Council meeting features several public hearings

Altavista residents will have chances to speak on several issues when Town Council meets Tuesday night, June 10.

Council has public hearings scheduled on the 2008-09 budget, the town's capital improvement program, two zoning cases and a transportation plan.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at town hall.

The budget, totaling almost $7.9 million, includes no increases in tax rates or fees. The budget is up about 11 percent over the current year's almost $7.1 million. A big part of that is in capital improvements, including Virginia Department of Transportation funds for downtown revitalization.

Council will also take public input on a capital improvement program for the next five years totaling more than $4.5 million. More than half of the expenditures, almost $2.7 million, are only for planning purposes.

Members won't vote on either next week. Instead, council will meet June 24 at 8:30 a.m. to approve both the budget and capital improvement program.

The new fiscal year starts July 1.

Council will also hold a public hearing on a special use permit request by Michael E. Mattox for a garden retail center, greenhouses, and shrubbery and tree display on property on Lynch Mill Road.

"We're trying to bring a new business into Altavista," Mattox told the Planning Commission last month.

Mattox is a member of Altavista Town Council. He has said he will not participate in the discussion or vote on the issue.

A second hearing will be held on a special use permit request from the Central Virginia Community Services board to continue operation of an adult group home for handicapped individuals on Avoca Lane.

The Altavista Planning Commission recommended both requests.

In the last public hearing, council will take comments on Altavista's 2035 Transportation Plan covering current and future needs and recommended improvements.

Information about the budget, capital improvement program, zoning requests and transportation plan are available at town hall. Information is also available at www.ci.altavista.va.us.

Also at Tuesday night's meeting, Town Manager J. Waverly Coggsdale III said the Legislative Committee would recommend the town adopt a policy regarding trapping on town property. The suggestion will be for the town manager to decide trapping requests.

The committee is still looking at trapping on private property.

The issue arose after a black Labrador died in January after being caught in a trap near the pump station on the Staunton River.

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