Collegiate Times

Blacksburg planning personnel held a public comment session soliciting input from Tech students on the Blacksburg Comprehensive Plan for future land use last night in the Architecture Annex at Virginia Tech.

Town Planner Karen Drake held a question and answer session followed by a public comment period answering a series of questions from undergraduate students as part of a series of periodic public consultations from Blacksburg residents from senior citizens to college students.

The first question on the comprehensive plan was about bicycle lanes on main thoroughfares.

"We have a map called Pathways to the Future. It has all off the real and proposed bikeways, sidewalks and greenways as well as trail connections," Drake said. "There is a master plan for a loop system whether you're commuting from point A to point B or just out for a ride on the Huckleberry you'll be able to access any place in town. The real question is how do you fund all of this?"

Several students asked about what the town planned to do about empty storefronts in the downtown commercial district.

"Rents are a private sector concern, owners have a right to develop their property," Drake said. "The town can control some things, like setbacks and other zoning restrictions but whether it gets built or not is out of our hands."

In regard to parking Drake said that along with the Kent Square parking structure more parking is to come.

"There is more parking on the way, because of the Performing Arts Center," Drake said. "It's planned for what I call the Donaldson Brown parking lot, but that's Tech property, it's part of the College Ave. promenade that we're working on with them."

Drake also said Blacksburg planned to develop some existing properties in an environmentally sustainable way.

"Blacksburg now has the old Doc Roberts tire company," Drake said. We're looking to have that building certified gold as the most environmentally-sustainable and -friendly way."