By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors approved the proposed amendment to the 2022-2023 Botetourt County budget and an appropriation of $2,410,103 to the school general operating fund – Fund 220– at its meeting last week.
The budget amendment for consideration was for awarding school capital and other funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia as part of the monetary considerations that made up the final FY23 state budget.
These considerations involved $400 million in state grants awarded and apportioned to each school division in Virginia, with $1 million as a base grant and additional funds provided based on ADM (Average Daily Membership). Out of the amount Botetourt County Schools will receive, approximately $2 million is targeted for school capital, and the remaining $400,000 is divided among other instructional areas.
During the public hearings, the board approved Paul and Diane Wolff’s request for a Special Exception Permit (SEP) for a private airport with conditions. The private airport will operate for a personal airplane on a 33.79-acre parcel located at Shiloh Drive (Route 612) and Shiloh Church Road (Route 692) adjacent to the Shiloh Church and Cemetery at 519 Shiloh Drive, Eagle Rock.
The Planning Commission recommended that there will be no sale of fuel or repair service, nor the storage of fuel, except for what is required for personal use.
Additionally, there will be no air shows, rallies, or fly-ins, and no commercial operations, such as flying lessons. The airstrip is limited to light, propeller-driven aircraft. The SEP approval will not exempt the use from meeting the requirements of the Botetourt County Noise Ordinance.
The board also approved Fralin & Waldron’s (JKM LLC, contractual purchaser) proposal to raise the height of a four-story Hampton Inn. The board approved the hotel’s construction earlier this year.
The hotel is proposed to stand 47 feet high from grade to the top of the roof, and 59 feet to the top of the parapet wall, which would be constructed on a 1.80-acre portion of the property located at the corner of Charter Avenue and Town Center Street.
The hotel will be located next to the second phase of apartments approved by SEP to be constructed at 60 feet and across Town Center Street from the Rodeo Chico restaurant.
The SEP for increasing building height is limited to the proposed use of “hotel,” which will be constructed in conformance with the proposed exterior building elevation titled “Hampton Inn-Daleville Town Center,” prepared by Balzer & Associates and dated June 1, 2022.
The proposed development associated with the SEP will meet all other specifications and general provisions required by the Botetourt County Zoning Ordinance.