With Planning Commission approval in hand, the Roanoke City Council will soon consider a controversial proposal for a new transit station in the city's downtown.
Ralph Berrier reports: "The Roanoke Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve zoning changes that would allow a transportation terminal to be constructed in the downtown section of the city as a right, with no special exceptions required."
The next stop for the proposed transit station is the Roanoke City Council, where final approval could come as soon as next week, according to Berrier.
If granted final approval, Roanoke and the Greater Roanoke Transportation Co. would "construct a bus station downtown to replace the current terminal at Campbell Court near the Roanoke City Market," reports Berrier.
Approval would culminate a controversial process that ran into resistance from residents of a neighborhood converted from industrial uses to apartments, restaurants, and a microbrewery in recent years.
"In August, Roanoke’s Board of Zoning Appeals denied the city a special exception permit to construct a bus station on that property, known as the Brandon Lot," explains Berrier. "Rather than drop the plans or challenge the BZA’s decision in court, the city opted to propose changes to the zoning ordinance that would allow a bus station be constructed by right."
FULL STORY: Planning commission OKs downtown Roanoke bus station
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