2008 Roanoke Citizen of the Year

A surprise announcement was made by Mayor Bowers this evening at a reception honoring volunteers who serve on Authorities, Boards, Commissions and Committees. In addition to Estelle McCadden being named "Citizen of the Year" she also receive a Key to the City.

Estelle McCadden
2008 Citizen of the Year

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At 82 Estelle is a neighborhood advocate and activist, and currently serves as the President of the Melrose-Rugby Neighborhood Forum, Inc. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Neighborhoods USA (NUSA), a national organization dedicated to developing partnerships between neighborhoods, local government, and public/private agencies across the United States. Her accomplishments are too many to put here. She will be honored at a subsequent Council meeting.

Council Meeting - Trane Property - Wasena Park

UPDATE: Listen to message from Roanoke City Planning Department - moving the stake(s) 10 feet:

The RED Line is Where The Three Stakes Converge

The BLUE Line had NO Stakes - Should Follow the Tree Line

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It was a very, very long Council Meeting that I attended Monday. I went not only to present the pictures of the Trane Property that was staked off but to also support the Wasena Park group wanting to save the beautiful trees that will be cut down along the banks of the Roanoke River. This is part of the flood project being conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers. I went down to Wasena Park Sunday afternoon. I am SO jealous. The huge trees were showing their colors in all their splendor. The sun shown through them like a kaleidoscope. Take a moment to view the video. How I wish we had a park like that. It made me even more determined to hang onto this golf course. We all saw what the Countryside property means to the City and it did not include a "real" park. It was row upon row of houses, retail, and through traffic.

The "bench cut" to accommodate the flood reduction program at Wasena Park takes out Wiley Drive and will leave a permanent scar. It also prevents the disabled and our older citizens from reaching the Roanoke River picnic area. At least Council promised to revisit the aesthetics and the access when the engineers complete their work.
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After 2 hours I finally got to speak. Mayor Harris left so he did not hear the "public comments". I had pictures printed of the stakes that you see on the blog. I included a picture of the map above because pictures of stakes did not tell you anything unless you could put them together in an overview. Council did look at them and then they ended up with Ms. Burcham.

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In short I pointed out that this property line DOES interfere with play according to Meadowbrook management. That is unless Trane opens it's doors so golfers can play through. This conjures up scenes from the movie "Caddyshack" doesn't it?

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The bottom line is - according to Ms. Burcham, the City Manager, Meadowbrook had blessed the previously measured property lines. However, I explained that the stakes were far from what had been initially measured out according to Steve Smith, the golf course manager and golf pro, and would require the impossible task of reconfiguring number 3 fairway. I say impossible because there is barely anything left of number 3 now. I am very glad I went to the meeting because Ms. Burcham was unaware that the stakes had been planted and had not seen them.

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Here comes another "whoa Nellie" as Ms. Burcham was none too pleased that I brought it to the Council's attention before she became aware of it. I was very forgiving and said that I believed the stakes were just placed last week so it would be understandable that the City Administration may not have seen them yet. However, after the meeting when I approached her to reassure her that the stakes were recent I got the "ice box" and "no lookie in the eyes" shut out demeanor that has defined Ms. Burcham these many years. She gave me the pictures back without looking up .. "here you probably want these back ... we'll go out and take a look". I just hate that, just really hate that, smile, @:D

SEE WASENA PARK - Turn on your speakers:

State of the City Address - 2007

Neighborhood Services pays the fee for presidents of Neighborhood Organizations to attend the yearly State of The City address by our Mayor. This event is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. If I had to pay it would have cost almost $30 for breakfast. I thank Neighborhood Services and the City for sponsoring our attendance as we are the only common folk that get invitations. Of Course, I wore a SAVE COUNTRYSIDE tag at the event.

At any rate I sat with other Neighborhood Organization Presidents and did get to mingle before heading to work.

I will not repeat what will be reported in the media about the contents of this years State of the City. However, I would like to point out that the table where I was seated all commented on the Mayor’s initiative to move “experienced” teachers to under performing schools. Almost in unison we said “that is a good way to lose experienced teachers”.

I attended last years State of the City address and listened as the purchase of the Countryside property was touted as increasing the housing stock in Roanoke City - the 4.1 million dollar purchase and Roanoke City’s first entry into the real estate business.

Now imagine if the State of the City address was required to reference the State of the City address from the prior year. What happened to the City’s purchase of the Countryside Property? How much of our tax money was flushed into that great “sewage treatment plant in the sky”. Yes, we are all still making that mortgage payment on the property with our tax dollars while the operator of the golf course pockets all the revenue. Interest only is fast approaching ½ million dollars. Let us now plan the proper use of this property and fulfill the long overdue promise of parks and recreation for our area. Great lead in to the next State of the City topic ….

Parks and Recreation Master Plan touted - Many of the Countryside Neighborhood folks attended the Parks and Recreation workshops. We made the case for Parks and Recreation to take over operating the Countryside golf course at every workshop and forum we attended. Mr. Boucher, Parks and Recreation Director, said all the city had to do is hand it to them and they could operate it with no problem. I imagine though they would need some expertise in “turf” (greens keeper) and an experienced golf course manager.

Did the Mayor speak of Countryside you eagerly ask? Well, no mention of that boondoggle. No mention of its future. NO PRESS CONFERNCES for us – which is a whole other sore spot for me. We will be vigilant and watch for “WHO SPEAKS FOR US?”

Can a previously annexed portion of the City that gets ZERO attention revolt and become “unannexed”?

NO ANNEXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!

That sure would have made a great sign to hold up at the State of the City address. Would bet I’d never get another invitation to that function.

Shine the Light: Open Your Eyes

The Roanoke Times weighed in this morning on the veil of secrecy that has covered the Countryside "Development" fiasco. The Times suggests that the city should lift that veil. That would have been the right thing to do. We feel that when the veil is lifted, City Deciders and the Roanoke Times editorial board need to rethink their support for the destructive development.

You can read the latest from the Roanoke Times right here. Please feel free to disagree with them.

Veiled Position

You can choose to disagree with them in our comment section or on the Roanoke Times Round Table.

National Night Out August 7th and Funeral for The Wicked Witch of Countryside

I found a UTube clip titled "Funeral at Countryside". It gave me the idea to have a ceremony after putting the feed on Tuesday evening. The winner of the naming contest will be announced. The "noname" wicked witch will be present at the ceremony to accept her name/fate. We will then have a procession in full regalia (all wearing our Save Countryside T-Shirts) carrying her with us as we walk the Ranch and Mattaponi gauntlet. We will then stop at the Save Countryside Banner for a moment of silence, stick (name here) into the ground beside the banner wearing the Countryside T-Shirt. Have her pointing at the banner and leave her there to whatever fate may befall her. Oh, the humanity!

It's a foggy night at Countryside

Runway 6 guide lights flashing towards the 12th green

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The Little House on the 13th tee blocks a guide light.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind on Runway 6 Approach
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This evening was one of those foggy nights here at Countryside Golf Course. The neighborhood was enveloped by very heavy wet air that activates the brightening of the guide lights on the approach to runway 6 at the corner of Ranch and Lewiston. This is where you golfers cross from the 12th green to the 13th tee. The brightening of the flashing strobe-like guide lights have to be experienced on a foggy night like this to get the full effect. The heavy air meeting the intensified brightness of the guide lights is almost 4th of Julyish. The first picture was taken from my patio. The second picture is of the little outhouse at the 13th tee location with a guide light flashing behind it? Sight of a fatal airplane crash in 1994 - CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE. I'm sure someone will comment here on its real use of this little house for this non-golfer. The third picture is right out of the movie - "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". It is the little ships making way for the mother ship. Won't the new home owners be surprised when their living rooms and bedrooms light up for the first time one foggy night? Video to come later as I just returned from the mother ship and am feeling a bit disoriented.

The People Speak

The Petition

For months now, we’ve been trumpeting the message: “SAVE COUNTRYSIDE!” All we can say is that Roanoke has responded! Our community wants to save the course and utilize the green space as a golf and recreational area for the entire city.

Our online petition offers a unique public comment area. We’ve taken those comments and presented them here.

Countryside is an incredible asset to the entire Roanoke Valley and needs to be preserved and developed as a recreational facility for the Northwest section of the city. "Developing" the Countryside property as a residential/business area is shortsighted and destructive.

This is the perfect use for this property. Adding more people under will create liability for any builder, realtor, and the city in the future as I have seen it happen elsewhere with a crash and as planes get nosier.

THE ONLY REASON WE MOVED TO OUR LOCATION WAS THE GOLF COURSE. WE ARE CERTAIN WITHOUT ANY DOUBT THAT KEEPING A GOLF COURSE INTHIS LOCATION WITH SWIMMING AND TENNIS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL POSSIBILITIES WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE SURROUNDING CITY AREA AND FOR OUR FUTURE CHILDREN GROWING UP. THIS REALLY WOULD BE A WASTE TO DESTROY THE POSSIBILITIES.

Save the course!

Having a municipal golf course would be a great addition to the Parks and Rec. Dept!

No comment should be necessary; it obvious that the area should remain a golf course and other amenities updated and upgraded.

We definitely need indoor tennis courts on that side of town

Whether or not Countryside has a name change - the city of Roanoke would lose out by not keeping it as a public golf course. I've noticed that the staff at Countryside is afraid to spend any extra money to maintain the upkeep on the course now because they don't know what will happen there next.

I grew up in NW and have never moved far from my early beginnings. We need a recreational area in the NW, Why are we being left out from the city planning?

One of the things that was mentioned regarding the uniqueness and genuine beauty of Roanoke, when being named All American City, was the allure of the Countryside gold course. Located so snugly, yet effortlessly convenient, but it adds a nuance to a city the size of Roanoke, that most Major cities NEVER achieve. When I supported the 'development' of countryside, I as many of my friend ASSUMED they meant, taking our jewel of a golf course, and developing it into a diamond of a golf course. New club house, fixing the wonderful pool and indoor tennis courts to their previous luster. NONE of us THOUGHT the city was thinking of creating anything other than a better golf course. With what we have seen in areas of Roanoke where some of the most beautiful homes ever built are starting to fall into decay, or be destroyed, (another beauty that made Roanoke what it is),... we need to go back and review ways to save those precious works of art. Somehow, the leadership of Roanoke seems to believe that the only way to generate revenues, improve our ability to draw in new business etc, etc,....is to destroy the things that MADE Roanoke considered "the best kept secret in the US'.... and SHOEHORN as many new projects as possible, into the smallest spaces. (i.e. New Art Museum) A project that ballooned from a few million to over 40 million I hear? Wouldn't make more since to build a Five million dollar museum, and put 35 million dollars of great art into it? Same mentality is being used for the golf course. If we can shoehorn several hundred houses into it, we can get this amount of revenue. I have run business' since I was 20 years old, ...and I can tell you, ... Smart use of money collect beats rampant spending every time. Stop this direction, use my tax money in a way that IMPROVES the STANDARD of living for each resident, ...and no the NUMBERS of residents living. This too will provide the revenues needed.

This is the best use of this land.

Don't forget that they can still turn the course into an Arnold Palmer signature course and bring in The PGA & LPGA for tournaments which the revenue would be astronomical just for the City motels alone.

I remember Countryside very well from my undergraduate days at VT. It would be a shame to lose it.

Please pay attention to us and do the right thing for once. The lovely thing about the Roanoke Valley is that we have so many wonderful amenities within minutes, Countryside being one of the major assets. Please don't turn Roanoke into another no class Podunk town.

Keep the property as a golf course. Improve it and its associated amenities and it will pay for itself many times over, as well as providing a recreation area for area citizens and an attraction for visitors. Imagine ...a city owned entity that pays for itself and provides many avenues of recreation.

Keep the property as a Golf Course and improve on it.

I live on the golf course, so I have a personal interest. The City should not be in the Real Estate business to begin with.

I think the Name should remain Countryside and Name the signature hole after Roy Stanley.

I am in full agreement with this petition. Keep the golf course alive! It is always a pleasure to play there, and who better to name the course after than Roy Stanley. He gave so much to this community.

This is a great opportunity for Roanoke City to have a great Municipal Golf Course near the Airport and a major shopping area for Southwestern Virginia. It will not only be a good recreational area for Roanoke City citizens but an additional draw for tourism.

I live in Vinton now, but grew up in Roanoke and graduated from Fleming in 1978. Roanoke Country Club is only about 1 mile from Countryside. Why don't they put new housing and businesses there?

I agree with what was written and will be glad to sign any petition to keep Countryside.

ROANOKE CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A STATE OF THE ART GOLF COURSE THAT COULD BE THE ENVY OF ALL LOCALITIES. IT CAN BE A TOURIST ATTRACTION BY OFFERING GOLF PACKAGES ALIGNED WITH ONE OF THE NEARBY MOTELS. THE PACKAGE COULD EVEN INCLUDE DINNERS AT ONE OR MORE OF THE FINE RESTAURANTS NEAR BY AND COULD EVEN INCLUDE TICKETS TO A PLAY AT THE MILL MOUNTAIN THEATRE. GOLFERS LOVE TO TAKE TRIPS TO GREAT GOLF COURSES AND THEIR WIVES WOULD LOVE THE SHOPPING AT VALLEY VIEW MALL. THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE TO PUT ROANOKE ON THE MAP FOR ANOTHER VENUE OF TOURISTS. SALEM CITY HAS ATTRACTED TOURISTS WITH THEIR STATE OF THE ART BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL FACILITIES. ROANOKE HAS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY IN THEIR HANDS. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TAKE IT! PLEASE!

Countryside is a Maples design. He designed 30 or 40 golf courses, mostly in North and South Carolina. He is acknowledged in golf circles to be one of the top American golf architects. What a shame it would be to destroy one of his great works.

I learned to play golf as a 13 year old at Countryside and continue to play there to this day, it's the best course for the money in town and is also a great layout, we're short on affordable courses in the Valley. It adds a lot to the community and should be preserved!

I learned as a child how to play golf at countryside and i still play today at countryside and do not want it to go anywhere!!!

I have played the course regularly for many years and consider it a very positive recreational outlet for the Roanoke valley.

I think the city should consider operating the golf course as a public course and a source of revenue.

Keep the course as it was intended--GREENSPACE.

With the lack of recreational facilities in this quadrant of town, it would be a shame to lose Countryside Golf Course, pool and tennis club. With the "proposed" Wm Fleming stadium/track this could become a recreation hub for the northern portion of the city. Properly run this area will be a revenue generating entity for the city. If the City can allow a methadone clinic to be located in this area (less than 1,000 yards from a middle and high school) it seems entirely fair to work with the area on something positive that would increase livability and recreational opportunity in this area.

Banner going here on the corner ....

The banner coming soon to Cove and Ranch.
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At our meeting Monday, July 9th, we discussed moving the banner that is now on the pavilion to another spot. Good news - John Kahn, the owner of the lots on the corner of Cove and Ranch gave his permission to put the banner there. It will diagonally face towards Peters Creek and be placed at the high point of the lot. Now we just need to get a "man's man" to figure out the best method to hang it. If this sounds like a "butter up" to get volunteers then I confess.

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We are continuing our petition and will bring numbers again to our National Night Out picnic Tuesday, August 7th, 6:30 PM, at the Countryside Pavilion. There will be no regular monthly meeting in August. National Night out on August 7th will serve for informal discussion and information sharing. Look for more information on National Night Out in emails coming soon.

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Listen to WFIR on Monday and ...KEEP THE FAITH as Rev. Carl Tinsley advised us Monday night after the Virginia Baptist Association banquet. For those who did not attend our meeting Monday evening - the banquet let out the same time we concluded our meeting. We were quite a sight in our yellow SAVE T-Shirts in contrast to the formal attire of the banquet attendees. However, we received almost a full page of enthusiastic signatures including Rev. Tinsley who promptly "demanded" a T-Shirt. Yes, Rev. Tinsley, we will KEEP THE FAITH!

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PS: The Planning Commission will vote on the name change Thursday, July 19th. Then a vote by Council members will have to wait until the August 6th, 2:00 PM, Council meeting.

Comment on what you would like to have the "Wicked Witch of Countryside" say ...

Name our mascot in comments.

We will vote on the submissions. The winner will get a

T-Shirt and free membership for one year.

When you pass the Saunder's house on Mattaponi (first house on the right) be sure to comment on how lovely you think the silver monument (fire hydrant) looks in their front yard. I was in their living room looking out their picture window and the fire hydrant could not be more centered in the middle of their view. Note that the "Wicked Witch of Countryside" was unearthed from the bowels of the earth beside it. Did the "noname" witch have something to do with this?

Willow Walk - the abandoned development

Just a few blocks from Countryside across from the Catholic Church approaching Peters Creek Road is an abandoned development that was started by Blackstock Inc., on Starkey Road in Roanoke. This is what happens when a developer runs out of money. The City requires a bond from the developer and the City is protected. However, the citizens that have to look at this eyesore from their back yards are out of luck. This eyesore reflects on the entire community being that it is so highly visible from Cove Road.
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Is this the example that Roanoke City touts to us at Countryside when they tell us "we can control what goes here". Remember that Toll Brothers and Joyce Graham were required to submit a Request for Qualifications ( RFQ). A RFQ discloses their financial ability to tackle a large project to avoid exactly what happened at Willow Walk.

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Since Toll Brothers dropped the Countryside project Roanoke City decided to loosen the process and give ANYONE a shot at developing Countryside. By not requiring Mike Morgan Engineering, Victor Foti, Triangle Development, and other members of the team to submit an RFQ puts us in jeopardy of having another Willow Walk.

Demand that this development team submit a RFQ. We could be looking at this from our backyards where green fairways and trees now grace the beautiful sunset.

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The picture of mounds of red clay looks like the beginning of the colonization of Mars. The picture of the retention pond surrounded by yellow tape is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

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Beware - there have been sightings of the "Creature from the Black Lagoon". I could come up with a few names here but I will behave. Picture top left I can only guess is a periscope from a sunken submarine? All I can say is - pray and pray real hard. Click on the pictures to enlarge if you dare.

Institute for Justice

This 12th green view will be backs of retail!

Roanoke City amenities are good for some at the expense of others. Ask the Mayor, Vice-Mayor and Council members, "what value do you place on amenities in our taxpaying community".

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Institute Mission:
Through strategic litigation, training, communication and outreach, the Institute for Justice advances a rule of law under which individuals can control their destinies as free and responsible members of society. IJ litigates to secure economic liberty, school choice, private property rights, freedom of speech and other vital individual liberties and to restore constitutional limits on the power of government. In addition, IJ trains law students, lawyers and policy activists in the tactics of public interest litigation. Through these activities, IJ challenges the ideology of the welfare state and illustrates and extends the benefits of freedom to those whose full enjoyment of liberty is denied by government.

Institute for Justice Property Rights Commercial - Click HERE

Juneteenth Pictures

Ken and Rosanne Saunders

Mike Higgins (middle)

Councilman Sherman Lea, Sr.

Jeff Artis and Congressman Bob Goodlatte
City Manager Darlene Burcham and Jeff Artis

Mac McCadden

Chinese Prayer

Those who attended and helped gather signatures were Ken and Rosanne Saunders, Mike Higgins, Al Steele, Cecelia Burks, and Carolyn Word.

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We gathered about 120 signatures and our T-Shirts were instrumental in drawing the crowd. Congressman Goodlatte signed our petition as well as Councilman Sherman Lea, Sr.

Events like this really get the word out. We had a line at times to sign the petition. We had eager signers and those who did not know about the situation.

Demanding more picnic pictures?

These cool kids really had it together!
Millie Steele does her own thing!

Jeanette Taylor, the Barci's and the cool kids!

More Picnic Pictures as Promised

Our DJ - Mac McCadden
Our Gang
Eddie Johnson defends his door prize!

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There is mystery surrounding the Countryside Operating Agreement extension. Until further information and confirmation comes forth you can expect the agreement to end October 1, 2007.

More Picnic Pictures - Y M C A

This is definitely a "Y" - so easy!

The Keeton's are wondering

if the Barci's have an "M" or are imitating a lobster!

The Barci's win the spelling Bee with a "C"!

Still looking for the "A". I don't think we ever figured how to make an "A".

Banner is Missing - Banner Found!

About eight of our members came to the Forum sponsored by the Roanoke City Democratic Committee on Saturday morning, June 2nd. Al, Virginia, and myself came early to hand out fliers to attendees and have them sign our petition. Councilman Lea and WIshneff had accepted the invitation but were a "no show". All signed except Bill Bestpitch and Bill Carter. We had a "lively" exchange about the property during the forum. It seems they have a misconception that the golf course was/is not profitable. They learned this during their tenure in City Council in 2000. Susan Hall asked the two Bills "WHO" told them that and they looked at each other and fumbled on the question. I think I know what Susan was getting at. I then explained that I was in possession of FOIA material regarding the finances of the golf course along with a letter from Meadowbrook to the City in 2003 stating that the course being one of their most profitable.
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Those who signed were Don Caldwell, Granger MacFarlane, Bill White, David Bowers, and our esteemed Virginia State Senator John Edwards. Senator Edwards expressed his dismay of our plight and signed the petition.
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As second speaker I spoke about our vision for the Countryside property. I displayed the map and repeated the need for parks and recreation in NW City as demonstrated by the consultant who was hired by the City to update the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. I emphasized the pride we had in having this golf course in our community and that it brings guests from the airport hotels and all over the State and country. I have met many golfers from Wisconsin to Alabama and more on the 12th fairway.
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The forum was very successful and as I understand there will be another in August. Channel 7 was the only media who covered the forum - see the video here: CLICK HERE then on the Video.
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UPDATE - Banner was taken down temporary and it will be back up tomorrow:
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The "SAVE COUNTRYSIDE" banner is back up at the pavilion as we received permission from the GM and Corporate Headquarters to leave it there permanently. See the picture in previous post of the banner. The GM has also allowed us to leave a petition for golfers to sign. It is on the bulletin board with a bright yellow attention getting sign.
UPDATE:
I thank the Saunder's for hosting our meeting this evening and it was VERY productive. We will be thinking about what we discussed and have already made some decisions. Our regular meeting will still be Monday, June 11th at 7:00 PM at the Holiday in on Frontage Road (look for the meeting signs). I will have some copies of the FOIA material available to those who did not receive them in email. Below I am posting the more detailed map of the developer's plan:
****Update: Though I contacted all of Council - none had a clue what I was talking about in the rezoning of the William Fleming parcels. I sent this map and included the tax numbers ... I thank our member, Becky, for bringing it to my attention but I'm sorry they did not get it. It had NOTHING to do with Countryside.

Countryside Member at Local Colors

This is a very lively Philippine folk dance performed in different regions in the Philippines. There are many different versions of this dance. The number of steps and figures of which are unlimited. This dance is performed in any kind of social gathering including wedding parties, receptions , and barrio fiestas.

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Our lovely Evelyn Sayers dances the Kuratsa (Curacha)

Countryside Celebrates Neighborhood Month

"Cutty" Edwards Awarded Clock
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An award went to "Cutty" Edwards for donating our monthly meeting room at the Holiday Inn on Frontage Road. "Cutty" received an engraved clock for his desk .

Al and Millie Steele Awarded Gift Certificate

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Al and Millie Steele received a $40 gift certificate to Coach and Four Restaurant. Millie is our "Grant Writer" and if it was not for Millie we would not have our meeting signs or grant funds for this event.

The Keeton's on Laurel Ridge Rd. made this cake!
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Judy Keeton surprised us all with the cake. Now I know why they asked for the layout of the Banner. We saved the cake for last to cut and eat.

The "SAVE COUNTRYSIDE" Banner will continue to be put to good use.

Countryside Neighborhood Alliance celebrated May Neighborhood Month on Saturday, May 19th at the Countryside Golf Club Pavilion. Millie Steele's patience with the grant paperwork was rewarded in a small way. It is a daunting task to complete the grant forms, It does not stop after confirmation of the grant award is received. After the grant funds are spent Millie has to gather all receipts, compute the volunteer hours, account for the in-kind donations and fill out more paperwork to receive the actual reimbursement from the City. Al Steele has been my go-for so many times I lost count. He takes the Newsletter to the printers and picks it up. Drops paperwork off to Neighborhood Services on the last day to submit grant paperwork. Al put the meeting signs together as we were surprised the "finished" product was not assembled. The plaque my sneaky Co-Chair, Lloyd Long, presented to me meant more then words can say. Our neighborhood during this time of adversity has united and pulled together to preserve what we all know is so special about it but others fail to see.

Signs, signs, everywhere signs ....

Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind ... do this, don't do that - can't your read the sign! PS: Our meetings are on MONDAY now - the second Monday of the month.

Roanoke city zoning as it applies to signs is virtually nonexistent. For those of you that don't know why I am bringing this subject up let me explain. There is a very, very, large political sign at the corner of Cove Road and Ranch Road in Northwest City. Our neighborhood comes and goes from this intersection that is already blocked on the left by a hill. The traffic engineer refused to give us more protection from speeding vehicles coming over the hill then what is there now - an "intersection ahead" sign. You have to put the "peddle to the medal" to get out of here.

Cove Road to the left of the stop sign

Cove Road to the right of the stop sign

Now on the right we have the very large political sign we must look at (and hope don't die from) until November elections is over. Now you say I should complain to the code enforcer? So I did that very thing online and received the response "unfounded" as the explanation. When I called I was told that if you moved up past the stop sign which you have to do to get a good look at the hill on the left you can see around the sign. What???

When I asked then this large sign being OK - our neighborhood could put up any size sign on our property we wanted like a huge "Save Countryside Golf Course" sign? The code enforcer answered in the affirmative. This being true .... send donations please for the biggest most obnoxious signs we can get.

I hesitate here to say the following but OK I will spill my guts! A City staff member confided that the interpretation of sign regulations depends on the Zoning Administrator. So exactly what chance do we have when development at Countryside comes up before the Zoning Board ... what's that I heard you say, "interpretation"? BINGO! You win a view of the alley of a retail store backing up to your house and the smell of a dumpster.

Here is the purpose for regulations on signs as the town of Huntersville, NC, sees it. What is wrong with Roanoke ... left to interpretation says it all. Here is Huntersville's statement on the purpose of regulating signs:

.1 To maintain public safety and traffic safety by ensuring that signs are properly designed, constructed, installed, and maintained;
.2 To minimize the distractions and obstruction of view that contribute to traffic hazards and endanger public safety;
.3 To protect existing development and promote high standards of quality in new development by encouraging appropriately designed, placed, and sized signage.
.4 To provide an effective guide for communicating identification through signage while preventing signs from dominating the visual appearance of the areas in which they are located.

Come on Roanoke, what's with "interpretation"?

Roanoke City Council Meeting April 16th

Mike Higgins gave our vision for Countryside Golf Course tonight. Mike closed his statement with "The Golf Course is a public good that should be explored as an asset to the quality of life to citizens and visitors alike. The benefits to the city and the region could be tremendous." Mike did an excellent job. However, there are still those on Council who are steadfast in their direction. That is the bad news. The good news is that three members of Council will come out to meet with neighbors and walk the course. We don't know what this will yield but we can only hope they have an open mind - Open to a thorough study of the potential for the property as recreation and a profitable attraction.

A big "thank you" to Dan Hale, President of Miller Court Neighborhood, President of the Local Chapter of the NAACP, and neighbor for coming tonight and speaking up for Countryside. He said he was able to get a promise from Mayor Harris to come out and walk the golf course with him. There were several women who spoke on the Mill Mountain Inn and the "amazing" quickness that a Request for Proposal was put out. I won't go into the spin that was put on that but I think we know how that came about. The first woman (I will have to get their names) spoke about Countryside and the Parks and Recreation Visioning Workshop where at each workshop the "voting" dots covered "Keep Countryside Golf Course". If you read my Commentary - I say again "don't agitate the dots". All who spoke were either Countryside or Mill Mountain and "green space" advocates.

I pontificated also and as usual I got carried away and committed the cardinal sin of actually asking for an answer to the outstanding questions about "airport land lease extension" and the "land swap between the city and the airport" saying we are unable to get a straight answer. Do you think we then received a straight answer? Then I just had to insult the developer's concept plan by referring to it being drawn by kindergartners that took all of 6 months to draw. Will I ever learn? It is a good thing Mike Higgins has more patience then I do.

I spoke on Item A -1 which was an overrule of the Planning Commission's vote to deny Shewels a proffer amendment on its plans for building adjacent to Ferncliff. I spoke primarily to make the point that - in conjunction with the Countryside development plan which has Ferncliff opening up all the way to Peters Creek a traffic study should always be required. I knew a proffer to not open up the road was not possible but it was just to make a point.

Per my conversation today with Rick Williams, Planning Commission member, who said they voted it down unanimously ... Per Mr. Williams "There are many things about the Schewel proposal that were unacceptable to the PC [Planning Commission] which is why we voted, unanimously as I recall, not to recommend amending the proffered conditions on the previous rezoning. Unfortunately, for too many people in this city, good planning takes a back seat to short term, unwise, and unsustainable so-called economic development." The only dissenting vote was Councilman Lea.

At the end Mayor Harris asked Ms. Burcham, the City Manager, leading questions on the RFP for Mill Mountain. A long explanation followed and I think I dozed off. Then Mayor Harris asked about the "land swap" and the response was the same as we have heard before. So now you know the answer to ... did we get a straight answer!

I saved the best for last. During my turn a bat I said "at the Nov. 20th Council meeting we were told it was going to be an 18 - hole executive golf course" and I asked "why did it shrink to a miniature 9-hole course now". Ms. Burcham actually denied ever saying that ... what? After the gavel fell I went to the Mayor and Council members saying "you looked me in the eye and repeated over and over an 18-hole executive golf course". How conveniently they say "I don't remember" and Ms. Burcham said "NO we never said that". Well, excuse me ... see the press release below:

ROANOKE, VA - On Monday, Nov. 20, Roanoke City Council granted an extension to the proposed developer of the Countryside Golf Course site. The development group, headed by Triangle Development Group, LLC, of Richmond, also includes the Victor Foti Company, LLC and Allegheny Construction of Roanoke, and Mike Morgan Engineering of Midlothian.

The development team has indicated that a new golf course concept, an 18-hole Executive Course, would be the centerpiece of the proposed mixed-use development. Executive golf courses are designed to provide for shorter length of time of play, and usually are comprised of a combination of par four and par three holes, with an overall course length of less than 4,000 yards.

The development team continues to refine site concept designs and has requested that they be given additional time to present a proposed overall design concept for the property to the city. The City Council granted such an extension until March 1, 2007.

Of course I sent it to them but I doubt I will get a response. Tomorrow, April 17th, Councilman Dowe will come to my home to talk about Countryside. I hope the weather is nice to take a walk around the clubhouse and pavilion. I'll give an update on any progress this visit yields.

I thank all the members who came tonight.