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Peakwood Development Project
Research/ Analysis
Neighbors In South Roanoke has researched all of the issues surrounding the proposed Boone development adjacent to Peakwood. We have been in contact with numerous officials from city government including the city manager, planning staff, and several members of city council. We have also met with a number of Peakwood residents and reviewed situation with legal counsel.
Based on the information provided from all of these sources we have reached the following conclusions:
1. Roanoke City management and City Council are strongly in favor of this project and they have indicated they see no reason why it will not go forward.
2. There is no significant legal issue that we can pursue that will have a realistic chance of succeeding in stopping Boone from proceeding with developing this property.
Course of Action
Neighbors in South Roanoke has agreed to represent the residents of South Roanoke on this issue. The Association adamantly opposes the Boone development but all of the information we have received from the City and legal counsel is the development cannot realistically be stopped. If in fact it cannot be completely stopped, we can succeed in reducing the negative impact on our neighborhood by requiring the City to make the following changes to the current development plan submitted by Boone.
1. The development will have two public access points: One on Peakwood and one on Southern Hills Drive. Both will be City maintained and both will be required to be completed before the development is opened for sale.
2. The development will have a maximum of the 54 homes Boone has on the plan currently under review by the city.
Rationale
• The development as currently proposed will have a negative impact on both South Roanoke and Southern Hills. The addition of 54 homes will generate additional traffic for Peakwood and West Ridge that already have problems safely handling the current volume of traffic.
• The City has already granted Boone a waiver for the road grade on the Peakwood entrance due to the steep nature of the land. Having Peakwood as the only entrance would create a safety issue for EMS vehicles.
• If the only entrance is from Peakwood, the residents of Southern Hills would have to put up with 4 -5years of heavy equipment traffic on their street only to be cut off once the development is finished. They are entitled to any ancillary benefits of having a high-end development built adjacent to their neighborhood.
We urge all residents of South Roanoke to contact City Council and make your voice heard. Whether you believe the development must be stopped at all costs or you seek a revision to the current plan, tell members of Council what you think. If you do nothing, the development will go forward and could easily grow to 66 homes with Peakwood as the only access.
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