OPINION Perseverance pays off for determined residents

JIM RIDOLPHI

Contributing Columnist

Arecent Virginia Supreme Court decision has breathed new life to a lawsuit filed by several Hanover citizens regarding the Wegmans Distribution Center currently under construction.

The five plaintiffs filed the suit in late 2021, litigation that outlined a series of complaints regarding the county’s decision to rezone property that, in effect, paved the way for the massive project.

All of the complainants listed numerous negative effects the project would bestow on their community, and cited environmental concerns as well as a continued disregard for quality of life issues in the Brown Grove community, an historically sig-

Letter To The Editor

Resident shares concerns about business park

Dear Editor, Ironhorse Business Park, a massive development proposal for east of Ashland along Rte 54, is starting to move along in the planning process. Formerly called “East Ashland,” this commercial and industrial-heavy development nificant settlement founded by freed slaves.

A Circuit Court decision to dismiss the suit due to a lack of standing by the plaintiffs prompted the group to file an appeal that stated, in their opinion, the obvious negative impacts of the projects on their residences and the overall detriment to the community.

The latest Supreme Court decision means the plaintiffs in the case will have the opportunity to voice those concerns in court and have a ruling issued based on the merits.

Three years ago, I covered a community meeting hosted by Wegmans at Oak Knoll Middle School. A packed house peppered company officials with questions regarding the project, many cit- ing increased traffic in several residential communities including Foxhead.

Since that first meeting, one aspect of this process was clearly evident. Residents opposed to the project immediately organized, formed groups on social media and other outlets to express their objections to the project.

Members of this opposition made their voices known through every step of the process including State Water Control Board and DEQ hearings.

After the Hanover Board of Supervisors approved the project in 2020, the five plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the county that identified specific objections to the county’s approval process, but a local Circuit Court ruled the applicants did not have standing in the case. The plaintiffs appealed.

Seven members of Virginia’s Supreme Court did not agree with the local ruling, and earlier this month, the case was returned to the Circuit Court for retrial. Throughout this process, I’ve covered the various hearings with what I hope is unbiased and accurate reporting, and how this case is finally resolved is anybody’s guess. But, the recent Supreme Court decision does deliver a powerful message to those who decide local zoning issues and the ones who are affected by those decisions. Citizens do have a right to object to projects that directly affect their quality of life or environmental rights.

The decision also reaffirms the power of citizens united and the importance of community support in the decision making process. sits astride the Ashland-Hanover County line.

The 1.6 million-square-foot facility near Sliding Hill Road is scheduled to open later this year, possibly summer, so it is unclear what resolution can be reached at this stage.

But, one thing does seem clear after the high court’s decision earlier this month. The case will be decided on the merits, and the eight points raised in the plaintiff’s suit will be heard and documented.

And that means the five citizens who originally filed the suit do have standing, the right to sue and a voice in the county’s decision to approve zoning requests or consider major projects that affect communities.

On its face, that seems like a victory for all Virginians.

In its February 8 meeting, the Ashland Planning Commission voted 3-2 to approve a comprehensive land use amendment (CPA2022-08) for applicant Ironhorse Business Park. The CPA lays the groundwork for a follow-up rezoning application for approximately 100 acres in the Town.

On the Hanover side, the applicant has filed a rezon- ing request (REZ2022-00008) for about 130 acres of officeservices, commercial and multifamily residential.

So what would this all look like on the landscape? The design plan shows 1.9 million square feet of flex warehouses, 148 townhomes fronting on Mount Hermon Road and commercial business pad sites along Rte 54. Numerous issues and concerns arise: traffic overloading and