DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Vol. 36, No. 48 | Richmond Suburban News | March 3, 2021
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Golf carts OK’d for use on some county roads
Wegmans gets DEQ permit for planned distribution center By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local RICHMOND -- Following two public hearings and a special meeting, the Virginia State Water Control Board has approved a Water Protection Permit for a planned Wegmans Distribution Center situated on a 219-acre site located off Sliding Hill Road near its intersection with Ashcake Road. Nearly 30 speakers opposed to the project’s location and impacts on the community expressed a myriad of concerns at the more than nine-hour meeting, but in the end board members accepted the recommendation of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and in a close 4-3 vote issued the permit. DEQ officials said the applicant had sufficiently addressed required issues and met all agency requirements and minimized surface water impacts. “The fact that we issue our VWP permit . . . is not going to mean that this project is going to go forward,” said SWCB member Tim Hayes. “It just means that we’ve checked the state end of it, and there are still a number of issues that the (U.S. Army) Corps (of Engineers) and Hanover County have to deal with before this can go forward.”
Rod Morgan has been involved in the effort to stop Wegmans from building on the Sliding Hill site near the airport, told SWCB members that Wegmans did not diligently explore other location options in the area and had developmental plans for two of those alternative sites, including the Archie Cannon site near Ashland. While Wegmans said the Ashcake Road site was chosen because it disrupted the least amount of wetlands and other environmental concerns, Morgan said that decision was based on one thing: money. “Cost is the only difference in these sites,” he said. A well-informed and organized group of speakers centered their remarks around three essential areas that included what opponents called a flawed process of identifying affected wetlands on the proposed site and the failure of DEQ to conduct a proper review of the application. DEQ officials said almost 500 comments opposed to the project had been received while only three messages of support were received. More than 40 Freedom of Information requests were filed regarding this case. Almost every speaker also expressed concerns regarding environmental justice issues see WEGMANS, pg. 3
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Love blooms with special Valentines By Melody Kinser Managing Editor MECHANICSVILLE – As Valentine’s Day approached, Sandra Kerry said she wanted to “spread a little kindness because the world needed it.” Her gesture became a welcome sight for anyone going by Hanover Fire-EMS Station 7. see LOVE, pg. 4
SHERIFF’S DEPUTY TYLER PONTE
CAREER FIREFIGHTER GANNON HINGST
ASHLAND -- That pesky walk to your neighbor’s house could get easier with a new ordinance allowing golf carts on some rural public streets passed by the Hanover County Board of Supervisors last week. Whether to allow the carts on Hanover streets is a decision left to the neighborhoods affected and must gain approval by the board of supervisors, and 75 percent of residents must approve the practice before a community can apply for the designation. The measure also does not affect large residential communities located within the Suburban Service District and only applies to neighborhoods in agriculturally or rural conservation zoned areas. Board chair Sean Davis, see CARTS, pg. 4
County establishes WiFi zones in several locations HANOVER -- Hanover County has established Public Wi-Fi zones at several locations.Using CARES Act funding, these WiFi Zones are located at branches of the Pamunkey Regional Library and the following County facilities: z In the parking lot of the Hanover County government complex at Hanover
Courthouse z Fleet Services Building, 11375 N. Lakeridge Pkwy., Ashland z Courthouse Park, 7232 Courtland Farm Rd,, Hanover z Pole Green Park Community Center, 8996 Pole Green Park Lane, Mechanicsville z Taylor Complex, 13017 Taylor Complex Lane, Ashland
z Poor Farm Park, 13400 Liberty School Rd,, Ashland z Montpelier Community Center-Parks & Recreation building, 17203 Sycamore Tavern Lane, Montpelier. At each location all you have to do is connect to Hanoverpublicwifi; no password is required. This initiative is part of see WIFI, pg. 4