By Desiree Parker
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
James City County supervisors approved two new developments in the county at their meeting Tuesday night, one for a gas station at the corner of Longhill and Centerville roads and one for a Food Lion and CVS at the Candle Factory in Norge.
Supervisors had postponed a decision on the CVS and Food Lion planned on a portion of the Candle Factory property along Route 60 in order to consider it alongside an adjacent development by another developer. The other development, which had been deferred before, was deferred indefinitely by the applicant. Supervisors decided the CVS and Food Lion developer, KTP Development LLC, had waited long enough on a decision and chose to vote.
To make the development attractive to the county the developer is offering several environmental conditions, including having the Food Lion LEED certified, which would make it the first such Food Lion in the state. This would ensure strict environmental conditions are met.
Supervisor Jim Icenhour said he was still concerned about the idea of “piecemeal” development of the property, a sentiment that several supervisors agreed with.
Icenhour also didn’t like the idea of a grocery store going up across the street from the Farm Fresh already in Norge.
Bruce Goodson, Roberts District representative, pointed out the area was designated for retail use in the Comprehensive Plan, and it would be an economic boon for the county.
Supervisors also generally liked the environmental considerations in the plan, and approved it 3-2, with Icenhour and John McGlennon dissenting.
Supervisors unanimously agreed, however, to approve plans for a small gas station at the corner of Longhill Road and Centerville Road.
Called Freedom Market, the proposed gas station sits on an area of land that had previously been approved to house a larger gas station in the late 1990s. The land can be developed by-right as a business location, but in order to install gas pumps the developer needed to get county approval.
A representative for the owner, local businessman Whit Richardson, was on hand to answer supervisors’ questions. He showed slides of the planned development, which would be a smaller-scale station with several limitations on hours, delivery times and more in order to sweeten the deal for the county.
The Virginia Department of Transportation already has approved plans to improve the intersection near the market and add a traffic light.
Neighborhoods and businesses directly around the site generally liked the idea of Freedom Market, and a nearby church along with the Centerville Neighborhood Association representing 240 homes supported the plan.
One nearby neighborhood, Mulberry Place, has residents who are not so happy with the new development.
Their representative said the neighbors hadn’t been informed of the plan until recently and they were concerned about the impact on nearby Freedom Park as well as about the possibility of increased U turns by motorists attempting to get out of the station (which will have somewhat limited exits in order to reduce congestion). They’re also not happy about reduced buffers in the current plan.
A Mulberry Place resident added that he felt the area was already well served by other nearby gas stations and convenience stores.
Icenhour pointed out that the area can be developed by-right by a business, and that smaller buffers were allowable in smaller parcels of land.
McGlennon expressed concern that an entire neighborhood felt that they’d been left out of the conversation about the plan and he said he’d like to see applicants and the county try to include more people in the future.
Chairman Jim Kennedy agreed somewhat, but he also pointed out the county had offered several ways to inform citizens and get their feedback throughout the process.
Other business
Supervisors unanimously agreed to allow Little Creek Park to be leased to Headhunters Headquarters. The owner currently runs a sporting goods store that generally sells archery supplies and equipment. The owner also runs an internet business selling the same kinds of items, and will move some of his internet business to the park (he will not sell or have weapons or archery equipment on location).
This will save the county $46,000 in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
A cell tower application for Ingram Road near Five Forks has been deferred by the applicant. The Planning Commission had voted to recommend denial of the application.
Add comment
Comments
The Supes must be aiming to create the next Denbigh right here in JCC.
What use was the Candle Factory in zoning? The answer was retail/manufact uring. There was no re-zoning on this property by the Planning Commission or the BOS. It was already ZONED for the use. It was a SUP that was requested, that means special use permit! And that is only because of the size of the structure. This use is replacing the existing old, dilapidated, unused buildings that were once the Candle Factory Shops. So although something new is going there, it is not a new use going there.
I live a stone's throw away from that intersection and had no idea they were planning this. I wonder if the residents whose back yard this will be in have been notified. I guess this explains why there have been so many surveyors in the area. I thought it was just because of the traffic light which is desperately needed. A gas station is going to make that intersection worse! The only benefit will be if the presence of the gas station will mean the local law enforcement agencies will patrol the area more often.