Riner Village PlanRiner Village
Plan
Montgomery
County,
2025
Adopted-25 June 2007
The Village of Riner
Introduction
The purpose of a village plan is to guide
development within that community, while
maintaining the village’s distinct identity. The
village planning process provides citizens in
each of the seven villages (six plans) with a say
in how their respective communities develop
over the next twenty years. This input is
important because of the County’s focused
growth approach, which will focus 80% of the
County’s growth between now and 2025 into
the villages, village expansion areas, residential
transition areas, and the urban expansion areas.
Under the guidelines established in
Montgomery County, 2025, villages are defined
as “ larger rural communities where limited
mixed-use development activity has historically
occurred and public utilities are available;...are
separate and distinct from each other and from
nearby towns;... and have served as and will
continue to serve as focal points for surrounding
rural areas.” The village expansion area, on the
other hand, is defined as the areas “adjacent to
existing villages where appropriate new
development can be accommodated while
retaining the viability and character of the historic
village core. It is assumed that the villages and
village expansion areas are either currently
served by public water and sewer and other
public facilities (schools, parks, or fire and
rescue stations) or where public water and sewer
is likely to be provided in the future.
Planning Process and Community Input
Results
The Riner Village Plan was created through
a collaborative planning effort that involved
Riner residents and other interested citizens,
County officials and staff, students from Virginia
Tech, and the consulting team of Milt Herd and
Vlad Gavrilovic. .
Village Survey
The planning process began in October 2006
with the Riner Village Survey. The survey was
conducted by community volunteers at the
Auburn Elementary School Fall Harvest Festival.
Additional copies were handed out or sent to
neighborhood volunteers who distributed the
survey in their neighborhoods. In addition to
the community survey, a student survey was
distributed to students at Auburn Middle School
and Auburn High School.
Survey results indicated that transportation,
growth, school related issues, and the lack of
community amenities, activities and
entertainment were the four primary issues
likely to dominate future community
discussions. Transportation issues centering on
Route 8 dominated most of the comments.
Concerns included the level of traffic in the
morning and the difficulty of turning onto
Route 8, specifically at the school campus
entrances in southern Riner, the Fairview
Church/Union Valley intersection in the village
center, and the Dairy Road intersection at the
north end of the Village.
Residents had mixed reactions to growth
within the community and the surrounding area.
Their responses indicated that while they liked
the rural atmosphere of the Riner area, they
Route 8 remains the primary north/south corridor
through Riner and between Floyd County and
Interstate 81.
Agricultural lands on the west side of Riner
provide a sense of history and place while
maintaining the pastoral setting.
Riner residents worked with the consulting team
of Milt Herd and Vlad Gavrilovic to develop a
Vision for the Future of Riner.
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 314
wanted to see additional community-based
commercial and community development
within the Village of Riner. In particular,
respondents noted the lack of non-school related
activities and opportunities. Finally, participants
expressed strong support for the schools, but
were overwhelmingly dismayed by the current
condition of Auburn Middle School.
The surveys were tabulated and the results
were presented during the first community
meeting, held on February 11, 2006.
Riner Community Meetings
During February, March, and April, 2006,
The County conducted three public workshop
meetings. These meetings were well attended
by enthusiastic local citizens who represented
a range of viewpoints about the future of the
village. Through the work of these citizens, a
draft plan was developed that reflected a
consensus of those participants.
The first meeting, held on February 11th,
involved “creating the vision.” Participants
reviewed available planning tools and
techniques; identified issues of concern for
the village; and began to define a preferred
future of the area, described in words and
graphics. During the second meeting, “Refine
the Future,” held on March 11th, participants
reviewed results from the first workshop;
defined preferences; and evaluated a draft
vision statement, goals, and alternative draft
land use and transportation concepts. The final
meeting, “Affirm the Vision,” was held on
April 1. During the course of the meeting,
participants reviewed the results of the first
two workshops; evaluated and affirmed the
vision statement; and evaluated, refined, and
affirmed the land use and transportation maps
and the policies for all of the plan elements.
The concerns expressed during the course
of the three community meetings, for the most
part, mirrored the results of the survey, with
two notable exceptions: community meeting
participants expressed far more concern about
environmental and historic preservation issues
than did the survey participants. Groundwater,
surface water, stormwater runoff, and the impact
of development on surrounding agricultural
lands dominated the environmental discussions,
while issues surrounding the need for a
community center and the preservation of the
cannery topped the community history and
character discussions.
Following each meeting, the planning
consultants worked with the materials
developed during the meetings to formulate a
vision and develop a advisory planning
document. The draft plan was submitted to the
Planning Department in June, 2006 for review
and revision.
Plan Adoption
The draft plan will be presented to the
Montgomery County Planning Commission
and later to the Board of Supervisors for
consideration and for the required public
hearings. The Planning Commission will hold
its public hearing on the Riner Plan on site at
the Auburn Elementary School on October
11,2006. Once adopted, the Riner Village Plan
will become part of Montgomery County, 2025,
the County’s comprehensive plan.
Historical Development Patterns
Riner initially developed between 1830 and
1850. Although the village showed some
growth between 1900 and 1930, Riner remained
relatively unchanged for nearly 150 years.
Prior to 1990, development in the Village
of Riner followed the historic crossroad
development pattern, with dense development
The Surface Mill, ca. 1910
The Bank of Riner, ca. 1912
Residents worked together to develop a vision
for Riner’s future.
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 315
along the secondary road network. With the
exception of Surface Road on the eastern side
of Riner, there were no cul-de-sac roads within
the village boundary. 1990, however, heralded
a radical change in the development patterns in
Riner., specifically in a shift from a tightly
connected rural village model to a suburban
model incorporating cul-de-sacs disconnected
from the primary core of the village.
In the past 25 years, Riner has more than
Part of the sidewalk built by the Work Projects
Administration (WPA) in the 1930s.
doubled in size. In 1990, there were 162
structures within the Riner village boundary.
Between 1990 and 2004, that number doubled
to 324.
Current Trends & Conditions
According to the 2000 Census, the Village
of Riner had a population of 859, living in 315
households. Of those 315 households, 254 were
considered families under the census definition.
The average household size was 2.73 and the
average family size was 3.07.
As with the rest of Montgomery County,
Riner is expected to continue growing. Most of
the village has already been platted for
subdivision lots and is unlikely to see additional
large scale subdivisions developed within the
village and village expansion boundaries. At
full buildout , Riner will likely have between
1100 and 1,200 dwelling units, nearly tripling
the size of the existing community.
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 316
Public Facilities.
Public facilities and infrastructure have
played a major role in the growth in Riner.
Growth occurs in areas where there is sufficient
public infrastructure to support the additional
development. The village is served by both
public water and sewer; has an elementary,
middle, and high school; a solid waste
collections facility; a fire station; a rescue squad
substation; and a post office. Aside from the
school facilities, Riner has no public recreation
facilities, although there are privately constructed
trails in the Hillcrest subdivision which are
currently being used by village residents.
All of the public facilities front on Route 8,
as does the commercial strip development
immediately south of the intersection of Route
8 and Union Valley/Fairview Church Road. The
development of the civic and commercial
infrastructure along the main north/south route
has contributed, along with traffic travelling to
and from Floyd County, to traffic problems
during peak hours of the day.
Riner has an active civic community,
including active school, historical, religious,
and public-safety oriented organizations.
Historic Resources.
The historic core of Riner was designated
as a National Historic District and listed in the
Nation Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Although some of the original structures have
been lost and many of the structures are in need
of renovation, the district has maintained the
feel of the original crossroads community, right
down to the WPA constructed sidewalk along
the west side of Five Points Road.
Environment
The landforms in and around Riner comprise
a rolling upland plateau that generally drains
southwest to Mill Creek . Topography in the
Village is organized into two rolling upland
plateaus and a drainage swale between them
roughly located in the center of the Village.
The historical Village of Riner developed around
the original crossroad on the southernmost
plateau. It is important to understand the
influence of the site’s landforms on the pattern
of human settlement that developed over time
in Riner.
The rapid development in Riner has led to
concerns about the availability of water and the
impact of urban runoff and stormwater on the
Mill Creek watershed. Currently, the County is
working with the Department of Conservation
and Recreation to implement the Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan for the
Mill Creek watershed, a plan that addresses at
least some of the growth related issues.
Planning Assumptions
At the second and third community workshops,
the citizens discussed a set of “planning
assumptions” from both a countywide and local
perspective. These assumptions are meant to
serve as a baseline of expected future changes
that are considered to be either fundamental
policies of the County or are the result of outside
forces largely beyond the control of the local
community. These assumptions were refined
and affirmed by the citizens at the third
workshop as follows.
Countywide:Auburn High School, ca. 1938
The view of Riner, looking east, from Auburn Elementary School.
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 317
(a) Population growth will continue during
the next 25 years in general accord with
Montgomery County 2025. At slightly
more than 1% average annual growth;
up to 25,000 additional people will be
in the County as a whole by 2030, with
6,000 to 8,000 of them in the
unincorporated areas.
(b) Eighty percent (80%) of the new growth
will be focused into the villages, village
expansion areas, residential transition,
areas, and the urban expansion areas
adjacent to the two towns. The majority
of growth is expected to be focused on
the seven villages, of which Riner is
one.
Riner:
(a) Public water and sewer service will be
limited to those areas in the Riner and
Riner expansion area as designated in
the County’s comprehensive plan.
(b) Public sewer capacity is adequate to
support expected growth during the
coming twenty-five years, and public
water capacity will be expanded as
needed to meet the demand created by
additional development.
(c) Job growth will occur in the immediate
vicinity of Riner, mainly from the
development of small scale local
services,, farm related enterprises, and
commercial and retail establishments.
(d) Residential development densities in
the Riner area will be limited to 1.5
dwelling units per gross acre . Although
the comprehensive plan established a
rate of two (2) dwelling units per gross
acre, much of Riner is already platted
and the existing development patters
effectively limit the overall gross density
for the Village of Riner.
(e) Undeveloped tracts within the village
and village expansion areas may be
developed as “infill” sites; some sites
may be redeveloped with new buildings.
(f) Regional traffic volumes in the Riner
vicinity will continue to increase as
population and job growth continue in
the County and neighboring jurisdictions.
(g) Schools will be expanded or added to
meet any increase in student population
Townhouses at Auburn Hills.
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 318
The following statement of the preferred future of Riner was created
on November 9, 2006 by members of the Riner Village Plan Citizen’s
Advisory Committee. This vision statement summarizes the key goals
for the future of the village and supports the vision plan map that follows
this text.
Character
In the coming decades, Riner maintains its village feel, its sense of
community, and its defining views of surrounding farmland and forested
ridges. The village remains a safe place to live and raise a family, where
citizens are active in the community and are proud of Riner’s identity
as a distinct community with an agricultural heritage. It is a community
where citizens of different backgrounds, ages, incomes, and occupations
all interact in a variety of settings. Through careful management of its
natural and cultural resources, Riner has a strong agricultural base and
a stable economy in which local businesses thrive. The schools are
the centerpiece of the community, designed and constructed for multiple
uses and long-term needs. The village has a community center, a
library, and recreational facilities. Development is designed to avoid
runoff and pollution of Mill Creek, Meadow Creek and Little River,
and their tributaries. The village’s infrastructure is adequate to handle
the water and sewer demands of the village.
Core
The core of the village is a true center and serves as a gathering place
for local people, as well as visitors. It has been carefully planned and
built to retain a rural village e look and feel, with views outward to
the farmland and forests surrounding the village. Historic structures
have been preserved, rehabilitated, and redeveloped. Old and new
development includes a mixture of dense, small-scale uses, integrated
Riner Village Plan: Statement of Preferred Future
Riner, 1895 Riner, 2005
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 319
with carefully designed public open spaces. The streets, parking, and
access to buildings are designed to be safe and convenient for
pedestrians and easy to maneuver for autos. The area is visually
inviting, with sidewalks, street furniture, flower, and trees. The core
includes a vibrant mix of residential, commercial, and civic uses,
including a variety of affordable housing, mixed-use buildings, a few
small restaurants and stores, a farmer’s market with local farm
products, a community cannery, areas for recreation, schools, and
fire and rescue services. The Riner Museum, Heritage Park, library,
and community center, along with the schools serve the educational,
recreational, and social needs of the community and foster integration
among all village residents.
Connections
Riner is easily accessible to its residents. Sidewalk and street
connections have been enhanced to connect all parts of the village.
Sidewalks and trails connect the schools to surrounding residential
areas, which are in turn connected to the commercial and civic uses
in the core. Pedestrian bridges and crosswalks allow safe passage
across Route 8, Fairview Church Road, and Union Valley Road .
Trails for hikers, bikers, and horses have been incorporated into the
existing road system and as part of planned subdivisions. An improved
road system enhances traffic flow and decreases congestion in Riner.
Through traffic on Route 8 has been slowed and, although growth in
Floyd County impacts Riner, Route 8 remains a 2-lane, scenic byway
leading to and from the village, and a pedestrian-oriented main street
within the village. Compact development has fostered densities that
support bus service to Christiansburg.
Context
The outlying areas surrounding the village remain central to Riner’s
identity as a rural village e. These agricultural and natural areas have
been maintained and enhanced, with little or no loss of farmland, by
means of both traditional and innovative economic enterprise and
resource management. Production agriculture and forestry, agritourism,
small-scale cluster residential development, agricultural and forestal
districts, conservation easements, and protection of ridgelines, rivers,
and waterways are all part of this mix. Riner, with its surrounding area,
remains a key element of the county and region, thus it continues to
gradually add new residents and businesses in context with the County’s
plans for the future.
Change
Riner has experienced gradual change in population, design, and
land use, but the change has improved the sense of community and
made it an even better place to live. The growth and development of
Riner has been controlled through good planning and management, and
has been compact and more rustic than urban in nature, thereby reinforcing
the village feel and the rural, agricultural context. This has helped
reinforce the sense of community; where people work, live, and play
together; share common interests; and a sense of belonging.
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 320
RVP 1.0 Planning and Land Use
RVP 1.1 General Policies
RVP 1.1.1 Overall Gross Density for the Village
Planning Area. The overall density of the village planning
area should not exceed one and a half (1.5) dwellings
per gross acre at full build-out.
RVP 1.1.2 Compatibility is Fundamental. The density,
type, and character of new development must be
compatible with the existing village, the vision of the
village’s future, and be generally consistent with the Riner
Future Policy Map. New development must be compatible
with the traditional architectural forms and character of
Riner.
RVP 1.1.3 Guidelines Are Firm But Flexible. The
policies of this plan are firm guidelines for the County
and for developers. While there is flexibility in how to
achieve these policies, all new development should follow
them in spirit and in action.
RVP 1.1.4 A Variety of Housing Types Should be Built.
The County will encourage a variety of housing types,
costs, and net densities in order to provide housing for a
range of ages and income levels. These may include
accessory units, small single-family detached dwellings,
apartments on the second floor levels of commercial and
civic buildings, and housing for elderly citizens.
RVP 1.1.5 Establish Clear "Gateways" at the Major
Road Entrances to the Village. Landscaping, signage,
grading and pavement design should be used to create a
sense of transition into the village on Route 8 (Riner
Road) from the north and south, on Fairview Church Road
from the west, and on Union Valley Road from the east.
These gateways should be understated, with a traditional,
rural village character, with street design, landscaping
and architecture that will naturally slow traffic as it
approaches the village.
RVP 1.1.6 Proffers Are Expected to Mitigate Impacts.
Any rezoning to a higher intensity of land use, particularly
residential land uses, will be expected to provide proffers
of land, infrastructure and/or funding to off set the impacts
of the development, particularly on capital facilities such
as roads, parks, schools and public safety.
RVP 1.1.7 Incorporate Universal Design Features. A
portion of dwelling units within any given residential
project should feature “universal design” in order to
provide for all age groups and to allow people to “age in
place” within the village.
RVP 1.2 Route 8 Corridor: Historic Village Core And New
Village Core
RVP 1.2.1 Density. The residential density on a given
tract of land should generally not exceed three (3) dwellings
per gross acre in the Historic New Village Center and two
(2) dwelling units in the New Village New Village Center.
The density of a particular new development site may be
somewhat lower or somewhat higher than this guideline,
depending upon the constraints of the site and how well
the developer meets the policies of this plan and mitigates
the impacts of the development. (See The Riner Village
Land Use Summary, page 319)
RVP 1.2.2 Maintain the Historic Settlement Pattern of
the Village in the Historic Village New Village Center.
This Plan strongly encourages new development to follow
the historic pattern of development in Riner, including
small-scale, compact development and maintaining a
variety of building setbacks, entry configurations and
parking arrangements.
RVP 1.2.3 Maintain the Traditional Neighborhood
Design Settlement Pattern in the New Village New
Village Center. This plan strongly encourages new
development to incorporate Traditional Neighborhood
Design elements in Riner, including small-scale compact
development, encouraging the development of mixed use
buildings and neighborhoods, and creating a variety of
Riner Village Plan: Policies
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 321
building setbacks, entry configurations, and parking
arrangements.
RVP 1.2.4 Encourage Infill Development. Most of the
future growth in the historic New Village Center area
should be infill and redevelopment of existing sites.
Ensure that new infill development is compatible with the
existing rural, historic character of the architectural fabric
and siting of structures, especially along Route 8 (Riner
Road). Such development should be a small-scale mix of
shop fronts and civic buildings interspersed with residential
properties.
RVP 1.2.5 Encourage Mixed-Uses. Land uses along
Route 8 and Five Points Road in the Historic Area should
be a mix of residential, commercial, office and civic uses.
Limit new commercial and employment uses to small-
scale buildings with small building footprints that are
architecturally compatible with traditional commercial
and civic uses.
RVP 1.2.6 Encourage Live/Work Units. Encourage
"live/work" units, which feature a shop or small-scale
office use on the ground floor and a residential dwelling
above.
RVP 1.2.7 Minimize the Impacts of Road
Improvements. Evaluate and minimize the impact on
historic structures from any publicly or privately funded
road or streetscape improvements within the planning
area.
RVP 1.2.8 Streetscape Features on Major Streets.
Streetscape improvements in the Village New Village
Center area should include curb and gutter, sidewalks, on-
street parking with curb bump-outs, pedestrian cross-walks
at intersections, parking behind buildings and in alleys,
building heights of two to three stories, small front building
setbacks, traditional street lights and street furniture, pocket
parks and public greens or squares defined by adjacent
building facades.
RVP 1.2.9 Streetscape Features on Minor Streets.
Streetscape improvements should include walking paths,
street trees and parking behind buildings.
RVP 1.2.10 Street and Walking Connections. New
development should provide street and pedestrian path
connections within the site and to adjacent properties,
including "stub" connections to the property line of sites
that are planned but not yet rezoned or developed.
RVP 1.2.11 New Local Commercial Uses. New
commercial uses in Riner should be village scale.
RVP 1.2.11 (a) Commercial uses should be located
only in areas shown on the Riner Future Policy
Land Use Map..
RVP 1.2.11 (b) Commercial uses should be limited
to retail and personal service businesses, home
occupations, and light industrial uses.
RVP 1.2.11 (c) Major commercial or industrial
uses such as large scale shopping centers, big-box
stores, or industrial parks shall not be located in
or around Riner. Larger village-scale commercial
uses should be limited to the New Village Center.
RVP 1.2.11 (d) Parking should be located to the
side or to the rear of commercial uses. Access
points onto existing roads should be coordinated
with adjacent properties in order to keep the number
to a minimum.
RVP 1.2.11 (e) Signage should be small scale,
traditional and in keeping with the rural nature of
the village.
RVP 1.2.11 (f) Landscaping should include street
trees and vegetative buffers at the rear of
commercial sites and along any edge contiguous
with residential uses.
RVP 1.2.12 Design Details. The County and the Riner
community will strive to maintain the rural, informal
character of the historic village area by:
RVP 1.2.12 (a) Preserving the "context" of historic
structures, as well as the structures themselves,
including their natural settings, contributing
outbuildings, fences, hedgerows and other elements
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 322
of the natural and historic landscape that enhance
and frame the historic structure.
RVP 1.2.12 (b) Locating new or expanded parking
areas behind or to the side of the buildings;
screening parking from adjacent uses with
landscape buffers and using alley access where
feasible.
RVP 1.2.12 (c) Providing a strong pedestrian
orientation along the street frontage, with parking
located mainly at the rear of the buildings
RVP 1.2.12 (d) Encouraging new buildings to
generally match the setbacks of adjacent buildings
while also maintaining a variety of setbacks and
orientations.
RVP 1.2.12 (e) Orient building fronts toward the
street, and service backs of buildings through
alleyways, wherever feasible
RVP 1.2.12 (f) Encouraging porches, street trees,
street furniture, sitting areas and other pedestrian-
friendly design elements.
RVP 1.2.12 (g) As part of the Village Transportation
Links Program, establish a “safe routes”
pathway/trail system that provides for safe
alternative transportation throughout the village,
connecting commercial, residential, and civic sites
to each other.
RVP 1.2.12 (h) Encouraging adaptive reuse of
historic structures.
RVP 1.3 Route 8 Entry Road Corridor
RVP 1.3.1 Preserve Views. Discourage development
along the corridors outside of the village and site any new
buildings away from the existing roadway so that they
are at a low enough elevation to preserve the views of the
surrounding farms, forests and mountains.
RVP 1.3.2 Avoid Reverse-Frontage Development. New
development adjacent to Route 8 should front a new
parallel street or driveway so that the fronts of new
buildings (rather than the rear) face toward Route 8.
RVP 1.3.3 Create Clear Gateways to the Riner Area.
Entrances to Riner from the north and south on Route 8
should be clearly delineated with landscaping, signage,
pavement configuration, and other features to provide a
strong sense of identity when entering Riner. (see also
RVP 1.1.5)
RVP 1.4 Village Residential Neighborhood Areas
RVP 1.4.1 North Village Residential Density. The
density on a given tract of land should not exceed an
average of .75 dwellings per net acre in the areas designated
on the Riner Future Policy Land Use Map as North Village
Residential Neighborhood.
RVP 1.4.2 South Village Residential Density. The density
on a given tract of land should not exceed an average of
1.5 dwellings per net acre in the areas designated on the
Riner Future Policy Land Use Map as South Village
Residential Neighborhood.
RVP 1.4.3 Streetscape Features. Streetscape
improvements should include walking paths, street trees
and parking behind buildings.
RVP 1.4.4 Connectivity. All new streets should connect
into other streets, including the existing street network in
order to maintain and improve the connectivity of the
local street system, for safety and efficiency of travel.
RVP 2.0 Planning and Government
RVP 2.1 Collaborative Planning Processes. The County will
continue to encourage collaborative processes among the citizens
and other government entities to ensure that the policies of this
plan are implemented.
RVP 2.2 Encourage a Unified Community. The County will
encourage the people of Riner to act as a single, unified community
when working with the County and State in implementing this
Plan. The citizens committee appointed for this Plan is one step
toward that unified approach. The County encourages the citizens
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 323
to take a leadership role in implementing this Plan once it is
adopted.
RVP 3.0 Cultural Resources
RVP 3.1 Integrate Historic, Recreational and Educational
Facilities. Work with community members of the Village of Riner
to integrate the Historic, Recreational, and Educational Resources
in Riner, including the Historic District, the Riner Museum, the
Community Cannery, and the Farm Heritage Park.
RVP 3.1.1 Community Cannery. Preserve and rehabilitate
the Community Cannery as an historic, economic, and
educational community facility.
RVP 3.1.2 Riner Branch, Montgomery County
Museum. Develop, through a public-private partnership,
the Riner Branch of the Montgomery County Museum,
including the cannery and the cabin located on the Auburn
High School grounds, immediately south of Auburn High
School.
RVP 3.1.3 Farm Heritage Park. Create a master plan
for the development of a Farm Heritage Park in the Riner
Area in partnership with Radford University, Virginia
Tech, Riner Museum Advisory Board.
RVP 3.1.4 Community Center and Public Library.
Work with members of the Riner Community to develop
a community center and public library.
RVP 3.2 Encourage Awareness and Knowledge of Local
History. Encourage better understanding and education about
the value of local historic resources and ways that they can be
better preserved, through programs, demonstrations, fairs, festivals,
and the like.
RVP 3.3 Encourage Adaptive Re-Use of Historic Structures.
Encourage the adaptive re-use and rehabilitation of historic
structures throughout the Riner area, especially those that can
serve a public role, such as the community cannery and the
museum.
RVP 3.4 Encourage Historic District Expansion. Encourage
the expansion of the Riner National Historic District to include
all qualifying sites and structures.
RVP 4.0 Economic Resources
RVP 4.1 Small Business Development. Work with Economic
Development to encourage the development of village, farm, and
tourism-based enterprises.
RVP 4.2 Agricultural Economy. Encourage retail opportunities
for local agricultural products, including the development of a
Village of Riner farmers’ market and continued support for and
development of the community cannery.
RVP 4.3 Mixed-Use and Live/Work Structures. Work with
developers and residents to develop commercial areas which
emphasize mixed-use (commercial on the first floor and apartments
or condos on the upper floors) and live/work structures (owner-
occupied structures that combine residential and commercial or
professional uses).
RVP 5.0 Educational Resources
RVP 5.1: School Campus Approach: Maintain all three schools
in Riner on a single campus. Future facilities should be located
on the existing campus.
RVP 5.2 Adequate Educational Facilities. Work with the residents
and the Montgomery County Public Schools to insure that there
are adequate educational facilities which meet the broad range of
needs in Riner and the surrounding area.
RVP 5.3 Safe Routes to Schools. Work with the Parent, Teacher
organizations (PTOs) at Auburn Elementary, Auburn Middle, and
Auburn High School to develop and construct safe pedestrian
friendly facilities which encourage students in the Village of Riner
to walk to school, Safe facilities may include special crosswalks,
lighting, sidewalks, and other pathway facilities.
RVP 5.4 Multi-Use Agreement. Develop multi-use agreements
with the Montgomery County Public Schools which encourage
the public use of school facilities for community recreation, civic
meetings, and other appropriate village uses.
RVP 6.0 Environmental Resources
RVP 6.1 Water Quality. Develop and initiate water resource
management and Best Management Practices (BMPs) to preserve
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 324
and maintain ground and surface water quality.
RVP 6.1.1 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Plan.
Work with the Environmental Protection Agency and the
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to
implement the TMDL Plan for the Mill Creek watershed,
including adopting necessary ordinances for regulating
domestic septage, urban runoff, sedimentation and erosion,
and agricultural runoff.
RVP 6.1.2 Preserve Floodplains. The County will
encourage preservation of the 100-year floodplains in
their natural state to protect against floods and to function
as an integral part of the County's network of open space.
Survey the wetlands and floodplain on upper Mill Creek.
RVP 6.1.3 Preserve Buffers Adjacent to Floodplains.
The County will encourage the preservation a natural
riparian “buffer strip” adjacent to floodplain areas in order
to protect and enhance water quality and to maintain
wildlife habitat areas adjacent to stream corridors.
RVP 6.1.4 Establish Buffers Adjacent to Karst Features
and Wellheads.
The County will encourage the use of natural “buffer
strips” adjacent to significant karst features and wellhead
areas in order to protect and enhance ground water quality.
Action Step:
Conduct a survey of the Karst features in the Mill
Creek, Meadow Creek, and Little River watersheds
to determine potential impacts on water quality.
RVP 6.1.4 Encourage Pervious Paving Materials. The
County will encourage the use of pervious paving materials
for parking lots and driveways where feasible to maintain
groundwater and surface water quality, and to reduce sheet
flows from paved areas.
RVP 6.1.5 Discourage Development on Steep Slopes.
The County will discourage development on slopes over
15% and encourage these areas to be maintained as open
space to minimize erosion, downstream flooding and
pollution.
RVP 6.1.6 Manage Development on Moderate Slopes.
The County will encourage new development on slopes
between 10% and 15% to incorporate retaining walls,
erosion resistant plantings and careful site planning in
order to minimize land disturbance and erosion potential
in these areas.
Action Steps
• Work with the Riner Area Groundwater Protection
Steering Committee and the Public Service Authority to
reduce or eliminate the potential threat of drinking water
supply contamination through the development of a Source
Water Protection Program
RVP 6.2. Stormwater Management. County is committed to
managing stormwater and erosion in order to protect surface water
quality and aquatic habitat vitality, to guard against the loss of
landmass and to maintain and enhance human health and safety.
RVP 6.2.1 Promote Village Stormwater Management.
The County will create guidelines and regulations for
coordinating stormwater management facilities on a
regional and sub-regional basis rather than site by site.
RVP 6.2.2 Promote Low Impact Development (LID)
Techniques for Stormwater Management and Riparian
Protection. The County will encourage the use of low-
impact development techniques in order to facilitate
stormwater management and protect ground and surface
water resources and balance such measures with the desire
for a compact, dense development pattern in the village
New Village Center area.
Action Steps
• Work with the citizens of the Village of Riner and the
County Engineer to develop a stormwater management
plan for the Village.
• Work with the Department of Conservation and
Recreation to implement the TMDL Plan for the Mill
Creek watershed and create development guidelines based
on the recommendations included in the TMDL plan.
• Create a Low Impact Development (LID) Techniques
brochure that explains and illustrates effective short term
and long range LID approaches to Stormwater
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 325
Management.
RVP 7.0 Public Safety Resources
RVP 7.1 Public Safety. Promote and facilitate the provision of
superior law enforcement and emergency services, including
ongoing support of the Riner Fire Department and the
Riner/Christiansburg Rescue Squad substation, in order to insure
that people have a safe and secure community in which to live,
work and raise their families.
RVP 7.2 Fire and Rescue Involvement. Support the vital role
of volunteers in the delivery of emergency services (fire and
rescue) in the Village of Riner and the surrounding area.
RVP 7.3 Safe Routes to Schools Program. Work with the
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, the Riner/
Christiansburg Rescue Squad sub-station, the Montgomery County
Public Schools, the Parent/Teacher/Student organizations and the
Montgomery County Department of Parks and Recreation to
develop pedestrian and bicycle safety programs and materials to
be used in Auburn Elementary School, Auburn Middle School,
and Auburn High School.
RVP 8.0 Recreational Resources
RVP 8.1 Trails, Pathways, and Bikeways. Support the
development of a safe alternative transportation network of trails,
pathways, sidewalks, and bikeways for the Village of Riner, which
links residential, commercial, and civic neighborhoods with each
other and which links Riner with other communities.
RVP 8.1.1 VITL (Village Transportation Links)
Program. Work with the Montgomery County Greenways
and Pathways Citizens Advisory Committee and village
residents to develop a VITL (Village Transportation Links)
plan and implementation action plan for Riner.
RVP 8.2 Parks. Work with the Montgomery County Department
of Parks and Recreation, village residents, and developers to create
a series of community pocket parks which will provide informal
community spaces, promote citizen interactions, and strengthen
community ties.
RVP 8.3 Community Beautification. Work with the Montgomery
County Department of Parks and Recreation and the agricultural
program through Auburn Middle and High Schools to develop
and implement a public space beautification program, including
the community development of small pocket parks, village
entrances, and other public spaces.
RVP 8.4 Community Use of Public Facilities. Work with
Montgomery County Public Schools to develop a shared-use
program for the school facilities. Shared-use programs bring the
community and the schools together by promoting community
utilization of public school facilities, including recreational
facilities, and increased participation in and interaction with the
public schools.
RVP 9.0 Transportation Resources
RVP 9.1 "Calm" the Traffic. Use traffic calming devices,
including roundabouts and turn lanes, for the major roadways
through the village, especially on Route 8 (Riner Road) within
the Village New Village Center. This is an important priority for
Riner.
RVP 9.2 Recognize that Roadways Are Public Spaces. This
plan recognizes that public roadways are not just conduits for
transporting people and vehicles. Rather, they are also public
spaces with important social and cultural functions, including
viewing the community and meeting neighbors.
RVP 9.3 Extend, Connect and Complete the Streets,
Incrementally. Extend existing streets as shown on the Riner
Future Policy Land Use Map of this Village Plan; Interconnect
new streets to form a loose grid network; Incorporate pedestrian
paths or sidewalks into new and existing street systems to protect
pedestrians and improve mobility; Incorporate bike lanes into
collector and arterial roads to protect cyclists and improve mobility.
RVP 9.4 Discourage New Cul-de-Sacs. Cul-de-sacs undermine
the desired connectivity for the Riner area. In order to achieve
safe streets with a sense of privacy, courts or "eyebrows" can be
created rather than cul-de-sacs.
RVP 9.5 Make All Travel Modes Safe. Work with VDOT to
ensure pedestrian and bicycle mobility and safety on all public
roadways.
RVP 9.6 Manage Access. Develop and implement an access
management plan along Route 8 to limit the number of access
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 326
points on the road, consistent with the land use and design policies
for this corridor.
RVP 9.7 Construct Roads in Conjunction with Rezoning
Approvals. Require development applicants to dedicate right-
of-way and build their portion of new roads, in conjunction with
receiving zoning approvals for higher densities.
RVP 9.8 Gateways. Develop Clear Gateways for the entry points
to Riner. Collaborate with County, State and private entities to
develop clear "gateway" entrances to Riner, in accord with the
concepts illustrated in this Plan.
RVP 9.9 Pursue Alternative and Public Transit Opportunities.
Pursue opportunities for public transit, such as a trolley or bus
system service to provide access to Christiansburg, and alternative
transportation opportunities, including bikeways, walkways,
pathways, and sidewalks.
RVP 9.10 Collaborate with Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO). The MPO provides an excellent
opportunity for effective regional transportation planning, and an
opportunity for the localities to coordinate their plans for land
use and transportation.
RVP 9.11 Plan for Long-Term Local and Through-Traffic by
Phasing Key Road Improvements. Limit the impact of local
and through traffic by building traffic-calming features along
Route 8 and improving connectivity within the village. These
improvements should be phased in accord with the phasing
concepts as described below.
Phase One: Transform Route 8 into Riner's "Main Street"
(a) Reduce speed to 35 m.p.h. or less through the village.
(b) Provide appropriate traffic calming measures and
intersection improvements at the following Route 8
intersections: Fairview/Union Valley, Dairy/Meadow
Creek, and Old Rough/Rustic Ridge.,
(c) Provide crosswalks/islands to slow (calm) traffic.
(d) Provide landscaping and signage at designated
"gateways."
(e) Add sidewalks and trails through historic core area.
Phase Two: Improve Pedestrian and Vehicular Connectivity
(a) Improve access/connections to the school complex
(b) Improve/provide connections to new subdivisions
Phase Three: Gateway Improvements
(a) Provide roundabouts or similar traffic improvements
at North and South Gateways
(b) Realign intersection at Dairy Road and Route 8
Phase Four: New Alternative Routes
(a) If a new north/south road becomes necessary in the
future and all other proposed actions have been taken,
Montgomery County and the Virginia Department of
Transportation shall work with the citizens of Riner to
determine the best possible location for the road.
RVP 10.0 Utilities
RVP 10.1 Public Sewer Within Village. The County will provide
public sewer only to the designated service area, in order to best
ensure that new development is compatible with the village's
historic character, is affordable for the County to serve, and
enhances rather than degrades the quality of life for local residents.
The County will generally require that new development within
the designated village service area connect to the public sewer.
The County will provide access to public sewer to existing
development.
RVP 10.2 Public Water Within Village. The County will provide
public water service to the designated village service area. If
water lines need to be extended outside of the village service area
in order to obtain adequate water capacity to serve expected
growth within the village, the County will limit access to any
water lines located outside the defined service area, in order to
ensure adequate supply for the area within the village service
area, and to discourage scattered development outside of the
village.
RVP 10.3 Public Water and Sewer Outside of Village. The
County will limit expansion of the public water and sewer systems
beyond the Riner Village boundaries unless the expansion is
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 327
deemed a public health necessity.
RVP 10.4 Septic Systems. The County will prohibit new septic
systems within the service area, except for particular parcels that
the County may deem to be located such that public utility service
is not practical from an engineering standpoint.
RVP 10.5 Provision and Treatment Capacity. The County will
monitor available treatment capacity. The County will approve
rezonings to higher intensity uses only in conjunction with
assurances that adequate water and wastewater treatment capacity
will be available. Water and sewer service in the village needs
to be improved. Treatment capacity will be expanded in accord
with the County's long-range capital improvement plans. Public
utility capacity will be planned to accommodate the orderly
growth in the village, in accord with the County's overall
Comprehensive Plan and to ensure a secure supply, rather than
to create or "drive" that growth. Improvements to the village's
water and sewer system should be coordinated with additional
studies by the citizens' water committee.
Riner Village Land Use Summary
Total
Settlement Plan Acreage Existing New Total Average Commercial
Type Reference Units Units Units Density Square Feet
Village Infill Historic Core 40 50 80 130 3 35,000 (a)
Mixed Use New Village Center 200 70 330 400 2 150000
Neighborhood (Cloverlea/Auburn Acres)
Residential South Neighborhoods 310 140 260 400 1.5 15000
Neighborhood (Infill Clusters)
North Neighborhoods 240 70 120 190 0.75 15000
790 330 790 1120 1.5 215000
Notes: (a) According to the County Assessor, there are 21,815 square feet of commercial area in the Historic Core bordering Route 8.
This total does not include the quick stop and the Snapper dealer at the southern end of town (located in the south neighborhoods) or
the old mill in the historic district. Additional square footage has been added to the historic core to allow for commercial re-
development of some of the historic properties.
Montgomery County 2025: Riner Village Plan Adopted-25 June 2007 328