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Bob Bailey (foreground, center in plaid) gathers his neighbors together to discuss the changes |
Bob Bailey was not thrilled to hear about the neighbor that might move in across the street.
He doesn't think a convenience store fits in with the modest homes in the Cottage Green subdivision, one of Spotsylvania County's oldest.
The community of 1940s homes is nestled between two busy thoroughfares: the U.S. 1 Bypass and Lafayette Boulevard. Commercial development has been creeping closer for years.
There are strip centers along the U.S. 1 Bypass and a mix of stand-alone stores and offices on Lafayette. A new veterinary clinic went up earlier this year on the edge of the neighborhood, at Harrison Road and the U.S. 1 Bypass.
Now, Wawa wants to build a convenience store and gas station on 2.2 acres between Lee Street and Harrison Road, with access to the U.S. 1 Bypass.
The county Planning Commission will hear public comment at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow on Wawa's request to rezone the property from residential to commercial. The county also requires special-use permits for gas stations.
"They call this progress," said Bailey, who lives on Lee Street. "I'd like to be someplace else when it comes."
The neighbors don't believe they stand a chance of defeating the proposal because the land is owned by powerful Fredericksburg developer the Silver Cos., but they have a request.
"We know it's going to happen," said Terry Bianchi, who has lived on Harrison Road for seven years. "Buy us out."
Six homes in the neighborhood would be moved or torn down and replaced by the Wawa, which also would take in some vacant lots there. About 20 homes would be left in the immediate area.
Neighbors say the store would bring unwelcome traffic, noise, lights, an unsightly view and perhaps crime.
Neighborhood children play in the street, and the older ones have to walk to Lafayette to catch the school bus. Parents said they would worry about their children's safety because more traffic would be cutting down their streets to reach the new store.
They are also concerned about plans to close part of a service road that parallels the U.S. 1 Bypass to make room for turn and merge lane. Residents use it now to reach their homes from the U.S. 1 Bypass.
It's already hard to make left turns out of the neighborhood onto Lafayette, and it even takes time to make a right because traffic backs up from a stoplight at Harrison.
Bailey said he has spent $40,000 to renovate his home and buy materials for a shop and game room he wants to build out back. The bachelor and self-employed contractor planned to sell the property, but fears "nobody is going to want to live here."
"All my work is for nothing. All my money is for nothing," he said.
Bailey would rather sell his place to developers now and move on.
Silver Cos. Vice President Jud Honaker said his firm is simply leasing the land to Wawa. Silver is willing to talk about buying more properties, he said, but residents expect a premium price.
"I don't blame them," Hon-aker said. But he added that the rising cost of the real estate would make it difficult for a developer to buy large sections of the neighborhood at once.
The neighborhood will more likely be developed in smaller chunks, like it has so far, he said.
Wawa officials could not be reached for comment. Neighbors said the company had asked to meet with them last night at a local hotel.
The county is recommending a number of conditions be put on the special-use permit to lessen the impact on the neighborhood. There would be a landscape buffer, shields on the exterior lights, and the operating hours would be limited to 5 a.m. to midnight.
But Bailey said he's not sure what can be done other than buying out the rest of the homes. "I can see no way it cannot negatively impact the neighborhood," he said.
