By partnering with a local broadband provider, Roanoke County intends to continue spending on costly rural internet expansion, even without help from an anticipated state grant.
More than 300 homes and 26 home-based businesses in the Windsor Hills, Cave Spring and Catawba districts will receive access to internet in the next two years, according to county documents, if the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors votes as indicated to approve a $3 million project at its next meeting.
Cox Communications is partnering with the county to complete the project, in planning for more than a year, said County Administrator Dan OâDonnell. County leaders hoped to fund most of the project using $1.7 million applied for from the stateâs Virginia Telecommunication Initiative program.
Hundreds of neighbors petitioned to dismiss a rezoning request, but Roanoke County approved 41 acres in the Hollins area for residential use, leaving developers to plan for a new subdivision with as many as 124 houses.
After weighing the need for new housing against a bevy of concerns from existing neighbors, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a rezoning request at 5524 Old Mountain Road, submitted by local developer R. Fralin Homes.
âAll due respect to our citizens,â said Supervisor Paul Mahoney, after a two-hour public hearing. âIâve read all the comments over the weekend. I think theyâd be screaming a whole lot louder if there was an industrial use on this property.â
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