News Flash

(ROANOKE COUNTY, VA - September 27, 2022)  Roanoke County is hosting a third community meeting for the Route 460 Land Use and Connectivity Study on September 29 from 5 - 7 p.m. at Bonsack Elementary School.  A presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m.  Roanoke County staff and consultants will be available after the presentation to answer questions in an open house-style format. At this meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to hear how the proposed transportation and future land use recommendations have changed based upon feedback collected in May 2022.  All meeting materials are available at www.roanokecountyva.gov/460Study. A survey is open until October 7 for those who wish to provide comments on the updated recommendations. 

1.    The Route 460 Land Use and Connectivity Study began in Fall 2021 with the following goals: 

Recommend ways to travel around the Bonsack community that are alternatives to Route 460/Challenger Avenue;  

2.    Consider existing zoning classifications and future land use designations to determine potential changes to match desired development types; and

3.    Examine existing at-grade railroad crossings for potential improvements that may create development opportunities between the railroad and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The first community meeting was held on January 13, 2022, at Bonsack Elementary School.  Over forty area residents, property owners and business owners attended this meeting.  County staff, consultants from Timmons Group and VDOT representatives reviewed aerial images of the study area with meeting participants and discussed a variety of topics including funded transportation projects on Route 460, roadways that can be improved, potential areas for development as well as possibilities for future greenway and trail connections.  Over 200 surveys were completed in January.

The second community meeting was held on May 18, 2022, at Bonsack Elementary School. Almost 100 people attended this meeting and discussions focused primarily around potential roadway connections and alignments. A total of 140 survey responses were collected in May.

Please visit www.RoanokeCountyVA.gov/460Study to learn more about the Route 460 Land Use and Connectivity Study.  Contact Megan Cronise, Assistant Director of Planning, with questions by email at mcronise@roanokecountyva.gov or by phone at (540) 772-2106.