BZA Denied RaceTrac Special Use Permit

We are happy to report that the BZA listened, unanimously denying RaceTrac’s request. BZA members cited the need to complete the traffic and small area plan studies that are in the works to address the dangerous and frustrating issues that the community is already experiencing.

The BZA chairman noted that, besides RaceTrac itself, no one spoke in favor of the permit request, while the board received over 50 emails opposing the application, and a number of speakers representing the packed room spoke at the public hearing.

RaceTrac has 30 days to appeal the BZA decision to the Augusta County Circuit Court.

Further, it should be noted that RaceTrac was in front of the BZA because the company wanted to build a travel plaza with six high-flow diesel fueling pumps and 20 passenger vehicle fueling stations, which by Augusta County code requires a special use permit and a public hearing.

However, because the property is already zoned general business, RaceTrac can, by right, build a gasoline retail outlet “with no more than four diesel fueling positions or twenty gasoline fueling positions.” That means that they would NOT have to apply for a special use permit requiring a public hearing. Such a facility could also have the same size retail store and same number of parking spaces.

We will continue to monitor the situation. In the meantime, stay tuned for more information on the progress of the community-led planning project for the Greenville corridor that is being readied for launch by the county. The community’s participation will be especially important as we work together to find solutions to the decades-long issues that have been impacting Riverheads.