Government and Politics - The Roanoke Rambler (Page 5)

Roanoke Planning Commission Advances End to Single-Family Zoning in Bid for More Housing

City Council is expected to vote Monday on reforms staff say is aimed at increasing housing and decreasing racial and economic inequities.

Education

Roanoke School Board To Gain New Faces As Leaders Step Off

School board members Mark Cathey and Diane Casola are stepping off this June, while incumbent Michael Cherry II is seeking another term.

City Hall

Roanoke City Treasurer Evelyn Powers To Retire, Setting Up Potential Special Election

City treasurer since 2003, Evelyn Powers will retire with a 43-year career in Roanoke government.

Neighborhoods

Neighbor's Lawsuit Challenging Fishburn Park Cottage Sale Dismissed by Roanoke Judge

Owen McGuire, who lives beside the park, sued the city and a business run by Justin and Keri vanBlaricom in September.

Development

Despite Public Outcry, Roanoke Council Adopts Evans Spring Plan To Guide Development

The plan says Evans Spring should become a mix of big box stores, smaller shops, and hundreds of houses and apartments.

City Hall

‘Extremely Troubled’: Roanoke Leaders Called for Probe into Parks Director’s Leaked Resignation Letter, Emails Show

“I would like to see us investigate how this information was leaked,” the mayor told Roanoke's city manager.

Housing

Roanoke Proposes Allowing Multi-Unit Housing Throughout Residential Neighborhoods

Effort to end single-family-only zoning is meant to spur more housing, decrease inequities, city officials say.

City Hall

Roanoke Leaders, Residents Tangle Over Evans Spring As Activists Ratchet Up Pressure

City Council is nearing a vote on whether to incorporate a development plan into Roanoke's master plan.

Legal

Pro-Gun Groups, Residents Sue Roanoke City Over Law Banning Firearms on Public Properties

Roanoke became one of several cities and towns to restrict firearms in public places after a 2020 state law.

City Hall

Roanoke Readies New Wasena Bridge At Twice Initial Budget

Steel costs and the time it took to get permits from Norfolk Southern contributed to the bridge project's price tag, city manager says.

Politics

Roanoke Vice Mayor Cobb Files To Run For Mayor As Lea, White-Boyd Bow Out of Council Races

Cobb is laying the groundwork for a campaign as Mayor Sherman Lea and Councilwoman Trish White-Boyd announce they won’t seek reelection.

Racial justice

Decades After Urban Renewal Razed Black Neighborhoods, Roanoke Prepares To Apologize

The apology is “intended to be an action document with firm commitments and identifiable results."

City Hall

As Evans Spring Plan Proceeds, Residents Urge Roanoke Council To Reverse Development Stance

Northwest Roanoke residents and activists said the city should acquire the 150-acre woodlands and turn it into a public park.

Transportation

Roanoke Bus System To Launch On-Demand Sunday, Late Night Service in 'Microtransit' Pilot

The two-year pilot program from Valley Metro fulfills a promise from city leaders who earmarked $3 million in federal pandemic relief funds to improve public transit.

Gun violence

More Roanoke Gun Violence Panelists Resign, Citing City Council Politics As Factor

The departures come during a year of intense scrutiny as Roanoke faces the highest number of gun homicides in decades.

City Hall

Tackling Gun Violence, School Funding Among Roanoke City's Wish List To State Lawmakers

Council's legislative priorities last year prompted some resident pushback after the city urged lawmakers to revisit criminal justice reforms.

City Hall

Bridge from Highway Key To Developing Evans Spring, Consultant Tells Roanoke

Big box and medium-sized retail stores would also be crucial to making any development economically worthwhile, consultants say.

Policing

Roanoke Deputy Police Chief Resigned Amid Scrutiny of His Military Record

The group Guardians of the Green Beret was probing Morris's military record around the time he was placed on administrative leave.