Welcome Cardinal News readers! This is the first edition of Roanoke Valley Field Notes, a collection of news and miscellaneous notes from the past week in the valley, and a look ahead at what’s happening next week. I primarily cover Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem and Botetourt County — but those boundaries aren’t rigid when coverage is needed elsewhere. You can generally expect to see my column in your inbox on Thursdays.
There’s only one me, and there’s a lot of you in the valley, so news tips and feedback from readers are always appreciated. Email me at samantha@cardinalnews.org to share your thoughts, ideas, questions and concerns with me!
Here’s a highlight of some news from the past week, and what you can expect to see your elected officials to discuss in the next week:
Roanoke City Council approves change to Evans Spring Plan, postpones zoning vote
The Roanoke City Council voted during a four-hour public hearing Monday evening to adopt amendments to the Evans Spring Plan that allow for conservation as an acceptable use, with two other changes regarding interstate connections and land use in one plot.
The council voted in February to initiate amendments to that plan regarding the city’s largest undeveloped plot of land — distributed among multiple landholders — after a community engagement process. I’ve written more about the background of the 150-acre property that sits near Valley View Mall here.
Roanoke’s planning staff came to the planning commission with three options for change:
- Reaffirm the plan as it’s already written.
- Adopt adjustments to the plan, including changes in wording, extending buffers along all developed residentially zoned parcels that abut the site, and removing language that commits the city to infrastructure investments.
- Conduct further study of major amendments, including adding a statement that says conservation is an “acceptable” alternative outcome to the recommended development plan.
In April, the planning commission voted 5-2 to recommend Option 2 to the city council.
But during Monday’s public hearing, almost 20 residents spoke, urging the city council to consider option three, which would allow for further conservation in addition to the land that’s already proposed for that use — 50% of the total parcel.
The city council voted unanimously for option three, emphasizing the need for conservation as an option, with two amendments: removing language that states the need for an interstate connection into Evans Spring, and changing the proposed land uses in one piece of the property to reflect educational and open space uses.
The council also held a public hearing on potential amendments to a citywide rezoning package, approved in 2024 and again in 2025 — prior reporting can be found here.
However, after the meeting hit four hours, the council failed to agree on a time they wanted to extend the meeting. The meeting automatically adjourned around 11 p.m. without a vote on the zoning matter after over a dozen people came and spoke on that matter.
The council will vote on the rezoning amendments during a future meeting, and that date has not been determined.
Earlier on Monday, the council voted to appoint Derek Kaknes and Donna Littlepage to the Roanoke City School Board. Read more about these two new appointees here.
Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation announces its 2026 list of endangered sites
On Tuesday, the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation shared what it deems as the historic sites most in danger of being lost “due to neglect, deferred maintenance, demolition, or incompatible development,” according to a press release. The foundation releases its list annually — and it began in 1996.
Here are the four historic sites that made this year’s list:
- The Butts House on Market Street in Salem
This house, dating back to around 1850, was built by J.C. Deyerle. The Deyerle family was known as builders and owners of a brick manufacturing plant in Salem, according to a press release. He built many of the earliest buildings in Salem, Roanoke County and Roanoke College with either enslaved or recently freed labor. The house is currently proposed for demolition.
- The 1873 Valley Railroad Bridge in Salem
This bridge was built as part of a post-Civil War era railroad project that was never completed through Salem. The RVPF press release states the bridge was built with “some of the very best stonework ever found in the area” by formerly enslaved African Americans and Irish Immigrants.
A protective Conservation Easement is recommended for the bridge, with a walking trail to connect to Mason Creek Greenway and the Hanging Rock Battlefield trail.
- The 1920 Ole Monterey Golf Club, William Fleming Gravesite, 1827-28 Thomas Goode House in Roanoke
The 1920 Ole Montgomery Golf Club is the second oldest golf course in the Roanoke Valley and was recently closed, according to the release. Revolutionary patriot William Fleming and his wife are buried on the property.
The Thomas Goode house is in disrepair, and is “a good example of an early dogtrot log building.”
The house and 116 acres are protected by a historic and conservation easement, RVPF stated, and is the only protected farmland within Roanoke City limits.
“If the golf course is sold, it is hoped that it will remain compatible with the historic and open nature of the area that residents have enjoyed for decades,” according to the release.
- “Old Cave Springs” in Roanoke County
The village of Cave Springs as it was then known functioned as a stopping point for travelers in the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries, as it was located at the intersection of three early transportation routes, the RVPF said.
The once-thriving farming community began to lose its “rural character” after the cities of Roanoke and Salem expanded, according to the release. Only a few of the original village’s buildings remain, and their existence could be impacted by commercial expansion and traffic changes on Old Cave Spring Road.
“With few historic resources remaining and many residents of the area not even aware of its history, the RVPF supports efforts to raise awareness through oral histories and interpretive signage,” the RVPF announcement states.
Entertainment District Focus Group holds final meeting
Roanoke City Councilman Phazhon Nash’s Entertainment District Focus Group met for the last time Tuesday night. The group of 18 city leaders has met monthly since January to discuss options for the future of the Berglund Center.
In October, the city announced plans for a potential casino in the 50-year-old facility, as a way to increase revenue coming into the building — an idea that would need the General Assembly’s approval and a vote through a local referendum.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Robyn Schon, the Berglund Center’s executive director, said that over the next 5 to 10 years, the center will need $28 million in improvements, including boiler replacements, fire alarm system replacements and parking lot repairs.
The city currently subsidizes the Berglund Center’s capital improvements with $1.5 million annually.
“We take losses every year,” Schon said at the meeting. “We can’t bring in enough entertainment to level the playing field.”
The group has not made any formal recommendations as a result of their meetings yet, and Nash said in a text message on Wednesday that the group doesn’t have a timeline as to when recommendations might be made outside of the focus group meetings.
Next week: Three localities wrap up their budgets
Next Tuesday, three localities will meet to discuss and finalize their budgets: Salem, Roanoke County and Botetourt County.
The Salem City Council and the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors will have second formal readings of their budget and approvals on May 26.
Botetourt County’s proposed budget totals about $95 million, after almost $108 million was requested in expenditures from the county’s departments. This is a decrease of about $3.6 million from the budget adopted for the current fiscal year.
The recommended capital improvement plan totals just over $1 million, which is about 20% of what was requested by departments.
Prior reporting about Roanoke County and Salem’s budgets can be found here.
The agendas for next week’s meetings are not posted yet, but when they are posted, they can be found at these links:
Roanoke County Board of Supervisors agenda
Botetourt County Board of Supervisors agenda
