Photo by Matt de Simone
By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors adopted an amended and restated intergovernmental agreement last Tuesday that restructures the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission while continuing the county’s participation in regional greenway planning.
The agreement transfers administration of the longtime Greenway Commission to the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (RVARC), dissolving the commission as an independent governing body and re-establishing it as an advisory Greenway Committee under the regional commission.
Prior to the board’s action, County Attorney Mike Lockaby explained that the Greenway Commission was established in 1997 to promote and coordinate the planning, development and maintenance of a regional greenway system throughout the Roanoke Valley. He said the commission had operated as a semi-independent organization funded through assessments paid by participating localities.
Lockaby said the restructuring follows the retirement of the commission’s executive director and Roanoke County’s decision to no longer serve as the commission’s fiscal agent.
“Rather than continuing to operate on a semi-independent basis, the functions of the Greenway Commission will instead move under the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission,” Lockaby said.
He said the move streamlines the organization while reducing administrative costs and places greenway planning within RVARC’s annual work program.
RVARC Executive Director Jeremy Holmes addressed several questions from the board regarding the agreement, including how future work plans would be funded and whether participating localities would become responsible for construction costs.
Supervisor Linda Rottman questioned whether the agreement obligated localities to contribute funding beyond grants awarded for greenway projects.
Holmes said it does not.
“This doesn’t obligate any of the member localities for any kind of construction activity,” Holmes said. “This is just to provide some regional staff support and technical support.”
Instead, Holmes said the agreement funds planning assistance, grant writing, technical expertise, economic impact studies, and coordination between local governments.
He explained that future work will include updating the region’s 10-year greenway plan, identifying grant opportunities, and assisting communities with trail and recreation projects.
Rottman also asked whether there is a long-term goal of physically connecting Botetourt County with neighboring localities through an interconnected trail system.
Holmes said the upcoming update to the regional greenway plan will help answer that question.
“One of the things we’re trying to figure out is what is that regional vision,” Holmes said. “We’ll be looking at what the next 10 to 20 years of trails and outdoor recreation should look like.”
Board Chair Dr. Mac Scothorn asked whether Botetourt County has benefited from participating in the Greenway Commission.
County Planning and Development Director Jonathan McCoy said the county has gained valuable experience by working alongside neighboring localities and learning from their successes and mistakes when designing greenway infrastructure.
“We’ve been able to lean on those other localities in the valley to learn from them,” McCoy said.
He added that county staff has intentionally focused on developing projects that primarily benefit Botetourt residents rather than emphasizing regional connections.
“Our goal has been to focus on some of the low-hanging fruit and get some of those greenways on the ground so people can really enjoy and understand some benefit,” McCoy said.
McCoy identified a proposed Eagle Rock greenway as one of the county’s primary projects. The trail would connect downtown Eagle Rock to Last Lock Park and eventually the Craig-Botetourt Scenic Trail. He said the county has already secured some funding and hopes to pursue additional support through Pathfinders for Greenways.
Supervisors also discussed how participation in the regional commission could help the county pursue funding for future recreational amenities, including portions of the Craig-Botetourt Scenic Trail.
During the public comment period, residents offered differing opinions on the proposal.
One resident spoke in opposition, expressing concerns that expanded greenway connections would encourage additional growth, development, and visitors from neighboring localities while increasing demands on county taxpayers.
A Cloverdale resident voiced support for the revised agreement, saying the greenway coordinator provides valuable assistance to county staff by identifying grant opportunities, coordinating with neighboring localities, and working alongside volunteer organizations.
The Cloverdale man also commended county staff for expanding local greenway opportunities and maintaining existing trails while recognizing the volunteer efforts of Pathfinders for Greenways in supporting projects throughout Botetourt County. A third speaker, a county resident, former county employee, and current resident member of the Greenway Commission, also spoke in favor of the revised agreement.
Holmes noted that one of the first priorities under the reorganized structure will be conducting an economic impact study examining the value of trails and greenways throughout the region. He said the information will help participating localities compete for future state and federal funding while better demonstrating the return on investment associated with outdoor recreation projects.
The revised agreement now takes effect as part of a regional effort involving Botetourt County, Roanoke County, the cities of Roanoke and Salem, and the Town of Vinton to continue coordinating greenway planning through the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission.
