SUPer Sonic

One of the subjects of the recent Blacksburg Planning Commission (BPC) meeting was consideration of a special use permit (SUP) for the proposed Sonic restaurant within the confines of the First & Main (FNM) development.

Being caught up in the national political activities, I was not paying attention to this, so I am grateful to a number of loyal readers who pointed me to the streaming video of the meeting so I could see for myself how the BPC is working with its new members.

As the meeting was being called to order by the chair, it was announced that one member (I think) had sent a message that he would not be able to attend this particular meeting.  I noticed that Don Langhrer and whoever was sitting beside him gave each other high-fives at this point - I don't know what that was all about.

Anyway, after listening through about 2/3 of the streaming video, they finally took up the request for the Sonic SUP.  After the initial presentation by planning staff, the chair asked if any PC members had any questions for staff.

At this point, new BPC member and VT interior decorator Greg Tew held forth mightily on his expert opinion that the PC did not have the authority to grant an exception on a restriction on parking beyond the front of the structure, citing and misinterpreting some paragraphs from the code.

The chair immediately took 500 points away from Commissioner Tew for not framing this in the form of a question, since this was only the Q&A to town staff part of the meeting, not the preachy soap box part, which comes later.

The town staff member very politely informed Mr. Tew that the actual job of the commissioners was in fact to consider such exceptions and make a ruling on them, which is why all these people were there in the meeting.  

Apparently Mr. Tew had just dropped in to pick up his rubber stamp and had accidently found himself in a PC meeting.

Next came some quality public comment time, during which some TaliBURG members pointed out to the PC that just because Sonic had agreed to remove their outside speakers that broadcast "Sonic Radio" music to their patrons, did not mean that people driving up to eat there couldn't roll down their windows and turn up their car radios and pollute the mythologically quiet air hovering over the town with all sorts of redneck republican country music.  Emily Satterwhite rose to speak on  the subject of light pollution, which she is against and which she believes is created by Sonic Drive-ins.  Carol Guest then mumbled a powerful speech lasting well over 13 seconds on the subject of (unintelligible).  

Finally Frank Lau took the microphone to remind the PC members that the neighborhood opposition speakers were all loonies, in case anybody didn't get that from their bizarro speeches.

The public comment session was closed and the PC members began a spirited debate over the SUP which consisted mainly of Greg Tew, who has not yet taken the plannng commision training course for new members, instructing the other PC members that they have no authority to do anything, especially approve exceptions to the restrictions of the zoning, while everybody else rolled their eyes and stared at the ceiling.

Finally it was time for the vote, and the SUP was approved with only Mr. Tew voting no, because he didn't like the window treatments.

Now it goes to the Town Council, where they will have a chance to knock it down again.