Responsible, thoughtful development is essential to keeping Blacksburg a place worth living in. If Blacksburg is just another congested, ill-planned town, why live here?
M
Michael Weber
10 years ago
I cannot express strongly enough how inappropriate the Lester Groups proposal for 801/803 Airport Road properties is for the street, the school and the nearby family-friendly neighborhoods.
I have lived in Airport Acres for 5 years and come to love the low-key family-centered and walkable neighborhood that it is.
I feel that there are a number of clear and compelling reasons NOT to allow the rezoning as proposed.
Beginning with the personal/emotional and moving the to the practical:
1. This is a RARE sub-urban "free-range" childhood area. The potential for 228+ college students taking up residence in the middle of this special place would absolutely decimate this quality.
2. Pedestrian traffic around the school would be forever altered. I and other neighbors walk our children to school every morning. The scale of traffic that this proposal would generate would turn this into an urban experience. NOT appropriate for this side of town.
3. This development would drive families and owner occupied homes out of Airport Acres, a neighborhood seeing a significant shift from renters to owners. Blacksburg cannot afford to lose another in-town neighborhood to students!
4. This is NOT an appropriate use of property immediately adjacent to an elementary school.
5. School dropoff traffic already backs up for blocks in either direction every morning and afternoon. The potential for such a massive increase in cars entering and leaving that property would completely overwhelm Airport Road and the surrounding streets.
6. Town Zoning is critical to maintaining the quality of life in the town. This request is completely at odds with appropriate use on every level.
Would that I could be there Wednesday, but I will do whatever it takes to fight this change and I know my friends and neighbors will do the same.
N
Nick Copeland
10 years ago
Featured
This will turn our quiet, close knit family neighborhood, into a chaotic, congested mess. This plan will introduce a permanent revolving door of hundreds of strangers, with cars and parties, right next to an elementary school. There are better locations for this kind of development.
L
Leslie Neilan
10 years ago
The school needs a buffer area around it for the kids' safety. Do not change the nature of that old neighborhood. There are enough apartments all over the town already.
A
Ann Shawhan
10 years ago
Numerous reasons not to put that kind of high density housing in this area. One is the traffic problem that will occur and it will occur right beside and elementary school.
Property values of people who have lived here, invested their money and their lives here in this neighborhood are being threatened by people who do not live here or care about the community or the town for that matter.. There is no reason to change the zoning. None.
A
Andrea Kelso
10 years ago
This sounds like yet another attempt to enact greed over common sense! (Next to an elementary school, really!)
D
Dennis Neale
10 years ago
Hell no! Who would put this next to a school?
A
Anne Howland
10 years ago
This is not an acceptable location beside a school and neighborhood, not to mention the traffic burden on Airport.
L
Lucinda Jennings
10 years ago
Agree totally with you Emily. Great that you can walk your children to school. I also believe it should be safe for children to walk to school with other children- youngers with olders because parent schedules don't always allow for parent to accompany.
L
Luke Plotica
10 years ago
Former resident of Airport Acres.
I
Irene lamb
10 years ago
Luxury student cottages off of Prices Fork and now an apartment complex trying to take hold next to a local elementary school....what's next? Come on Blacksburg. Enough catering to students. No more changes to the comprehensive plan and current zoning. Keep high density building where it 's planned for; Blacksburg families deserve family neighborhoods and the quiet and comfort that comes with them.
J
John Kelso
10 years ago
There is absolutely nothing good to be gained in this proposal, except for the developer's bottom line.
E
Emily Redding
10 years ago
Please do NOT allow this proposal to go through. This would create an unsafe environment for our neighborhood and school children. I walk daily with my three children to school and I cannot imagine a higher density population on Airport Rd. We already are extremely conscience of the traffic, and I cannot imagine more cars. Furthermore, I do NOT like having that many units directly next to the school. Our community needs more single-family, low density homes. Many people want to live in low density homes in this area and we don't have enough houses as is. Please do NOT support this proposal!
J
Jim Clemens
10 years ago
It would be unthinkable to allow the requested land use designation on property adjacent to an elementary school and in a long time residential neighborhood.
D
Deana Hinson
10 years ago
I cannot fathom traffic issues or disruption to area integrity
L
Lucinda Jennings
10 years ago
We are a close-knit, family oriented neighborhood and our children walk to and from school everyday. We depend on the comprehensive plan to maintain the appropriate density of housing. We support sustainable, responsible development within the current zoning designation.
J
Jane Machin
· petition starter
10 years ago
Please do not change the land use designation in the Comprehensive Plan to allow this development. The only ones who will benefit are the privately owned construction company that owns the land. Anything other than the current land use designation is completely inconsistent with the scale and character of the neighborhood. It is unheard of to have propose such an increased density next to an elementary school, putting the safety of all Beeks' children at risk.
Responsible, thoughtful development is essential to keeping Blacksburg a place worth living in. If Blacksburg is just another congested, ill-planned town, why live here?
I cannot express strongly enough how inappropriate the Lester Groups proposal for 801/803 Airport Road properties is for the street, the school and the nearby family-friendly neighborhoods. I have lived in Airport Acres for 5 years and come to love the low-key family-centered and walkable neighborhood that it is. I feel that there are a number of clear and compelling reasons NOT to allow the rezoning as proposed. Beginning with the personal/emotional and moving the to the practical: 1. This is a RARE sub-urban "free-range" childhood area. The potential for 228+ college students taking up residence in the middle of this special place would absolutely decimate this quality. 2. Pedestrian traffic around the school would be forever altered. I and other neighbors walk our children to school every morning. The scale of traffic that this proposal would generate would turn this into an urban experience. NOT appropriate for this side of town. 3. This development would drive families and owner occupied homes out of Airport Acres, a neighborhood seeing a significant shift from renters to owners. Blacksburg cannot afford to lose another in-town neighborhood to students! 4. This is NOT an appropriate use of property immediately adjacent to an elementary school. 5. School dropoff traffic already backs up for blocks in either direction every morning and afternoon. The potential for such a massive increase in cars entering and leaving that property would completely overwhelm Airport Road and the surrounding streets. 6. Town Zoning is critical to maintaining the quality of life in the town. This request is completely at odds with appropriate use on every level. Would that I could be there Wednesday, but I will do whatever it takes to fight this change and I know my friends and neighbors will do the same.
This will turn our quiet, close knit family neighborhood, into a chaotic, congested mess. This plan will introduce a permanent revolving door of hundreds of strangers, with cars and parties, right next to an elementary school. There are better locations for this kind of development.
The school needs a buffer area around it for the kids' safety. Do not change the nature of that old neighborhood. There are enough apartments all over the town already.
Numerous reasons not to put that kind of high density housing in this area. One is the traffic problem that will occur and it will occur right beside and elementary school. Property values of people who have lived here, invested their money and their lives here in this neighborhood are being threatened by people who do not live here or care about the community or the town for that matter.. There is no reason to change the zoning. None.
This sounds like yet another attempt to enact greed over common sense! (Next to an elementary school, really!)
Hell no! Who would put this next to a school?
This is not an acceptable location beside a school and neighborhood, not to mention the traffic burden on Airport.
Agree totally with you Emily. Great that you can walk your children to school. I also believe it should be safe for children to walk to school with other children- youngers with olders because parent schedules don't always allow for parent to accompany.
Former resident of Airport Acres.
Luxury student cottages off of Prices Fork and now an apartment complex trying to take hold next to a local elementary school....what's next? Come on Blacksburg. Enough catering to students. No more changes to the comprehensive plan and current zoning. Keep high density building where it 's planned for; Blacksburg families deserve family neighborhoods and the quiet and comfort that comes with them.
There is absolutely nothing good to be gained in this proposal, except for the developer's bottom line.
Please do NOT allow this proposal to go through. This would create an unsafe environment for our neighborhood and school children. I walk daily with my three children to school and I cannot imagine a higher density population on Airport Rd. We already are extremely conscience of the traffic, and I cannot imagine more cars. Furthermore, I do NOT like having that many units directly next to the school. Our community needs more single-family, low density homes. Many people want to live in low density homes in this area and we don't have enough houses as is. Please do NOT support this proposal!
It would be unthinkable to allow the requested land use designation on property adjacent to an elementary school and in a long time residential neighborhood.
I cannot fathom traffic issues or disruption to area integrity
We are a close-knit, family oriented neighborhood and our children walk to and from school everyday. We depend on the comprehensive plan to maintain the appropriate density of housing. We support sustainable, responsible development within the current zoning designation.
Please do not change the land use designation in the Comprehensive Plan to allow this development. The only ones who will benefit are the privately owned construction company that owns the land. Anything other than the current land use designation is completely inconsistent with the scale and character of the neighborhood. It is unheard of to have propose such an increased density next to an elementary school, putting the safety of all Beeks' children at risk.