area will be removed at Tenant's expense.
Tenant's not maintaining their own storage space per Health and Fire code
requirements will be assessed a $100.00 fee per occurrence. If a Tenant's
space is in violation more than three times in a given year, Landlord will
rescind Tenant's option to use available space.
EXHIBIT E
SIGN REGULATION
No sign, advertisement or notice shall be inscribed, painted, affixed or displayed
on walls, windows, or any part of the outside or the inside of the Building except
on the awnings, directories, and then only in such place, number, size, color and
style as it approved Landlord. If Tenant nevertheless exhibits such sign,
advertisement or notice, Landlord shall have the right to remove the same and
Tenant shall be liable for any and all expenses incurred by Landlord by such
removal. Tenant further agrees to maintain such sign, awning, canopy,
decoration, lettering, advertising matter or other thing as may be approved in
good condition and repair at all times. Landlord shall have the right to prohibit
any advertisement of Tenant which in its opinion tends to impair the reputation
of the Building or its desirability as a high-quality festival marketplace for retail
stores or food related businesses, other institutions of like nature, and, upon
written notice from Landlord, Tenant shall immediately refrain from and
discontinue any such advertisement.
EXHIBIT F
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GUARANTY
PERSONAL GUARANTEE
Intentionally omitted
The Roanoke Times
Roanoke, Virginia
Affidavit of Publication
The Roanoke Times
............................................. + ......................
MARY F. PARKER
CITY OF ROANOKE CLERK'S OFFICE
215 CHURCH AVE SW RM 456
NOEL C. TAYLOR MUNICIPAL BLDG.
ROANOKE VA 24011
REFERENCE: 32143302
09413224
NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARIN
State of Virginia
City of Roanoke
I, (the undersigned) an authorized representative
of the Times-World Corporation, which corporation
is publisher of the Roanoke Times, a daily
newspaper published in Roanoke, in the State of
Virginia, do certify that the annexed notice was
published in said newspapers on the following
dates:
City/County of Roanoke, Commonwealth/State of
Virginia. Sworn and subscribed before me this
_L~_day of February 2006. Witness my hand and
official seal.
PI~BLISHED ON: 02/13
TOTAL COST:
FILED ON:
168.36
02/14/06
Pursuant tO the
aut ho r i z e~__~__~ ~__
Signature .... Billing Servzces Repres~tatlve
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Roanoke proposes to lease approximately 190 square feet of space of City-
owned property located in the Roanoke City Market Building, located at 32 Market Square, to
Juan E. Garcia, be used as a food service establishment, for a three year term.
Pursuant to the requirements of§§l 5.2-1800 and 1813, Code of Virginia (1950) as amended,
notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Roanoke will hold a public heating on the
above matter at its regular meeting to be held on February 21,2006, commencing at 7:00 p.m., in the
Council Chambers, 4th Floor, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue, S.W.,
Roanoke, Virginia, 24011. Further information is available from the Office of the City Clerk for the
City of Roanoke at (540) 853-2541.
Citizens shall have the opportunity to be heard and express their opinions on said matter.
If you are a person with a disability who needs accommodations for this heating, please
contact the City Clerk's Office at (540) 853-2541, before 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 16,
2006.
GIVEN under my hand this 7th day of February, 2006.
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk.
K:hNOTICESXN-PH-JUAN E. GARCIA 022106.DOC
Notice to Publisher:
Publish in the Roanoke Times once on Monday, February 13, 2006.
Send bill and affidavit to:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
215 Church Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-2541
K:~qOTICESL2006~I-PH-JUAN E. GARCIA 022106.DOC
CITY OF ROANOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
February 24, 2006
File #100-166-373
Darlene L. Burcham
City Manager.
Roanoke, Virginia 24014
Dear Ms. Burcham:
I am attaching copy of Ordinance No. 37321-022106 authorizing the City Manager
to execute Amendment No. i to the lease agreement dated January 9, 2004,
between YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc., and the City of Roanoke for the lease of
City-owned property identified as Official Tax Nos. 1113408 - 1113413, inclusive,'
and 1113512 - 1113516, inclusive, upon certain terms and conditions, as more fully
set forth in a letter from the City Manager addressed to the Council under date of
February 21, 2006.
The abovereferenced measure was adopted by the Council of the City of Roanoke at
a regular meeting which was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, and is in full force
and effect upon its passage.
SMM:ew
Attachment
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 0b~Feb 21 06 correspondence,doc
Darlene L. Burcham
February 24, 2006
Page 2
pc:
F. Calvin Johnson, Executive Director, YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc.,
425 Church Avenue, S. W., Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Phillip D. Short, President, Board of Directors, YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc.,
P. O. Box 2130, Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Sherman M. Stovall, Director, Office of Management and Budget
R. Brian Townsend, Director, Planning Building and Economic Development
L:~CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06~Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA,
The 21st day of February, 2006.
bio. 37321-022106.
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the lease
agreement dated January 9, 2004, between YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc., and the City of Roanoke,
for the lease of City-owned properly identified as Official Tax Nos. 1113408, 1113409, 1113410,
1113411, 1113412, 1113413, 1113512, 1113513, 1113514, 1113515 and 1113516, upon certain
terms and conditions; and dispensing with the second reading by title of this ordinance.
WHEREAS, a public heating was held on February 21, 2006, pursuant to § § 15.2-1800(B)
and 1813, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, at which hearing all parties in interest and citizens
were afforded an opportunity to be heard on the proposed amendment to the lease.
BE IT ORDA1NED by the Council of the City of Roanoke that:
1. The City Manager and the City Clerk are authorized to execute and attest, respectively, in
form approved by the City Attorney, Amendment No. 1 to the lease agreement dated January 9,
2004, between YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc., and the City of Roanoke, for the lease of City-
owned property identified as Official Tax Nos. 1113408, 1113409, 1113410, 1113411, 1113412,
1113413, 1113512, 1113513, 1113514, 1113515 and 1113516, upon the terms and conditions as
more particularly set forth in the City Manager's letter dated February 21,2006, to this Council, and
the copy of Amendment No. 1 attached thereto.
2. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading of this
ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.
ATTEST:
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 364
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1591
Telephone: (540) 853-2333
Fax: (540) 853-1138
City Web: www.roanokeva.gov
February 21 2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Sherman P. Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
Subject:
Amendment Number 1 to
the Lease of City Owned
Property to the YMCA of
Roanoke Valley, Inc.
Background:
On December 24, 2002, City Council entered into an Agreement with the YMCA
of Roanoke Valley, Inc. to provide support for the development and
construction of a new YMCA facility in the West Church area of downtown
Roanoke to accommodate an expanding number of YMCA programs and to
replace the then current YMCA building located at the corner of Church Avenue
and Fifth Street, SW. In support of this project and the general economic
development of the West Church Avenue corridor, City Council approved the
construction of a structured parking garage as part of the 2004-2008 Capital
Improvement Plan.
On January 9, 2004, City Council entered into a lease with the YMCA of Roanoke
Valley, Inc. to lease certain city properties to the YMCA. The lease provides that
the City will lease to the YMCA, Official Tax Map Nos. 1113408, ! 113409,
1113410, 1113411, 1113412 and 1113413. Those lots are located immediately
north of the new YMCA building and are currently being used by patrons of the
YMCA while they are at the YMCA. In addition, the lease provides that after the
City receives from the YMCA three additional lots on which the old YMCA is
located and most of its adjoining parking lot ( Official Tax Map Nos. 1011206,
1011209, 1011210),theCitywilllease those lots to the YMCA as well. The
Lease specifically provides, however, that the lots will be leased to the YMCA
Mayor Harris and Members of City Council
February 2~, 2006
Page 2
only for the purpose of providing interim parking for patrons of the YMCA until
a new structured parking facility can be constructed and operational.
Since execution of this lease, the City has acquired the properties necessary to
build the new parking garage on the corner of 5'h Street and Luck Avenue, SW.
The City is nearing acquisition official Tax Map Nos., 1011206, 1011209 and
1011210.
Considerations:
The YMCA has approached the City to amend the parking lease of January 9,
2004 so that instead of the City leasing Official Tax Map Nos. 1011206,
1011209, and 1011210, to the YMCA, the City would lease Official Tax Map
Nos. ] 1 ] 3512,1113513,1113514,1113515,and 113516 to the YMCA as shown
in Attachment #2. These alternative lots provide better access for the patrons of
the YMCA to the YMCA's entrance off Luck Avenue. In addition, the amendment
will allow the City to market the former YMCA site with sufficient surface
parking adjacent to that structure to enhance the desirability of the site for
development.
Annual Revenue from the amended lease shall be $26,270 per year for both the
city lots on 5th and Luck and 5th and Church Avenues. The YMCA will assume
complete responsibility, liability and expenses related to the operation of all
leased lots and the terms and conditions of the original lease are applicable to
the additional property contained in this amended lease.
A request to schedule a public hearing was approved by City Council on
February 6, 2006, advertised by the City Clerk, and held on February 21,2006.
Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. ] to the Lease
Agreement dated January 9, 2004, between the City of Roanoke and the YMCA
of Roanoke Valley, Inc., approved as to form by the City Attorney, for the lease
of the above described city properties for the purpose of providing interim
parking to the patrons of the YMCA until a new public parking structure is
constructed and operational in the West Church Avenue corridor of the City.
Respectfully sub~mitted,
/ . , .,~.~
~arlene L. Bu~cham
City Manager
DLB:djm
Attachments
C:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Brian Townsend, Director of Planning, Building and Economic
Development
CM06-000020
AMENDMENT NO. 1
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 to a Lease Agreement dated January 9, 2004, is
made and entered into this 21st day of February, 2006, by and between the CITY OF
ROANOKE ("City"), and the YMCA of ROANOKE VALLEY, INC. ("YMCA").
WHEREAS, by the adoption of Ordinance No. 36583-121503 on December 15, 2003,
City Council authorized the City to enter into a Lease Agreement dated January 9, 2004
("Agreement"), with the YMCA, providing for the City to lease certain property to the YMCA.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties in consideration of the promises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and in the Agreement, agree to amend the Agreement as follows:
1. Paragraph 1, Lease, of the Agreement shall read as follows:
Lease: The City hereby leases to the YMCA and the YMCA hereby
leases from the City, Official Tax Nos. 1113408, 1113409, 1113410, 1113411,
1113412, 1113413, 1113512, 1113513, 1113514, 1113515 and 1113516 (the
"Leased Property"). The YMCA acknowledges and agrees that the Leased
Property is leased "as is" and that the City shall have no responsibility or liability
for maintenance of the Leased Property, including, without limitation, snow
removal, utilities, gravel or asphalt replacement, or drainage of surface water,
provided, however, that the City shall be responsible for maintenance of the
Leased Property for any period that it preempts the use of the Leased Property
pursuant to Paragraph No. 3 and for any maintenance or cleaning required as a
result or consequence of such preemption.
2. Paragraph 4, Rent, of the Agreement shall read as follows:
Rent: The YMCA shall pay to the City TWO THOUSAND ONE
HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE DOLLARS AND EIGHTEEN CENTS ($2,189.18)
per month as rent for the Leased Property. The rent shall be due in advance and
payable on the first day of each month during the term of this Lease. For each
day in a month that the City preempts the YMCA's use of the Leased Property
pursuant to Paragraph No. 3 above, the rent that month will be reduced by
SEVENTY-ONE DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($71.00).
AmendmentNo. I YMCA Lease i 01/27/05
3. Paragraph 7, Indemnification, of the Agreement shall read as follows:
Indemnification: The YMCA agrees and binds itself and its successors and
assigns to indemnify, keep and hold the City and its officers, employees, agents,
volunteers and representatives free and harmless from any liability on account of
any injury or damage of any type to any person or property growing out of or
directly or indirectly resulting from any act or omission of the YMCA including:
(a) the YMCA's use of the City's Tax Nos. 1113408, 1113409, 1113410,
1113411, 1113412, 1113413, 113512, 1113513, 1113514, 1113515 and 1113516,
(b) the exercise of any right or privilege granted by or under this lease; or (c) the
failure, refusal or neglect of the YMCA to perform any duty imposed upon or
assumed by the YMCA or under this lease. In the event that any suit or
proceeding shall be brought against the City or any of its officers, employees,
agents, volunteers or representatives at law or in equity, either independently or
jointly with the YMCA on account thereof, the YMCA, upon notice given to it by
the City or any of its officers, employees, agents, volunteers or representatives,
will pay all costs of defending the City or any of its officers, employees, agents,
volunteers or representatives in any such action or other proceeding. In the event
of any settlement or any final judgment being awarded against the City or any of
its officers, employees, agents, volunteers or representatives, either independently
or jointly with the YMCA, then the YMCA will pay such settlement or judgment
in full or will comply with such decree, pay all costs and expenses of whatsoever
nature and hold the City or any of its officers, employees, agents, volunteers or
representatives harmless therefrom.
4. Paragraph 17, Notice, of the Agreement shall read as follows:
Notice: Any notice, request, or demand given or required to be given
under this Lease shall, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, be in
writing and shall be deemed duly given only if delivered personally or sent by
certified mail, return receipt requested to the addresses stated below.
To the City:
City Manager
Room 364, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
CC~
Director of Planning Building and Economic Development
Room 166, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
215 Church Avenue, S.W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
To the YMCA:
Cal Johnson, Executive Director
AmendmentNo, I YMCA Lease
2 01/27/05
YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc.
425 Church Avenue, S.W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24016
***
The Agreement dated January 9, 2004, shall be changed in no other way.
WITNESS the following signatures and seals:
ATTEST: CITY OF ROANOKE:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
ATTEST:
YMCA OF ROANOKE VALLEY, INC.
Secretary
Approved as to form:
By
Phil Short, President, Board of Directors
Approved as to execution:
Assistant City Attorney
Assistant City Attomey
AmendmentNo. 1 YMCA Lease 3 01/27/05
The Roanoke Times
Roanoke, Virginia
Affidavit of Publication
The Roanoke Times
................................................. + .......................
MARY F. PARKER
CITY OF ROANOKE CLERK'S OFFICE
215 CHURCH AVE SW RM 456
NOEL C. TAYLOR MUNICIPAL BLDG.
ROANOKE VA 24011
REFERENCE: 32143302
09428214
NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARIN
State of Virginia
City of Roanoke
I, (the undersigned) an authorized representative
of the Times-World Corporation, which corporation
is publisher of the Roanoke Times, a daily
newspaper published in Roanoke, in the State of
Virginia, do certify that the annexed notice was
published in said newspapers on the following
dates:
City/County of Roanoke, Commonwealth/State of
Virginia. Sworn and subscribed before me this
_L~_~___day of February 2006. Witness my hand and
official seal.
My----~~--~--~--- C ._~-~~ ~--~i~-- ~,N°tary Public
c°mmis~Ji°n-~re~-_fJJ~±~-~_~3m~¢~_3_ ..... -
PUBLI,~.=D ON: 02/13
TOTAL COST: 187.68
FILED ON: 02/17/06
The City of Roanoke
Authorized ~ ~ ,~ ~ . , ~
S~gnature._
-- ___, Billing Services Repres~tative
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Roanoke proposes to amend a lease agreement dated January 9, 2004, between
the City and the YMCA of Roanoke Valley, Inc. ("YMCA"), pertaining to City-owned property
identified as Official Tax Nos. 1113408, 1113409, 1113410, 1113411, 1113412 and 1113413,
located in the 500 block of Church Avenue, S.W., now on a month to month lease term, to add
Official Tax Nos. 1113508, 1113509, 1113510, 1113511, 1113512, 1113513, 1113514, 1113515
and 1113516, located at the comer of 5th Street and Luck Avenue, S.W.
Pursuant to the requirements of§§15.2-1800 and 1813, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended,
notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Roanoke will hold a public heating on the
above matter at its regular meeting to be held on February 21, 2006, commencing at 7:00 p.m., in the
Council Chambers of the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, located at 215 Church Avenue, S.W.,
Roanoke, Virginia 24011.
Citizens shall have the opportunity to be heard and express their opinions on such matter.
If you are a person with a disability who needs accommodations for this heating, please
contact the City Clerk's Office (853-2541), before 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 16, 2006.
GiVEN under my hand this 7th day of February ,2006.
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk.
K:~NOTIC E $~'4L- YM CAC HURC HAVE022106 DOC
Notice to Publisher:
Publish in the Roanoke Times once on Monday, February 13, 2006.
Send bill and affidavit to:
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
215 Church Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 853-2541
MARY F. PARKER, CMC
City Clerk
CITY OF ROANOKE
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 456
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1536
Telephone: (540) 853-2541
Fax: (540) 853-1145
E-mail: clerk @ ci.roanoke.va.us
February 24, 2006
STEPHANIE M. MOON, ~MC
Deputy City Clerk
SHEILA N. HARTMAN
Assistant City Clerk
File #66-249
Ms. Dawn S. Waters
377 Albemarle Avenue, S. W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Dear Ms. Waters:
Your petition appealing a decision of the Architectural Review Board for a Certificate
of Appropriateness with regard to property located at 377 Albemarle Avenue, S.W.,
was before the Council of the City of Roanoke at a regular meeting which was held
on Tuesday, February 21, 2006.
Based upon evidence presented on February 21, 2006, Council voted to affirm the
decision of the Architectural Review Board on December 8, 2005, as set forth in a
letter dated December 9, 2005, and that no Certificate of Appropriateness be issued
to install replacement windows at 377 Albemarle Avenue, S.W., on the grounds that
the replacement windows are not consistent with the H-2 Guidelines, will reduce the
amount of window space, are not the appropriate proportion or design, and are not
architecturally compatible with structures in the H-2 Historic District.
Sincerely,
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
Ms. Dawn S. Waters
February 24, 2006
Page 2
pc:
Kevin Earl, President, Old Southwest, Inc., 641 Walnut Avenue, S. W., Roanoke,
Virginia 240:~6
Lora Katz, Chair, Architectural Review Board, 3555 Heritage Circle, $. W.,
Roanoke, Virginia 240:~5
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Steven J. Talevi, Assistant City Attorney
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Robert B. Townsend, Director, Planning, Building and Economic Development
Anne Stuart Beckett, Agent, Architectural Review Board
Martha P. Franklin, Secretary, Architectural Review Board
Robert A. Clement, Jr., Neighborhood Development Specialist, Roanoke
Neighborhood Partnership
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~agenda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
VIRGINIA;
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE
IN THE MATTER OF )
)
)
PETITION FOR APPEAL
This is a Petition for Appeal from a decision of the Architectural Review
E~oard under Section 36.1-642(d) of the Zoning Ordinance of the Code of the City
of. Roanoke (1979), as amended.
1. Name of Petitioner(s): ~.~)/~ . ~' /7z.,).~'''~___~
Doing business as (if applicable): '----'--
Steer address o$ property which,is the subject of this appeal:
Overlay zoning (H~I, Historic District, or H-2, Neighborhood Preservation
District) of property(ies) which is the subject of this appeal:
Date the hearing before the Architectural 'Re.~iew Board yeas held at which
the decision being appealed was made: --J--)~('~¢fr, ~)~
Section of the Code of the City of Roanoke under which the Certificate of
Appropriateness was requested from the Architectural Review Board
(Section 36.%327 if H-1 or Section 36.1-345 if H-2):
Description of the request for which the Certificate of Appropriateness was
sought from the Architectural Review Board:
Name, title, address and telephone number of-Qerson(s) who will
represent the Petitioner(s) before City Council~_/-"~__ ,)/~ ,~'(~J,~__~.
WHEREFORE, your Petitioner(s) requests that the action of the
Architectural Review Board be reversed or modified and that a Certificate of
Appropriateness be granted.
Signature of Owner(s)
(If not Petitioner):
(pdnt or type)
Signature of Petitioner(s) or
representative(s), where
applicable:
Name:
(print or type)
Name:
(print or type)
Name:
(print or type)
TO BE COMPLETED BY CITY CLERK:
Received by: ~"~"~, ~ ~,.,,.~
'~~ ~,~l.~ Date: ~
Architectural Review Board
Board of Zoning Appeals
Planning Cemmission
CITY OF ROANOKE
PLANNING BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 166
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
Telephone: (540) 853-1730 Fax: (540) 853-1230
E-mail: planning @ ci.roanoke.va.us
February 21,2006
Honorable C. Nelson Harris, Mayor
Honorable Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Vice-Mayor
Honorable M. Rupert Cutler, Council Member
Honorable Alfred T. Dowe, Jr., Council Member
Honorable Brenda L. McDaniel, Council Member
Honorable Sherman Lea, Council Member
Honorable Brian J. Wishneff, Council Member
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of City Council:
Subject:
Dawn S. Waters Appeal of
Architectural Review Board Decision
377 Albemarle Avenue, S.W.
Background:
On November 17, 2005, a citizen advised staff that original wood windows were
being replaced at 377 Albemarle Avenue, S.W., which is within the H-2,
Neighborhood Preservation district. Ms. Anne Beckett, Architectural Review
Board Agent, contacted Code Enforcement staff, Christopher Boehling, Building
Inspector, who posted a legal notice to "Stop Work." Code Enforcement staff met
with the owner, Ms. Dawn Waters, and supplied her with an application for a
Certificate of Appropriateness. The window manufacturer had also required the
owner to sign an agreement to contact the City of Roanoke to obtain the required
permits. (Attachment A).
Staff advised Ms. Waters that replacement windows require a Certificate of
Appropriateness issued by the Architectural Review Board. Ms. Waters filed an
application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the replacement windows,
which was considered by the Architectural Review Board (ARB) on December 8,
2005 (See Application: Attachment B and Minutes: Attachment C). Staff
recommended denial as the request was not consistent with the H-2 Guidelines
because the replacement windows reduced the amount of window space and did
not match the previous window size, shape, and proportion. ARB members
expressed concern about the design of the windows and stated that had the
matter been brought to the Board before the work was done that the Board could
have provided guidance. Ms. Waters stated that she thought that the new
windows would save money and that the new windows appeared the same as
the original. During the ARB meeting, a representative of Old Southwest, Inc., the
neighborhood civic organization, further stated that the application was not
consistent with the Guidelines and the window replacement was inappropriate. A
roll call vote was taken and the request to approve the application failed by a 0-6
vote. Ms. Waters was formally notified of the denial and of her right to appeal to
City Council by letter dated December 9, 2005. Ms. Waters filed an appeal of the
Architectural Review Board's decision on January 9, 2006 (Attachment D).
Considerations:
Section 36.2-331 (c) of the Zoning Ordinance provides:
"In the H-2 Overlay District, a Certificate of Appropriateness (see Section
36.2-530) shall be required for the erection of any new structure, the
demolition, moving, reconstruction, alteration, or restoration of any existing
structure or historic landmark, including the installation or replacement of
siding, or the reduction in the floor area of an existing building, including
the enclosure or removal of a porch. A Certificate of Appropriateness shall
not be required for ordinary maintenance, as defined in Section 36.2-
530(b)(4), or in-kind replacement with the same materials, proportions,
and design. The Zoning Administrator, in consultation with the Agent to
the Architectural Review Board, shall determine whether an activity
requires a Certificate of Appropriateness." (emphasis added).
The replacement windows were not the same material, proportion, or design as
the original windows. The project, therefore, required a Certificate of
Appropriateness.
The H-2 Architectural Design Guidelines adopted by the ARB and endorsed by
City Council state that windows are especially important in rehabilitations. Their
size, shape, pattern, and architectural style not only provide architectural
character but also give a building much of its scale, rhythm, and detail. The
Guidelines provide the following considerations for windows on historic buildings:
· Identify and keep the original materials and features of windows,
such as size, shape, glazing, muntins, and moldings.
· Consider new replacement windows only when old replacements
are unavailable. New replacements should be compatible in size
and shape, design, and proportion.
· Use storm windows to improve thermal efficiency of existing
windows.
Staff reviewed similar window replacement cases since January 2003, and found
that eight applications were approved where the replacement windows had the
same dimensions as the originals. During the same period, three applications
were denied because the replacement windows did not maintain the correct
proportions. One denied application was appealed to City Council on May 20,
2004. City Council upheld the ARB's decision to deny the application.
Recommendation:
The Architectural Review Board recommends that City Council affirm its decision
to deny the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Architectural Review Board
cc: Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Steven J. Talevi, Assistant City Attorney
R. Brian Townsend, Director, Planning Building and Development
Anne S. Beckett, Agent, Architectural Review Board
ATTACHMENT A
NOV-22-2005 06:46 'ERNAL MEDICINE
Roanoke Architectvrat Review BoarO
Request for Certificate of Appropdateness
Property ~,,,er:
Add~es~
Phone:
(~) Representative (contractor or agent):
Addres.,: ~
Department
Planning guildi
Room 166 Munic
Zl $ Church Aver
Roanoke, VA
Phone: (540J 8!
Fax: ($40) ~
ARB Agent
Anne 8eckett~ C
(540) '853-1522
(~) Description of Work:
Include details of construction, dimensions, and the materials that will be used.
information to the application (e.g. scaled drawing, photographs, and samples).
(~) Signature of owner (required)
ATTACHMENT B
,~.~o~37693 .02102
ROANOKE
ng and Development
pal Building
ua, SW
Ill ~
3:i730
, Planner
A~tach supporting
Section below to be completed by staff
Tax Parcel Number: ~
Zoning District: ~'~'~ - Z..
Ovedaydistrict: [] HI ~ H2
Other approvals needed:
[] Zoning Permit
[] Building Permit
[] Other ~
Approval By: {~ ARB [] Secretary
Approved:
m :ll'z .o5
Agent, Architectural Review Board
Certificat~e Number:
ATTACHMENT C
Architectural Review Board Minutes
December 8, 2005
Page 8
Request from Dawn Waters for a Certificate of Appropriateness
approvinq existinq window replacement at 377 Albemarle Avenue,
S.W.
Mr. Richert asked Ms. Waters if there was anything she would like to add
to the information provided.
Ms. Waters said she had nothing to add.
Mrs. Blanton asked Ms. Waters to describe the condition of the windows
that were replaced.
Ms. Waters said that they rattled and the top windows had gaps in them.
She said that heating bills were an issue and she thought new windows
would save money. She showed the Board pictures of her home before
she installed the windows and she said that the house looked the same.
Mr. Richert said that this was a dilemma when an application came to the
Board after the fact.
Ms. Waters said that the only reason she did not come forward was that
she did not see she was changing the face of her house at all. She said
that the appearance was not changing.
Ms. Katz explained that the old wood, double hung window had a shadow
line. She said that Window World made a window that met the criteria of
the historic district. She said that the model installed on Ms. Waters'
home did not have a shadow line.
Mr. Harwood said that the Board was to preserve those elements that are
within its purview and if this matter had been brought to the Board
before the work had been done, the Board could have provided guidance
on the correct window installation. He said the Board had to make a
decision as to whether the windows were historically accurate. He also
said that the Board had not been in favor of replacement windows. He
said that the window Ms. Waters had purchased had the profile of a triple
track storm window, which was not in keeping with the historic district.
Mr. Richert asked for staff comment.
Ms. Beckett said that the window did not meet the guidelines and staff
recommended denial.
Architectural Review Board Minutes
December 8, 2005
Page 9
Ms. Blanton asked Ms. Waters if the contractor had shown her other
window models.
Ms. Waters responded that she was not knowledgeable about such things.
Mr. Richert asked for audience comment.
Mrs. Joel Richert appeared before the Board and said that the application
was not consistent with the guidelines and the window replacement was
inappropriate. She also mentioned that she had seen a copy of a notice
that Window World had provided Ms. Waters, which mentioned the
Architectural Review Board. Mrs. Richert also stated that property owners
in the historic district received a mailing each year reminding them of the
historic district. She said that the preservation committee requested the
application be denied.
Mr. Richert asked if there were further comments. There were none. A
roll call vote was taken and the request was denied 0-6, as follows:
Ms. Botkin - no
Mr. Harwood - no
Mrs. Blanton - no
Ms. Katz - no
Mr. Stephenson - no
Mr. Richert- no
Request from the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housinq Authority,
represented by Don Harwood~ for a Certificate of ^Dl~roDriatenes~,
approvinq exterior modifications to the structure at 42 ! Day
Avenue S.W.
Mrs. Blanton and Mr. Harwood excused themselves from discussion and
vote on this and the next two applications as they are employed by the
firm doing the work on the project.
Mr. Harwood presented the request on behalf of the RRHA. He said that
the application package was fairly complete and he had nothing further
to add.
Mr. Richert asked for Board comment.
Ms. Katz said it was a great project and she could not wait to see it
complete.
ATTACHMENT D
VIRGINIA;
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE
IN THE MATTER OF )
PETITION FOR APPEAL
This is a Petition for Appeal from a decision of the Architectural Review
Board under Section 36.1-642(d) of the Zoning Ordinance of the Code of the City
of Roanoke (1979), as amended.
1. Name of Petitioner(s): _/~,~/~ )
Doing business as (if applicable):
St~et addre,~s of property ~'hich,js the subject, of this appeal:
Oveday zoning (H-l, Historic District, or H-2, Ne ghborhood Preservation
District) of property(es) which is the subject of this appeal: ~
Date the hearing before the Architectural 'Re~iew Board was held at which
the decision being appealed was made: ../_~('~'/~ ~
Section of the Code of the City of Roanoke under which the Certif'mate of
Appropriateness was requested from the Architectural Review Board
(Section 36.1-327 if H-1 or Section 36.1-345 if H-2):
Description of the request for which the Cert~cate of Appropriateness was
sought from the Architectural Review Board:
Name, title, address and telephone number of-~rson(s) who will
represent the Petitioner(s) before City Council
WHEREFORE, your Petitioner(s) requests that the action of the
Architectural Review Board be reversed or modified and that a Certificate of
Appropriateness be granted.
Signature of Owner(s)
(If not Petitioner):
Name:~_'~/7 ~ Z~.~7~.~
(print or type)
Signature of Petitioner(s) or
representative(s), where
applicable:
Name:
(print or type)
Name:
(print or type)
Name:
(print or type)
TO BE COMPLETED BY CITY CLERK:
Received by: ~'~.
CITY OF ROANOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
January 9, 2006
The Honorable Mayor and Members
of the Roanoke City Council
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of Council:
I am enclosing copy of a Petition for Appeal filed by Dawn S. Waters in connection
with a decision of the Architectural Review Board to deny issuance of a Certificate
of Appropriateness with regard to property located at 377 Albemarle Avenue, S. W.
The petition was filed in the City Clerk's Office on Monday, January 9, 2006.
Section 36.1-642, Review Procedure, Code of the City of Roanoke (1979), as
amended, provides that any property owner aggrieved by any decision of the
Architectural Review BOard may present to the City Council a petition appealing
such decision, provided such petition is filed within 30 days after the decision is
rendered by the Board. The Council shall schedule a public meeting and render a
decision on the matter within 60 calendar days of receipt of the petition. Council
may reverse or modify the decision of the Architectural Review Board, in whole or
in part, or it may refer the matter back to the Board or affirm the decision of the
Board.
With the concurrence of Council, I will include the Petition for Appeal on the
Tuesday, February 2:1, 2006, 7:00 p.m., City Council agenda.
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~APPEALS TO THE ARB~APPEALS 2006",JAN 0bA377 ALBERMARLE AV SW.DOC
The Honorable Mayor and Members
of the Roanoke City Council
January 9, 2006
Page 2
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
Enclosure
pc:
Ms. Dawn S. Waters, 377 Albemarle Avenue, S.W., Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Kevin Earl, President, Old Southwest, Inc., 641 Walnut Avenue, S. W.,
Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Darlene L. Burcham, City Manager
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Steven J. Talevi, Assistant City Attorney
Rolanda B. Russell, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Robert N. Richert, Chair, Architectural Review Board, 415 Allison
Avenue, S. W., Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Robert B. Townsend, Director, Planning, Building and Economic Development
Anne Stuart Beckett, Agent, Architectural Review Board
Martha P. Franklin, Secretary, Architectural Review Board
Robert A. Clement, Jr., Neighborhood Development Specialist, Roanoke
Neighborhood Partnership
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEW1V~PPEALS TO THE ARB~PPEALS 2006~JAN 06~377 ALBERMARLE AV SW.DOC
Architectural Review Board
Board of Zoning Appeals
Planning Commission
CITY OF ROANOKE
PLANNING BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
215 Church Avenue, S.W., Room 166
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
Telephone: (540) 853-1730 Fax: (540) 853-1230
E-mail: planning @ ci.roanoke.va.us
December 9, 2005
Ms. Dawn S. Waters
377 Albemarle Avenue, S.W.
Roanoke, VA 24016
Dear Ms. Waters:
Subject:
Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness
No. 05-060, 377 Albemarle Avenue, S.W.
On December 8, 2005, the Architectural Review Board of the City of
Roanoke, Virginia, considered your request to approve new windows at 377
Albemarle Avenue, S.W., and your Certificate of Appropriateness was denied.
The Board found that the windows that were installed at 377 Albemarle Avenue
were not consistent with the H-2 guidelines because the replacement windows
do not match the current window size, shape and proportion.
If you are aggrieved by this decision of the Architectural Review Board,
you have the right to appeal the Board's decision to City Council within 30 days
of the date of the decision. Information on the appeals process is enclosed.
Please contact Anne Beckett a call at 853-1522 if you have additional questions.
Sincerely,
Martha P. Franklin, Secretary
City Architectural Review Board
/f
enclosure
cc: Robert N. Richert, Chairman
B.l.a.
February 19, 2006
Honorable Members of the
City Council of Roanoke, Virginia
215 Church Avenue S.W.
Room 456
Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1536
Dear Sirs and Madam:
We are writing in support of the application of Ms. Dawn Waters, who resides at 377
Albemarle Avenue SW, to improve her property by upgrading the windows at her residence.
Ms. Waters has appeared several times before the Architectural Review Board, and on each
occasion the Board has denied her request.
AK property owners for the past (25) years in Historical Old Southwest, we have witnessed the
struggle of residents to improve the conditions of their properties. In Ms. Waters' case, she is
attempting to improve the appearance of her home at the same time that she strives to lower
energy cost of heating a structure built sometime in the 20's or 30's of last century, when
materials and construction systems were notably deficient from the standpoint of energy
consumption.
Our property is located at 376 Albemarle Avenue, diagonally across the street from her
property. We believe that the improvements she is attempting would enhance the aesthetics
of her property and will add to the quality of this segment of the street. Consideration should
certainly be given to the fact that she resides in this property and is trying to undertake, at
considerable expense, an improvement which will benefit her and her neighbors.
We certainly applaud her efforts and are confident that your final determination will be
favorable in her case.
Page I of 1
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CITY.. OF RO/INOKE
Office of the City Clerk
Mary F. Parker, CMC Stephanie M. Moon, CMC
City Clerk Deputy City Clerk
February 24,2006
Sheila N. Hartman
Assistant City Clerk
File #:[66-450-557
Darlene L. Burcham
City Manager
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Ms. Burcham:
At a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Roanoke which was held on
Tuesday, February 2:[, 2006, Valerie Garner, Chair, Countryside Neighborhood
Alliance, submitted questions in connection with the Countryside Golf Course
property.
The questions were referred to you for appropriate response.
Sincerely,
Stephanie M. Moon,
Deputy City Clerk
SMM:ew
pc: Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
L:\CLERK~DATA\CKEWI~AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE~3genda correspondence 06\Feb 06\Feb 21 06 correspondence.doc
"Taking pride in a diverse community dedicated to maintaining our quality of life and
the natural beauty of our surroundings."
Valerie Garner, Chair, 362-3984, vgarner7@cox.net
URGENT Question:
Mr. Townsend and Mr. Chittum will not respond to whether there was
any communication this week with Toll Brothers. I send one every
week and he did reply the previous 2 weeks that "no communication
occurred" and that was fine.
This week Mr. Townsend would not say whether there was an;-
communication. He is using the FOIA request as the reason he will
not say whether there WAS or WAS NOT any communication. We
can wait 5 days for the contents of the communication ... we just
want to know if there was any. Bob Clement, Neighborhood Services,
asked them and they refused to tell him. The Mayor and Council are
their superiors ... please get us an answer.
ANSWER AT LEAST THESE FEW QUESTIONS:
Why can't we be included in the I~lanninQ (a Charrette) a,-
advised by The Lawrence Group and requested by Toll
Brothers?
Does City Administration intend to extend the RFP again beyond
March I
If not, since Ms. Graham was the only bidder in the RFQ will she be
given an opportunity to submit A RFP though she is busy with
Colonial Greens and another project?
If not, will the RFQ be put out again? What if there are no takers?
If it comes down to negotiating another year lease with Meadowbrook
Management ... what will you do if they decline?
Who will maintain the course then.., the City at taxpayer expense?
.Will the city swap any more of the property?
Is the City not concerned with the safety of the 'traveling public" and
the residents on the ground" near the Airport?
Will the at least two homes at the end of Cheraw Lake (Byron Smith,
Bobby Lavender) be condemned due to the land swap and widened
RPZ over their homes?
Do you intend to require a "Disclosure" on the proximity to the Airport
to new development as other municipalities do?
As the first soil is turned on the golf course property and it ceases to
be a golf course from that point on ... who will maintain those
grounds after Meadowbrook Management contract expires?
What about infrastructure upkeep expenses, road improvements? Are
you only looking at tax revenue without considering the infrastructure
expense associated with an increased burden on Police, Fire,
schools, etc.?
Why can't we be included in the planninq as advised by Tho
Lawrence Group and requested by Toll Brothers?
Last but not least - .WHY can this property not be left as a
Municipal golf course for the enjoyment of all Roanoke citizens
including the youth of our City? Improvements on the course
would only enhance the Quality of Life of the surrounding
community. The golf course IS the attraction for living here.
Take the golf course away and stuff as many homes as you can
to increase "tax base" will completely destroy the reason we
chose to live in this area.
It is not too late to do the RIGHT thing for the citizens of
Roanoke and especially our diverse NW City community.
C. NELSON HARRIS
Mayor
CITY OF ROANOKE
CITY COUNCIL
215 Church Avenue, S.W.
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, Room 456
Roanoke, Virginia 24011 - 1536
Telephone: (540) 853-2541
Fax: (540) 853-1145
February 21,2006
Council Members:
M. Ruper~ Cutler
Alfred T. Dowe, Jr.
Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr.
Sherman p. Lea
Brenda L. McDaniel
Brian J. Wishneff
The Honorable Mayor and Members
of Roanoke City Council
Roanoke, Virginia
Dear Mayor Harris and Members of Council:
At the regular meeting of City Council to be held on Tuesday, February 21,2006,
we jointly sponsor the request of Valerie Garner, Chair, Countryside
Neighborhood Alliance, to present information on the Countryside Golf Course
property.
SPL/BJW:snh
pc:
Darlene L. Burnham, City Manager
William M. Hackworth, City Attorney
Jesse A. Hall, Director of Finance
Mary F. Parker, City Clerk
Sincerely,
Council Member
Council Member