After several previous discussions and postponed actions, Montgomery County supervisors on Monday will again consider whether to let a construction waste dump site in Christiansburg grow to more than five times its current size.
The county board will also look at a proposal to conduct real estate assessments twice as often as they now occur, along with considering reauthorization of a zoning district that limits land development.
Supervisors will convene a closed meeting at 7 p.m. to discuss a candidate for appointment to the county’s economic development commission. The regular meeting will begin at 7:15 p.m. in the second floor board chambers of the county government center, 755 Roanoke St., Christiansburg.
Waste dump site
The existing 8-acre construction waste disposal site has been operated by Black Diamond Resources LLC for about eight years. The company proposes expanding operations to about 43 acres on a nearly 66-acre site. It would allow for disposal of 2 million cubic yards of debris over a 40-year period, including soil, brick, concrete block and broken concrete.
The site near the U.S. 460 bypass and Interstate 81 is adjacent to residential properties including 86 apartments, 38 duplexes and 16 single-family homes, according to county planning department documents. The expansion design firm plans a 20-foot-wide buffer zone between the proposed site and residential properties.
The design firm says heavy equipment and construction vehicles will use the existing access point on Village Lane. The firm has said that on some days, there will be no additional traffic, but construction traffic could go to 20 to 30 trips per day “when an active project is utilizing the site.” However, a design firm representative has acknowledged there could be more than 100 trips on one day and significantly fewer trips on another.
In October, officials acknowledged that the operation will be partly visible from 460. But in a Nov. 18 memo, the design firm noted that Black Diamond proposes building a 6-foot tall berm with vegetation on top fronting the 460 bypass.
Supervisors and county staff also raised questions about dust control and details of plans to close the site when it reaches its capacity. In the Nov. 18 memo, the design firm stated that it will have a water truck on the site to control dust, and that once the site is filled, final grades will be covered with at least six inches of topsoil and permanent seeding, returning the land to agricultural pasture usage.
Property assessments
Supervisors will vote to schedule a public hearing on a proposal to conduct real estate assessments every two years.
Currently, property assessments take place every four years.
According to Nov. 12 meeting minutes, Chief Financial Officer Terri Mitchell presented data supporting a change to biennial assessments “to improve uniformity of assessed values, reduce large fluctuations in property taxes, and aid in budgeting.”
Mitchell’s presentation noted that key considerations in making the change would include the costs of hiring and retaining more staff to do the work, transparency and the impact on taxpayers. She reported that more frequent assessments would improve uniformity in the valuation process, establish taxable values that are closer to market values and reduce “sticker shock” when property owners receive their new assessed values.
If approved, the public hearing would take place Jan. 26. If supervisors agree to make the change, it would take effect in 2030.
Zoning district
Supervisors will conduct a public hearing and vote on renewal of an agricultural and forestal district between Shawsville and the Floyd County border.
District 6 comprises nearly 1,700 acres near Alleghany Spring Road, Boners Run Road and Sweet Springs Road. In the district, landowners relinquish some development rights for eight years in exchange for increased protection from development.
The district, established in 1981, includes property with six owners, all of whom support renewal, according to meeting documents. The county planning commission recommended approval at its Nov. 19 meeting.
You can find the documents for Monday’s meeting online.