Photos by Matt de Simone
By Matt de Simone
One of Fincastle’s favorite businesses has found a new home in town.
Following a public hearing last Thursday night at October’s meeting, Fincastle Town Council approved a rezoning application submitted by Heritage Market for property located on the west side of Roanoke Road (Rt. 220) on two lots located in front of the Santillane subdivision. Both lots were rezoned from A-1 Agriculture to B-1 Business for the purpose of building a new market (specialty grocery). All members of council voted “Yes” with Councilman John Thomas abstaining.
Town Manager Melanie McFadyen went through the application in detail prior to hearing from the residents in attendance. She included specifics about the entry/exit points of the property. McFadyen also made note of the need for this type of business (“local grocery”) in the town’s comprehensive plan and shared that this new location of the Heritage Market “meets community need for many years to come.”
In the staff report provided at the meeting, the applicant (Heritage) and property owner (Santillane) have proffered conditions designed to minimize the anticipated impact of this commercial addition to the otherwise agricultural/residential area. Proffers state that the market “will close no later than 9:30 p.m. each night.” Heritage Market co-owner Tim Weaver shared plans remain to close the store no later than 5:30 p.m. during the week and will remain closed on Sundays. The total combined acreage of the new market’s location will be 5.66 acres, featuring an entrance/exit off of Frontier Way, and parking located in the rear of the new market.
Weaver stated the market is planned to be three times the size of the current market’s square footage with the retail portion doubling in size, including the addition of a café area and a larger parking lot. He noted the need to solve the current issue of potential “dangerous traffic scenario” the market faces during its busy hours.
“The Town of Fincastle really welcomed us in about 12 years ago when we first started talking about this idea,” Weaver explained. “They have supported us in a variety of ways. As we looked at expansion, it felt like (Fincastle) is home and we felt a sense of loyalty to the town. That’s why we found a spot within the town to expand. We also would like to remain loyal to the neighborhood market model. This is an attempt to serve our customers more efficiently, make it a more comfortable shopping experience, and much safer ingress and egress that we have currently.”
Weaver said that the current traffic scenario is worrisome and thought the parking design for the new market location is suitable to solve the current parking issues.
Town Council also heard from Bobby Wampler of Engineering Concepts, Inc. Wampler noted that “this is just the first step” in the market’s relocation and that there is still more design work ahead. He clarified that this project is not in violation of any of the town’s current zoning ordinances.
A Santillane resident said that the traffic from the market would intensify traffic, claiming it was in violation of the town’s zoning ordinance. Another Santillane resident was “appalled” that he thought the project “isn’t following the rules.” He also stated concerns about the traffic and parking being located behind the new market’s location, wanting the entrance/exit to not be located off of Frontier Way.
Bess Madonna, a member of the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission and a Santillane resident, commented that by having a market entrance/exit off of Frontier Way, that would allow another way in or out of the subdivision through the new Heritage parking lot if the main entrance to Frontier Way off of Rt. 220 was blocked by construction or an emergency.
Bob Patterson, president of the Botetourt Education Foundation that owns property in Santillane, asked why the meeting Thursday was the first time he heard anyone tell the Planning Commission or Town Council that they thought project “isn’t following the rules.” He mentioned hearing from residents who previously stated that they never would have brought a Santillane property if they knew the land neighboring the subdivision would be commercially developed. Patterson asked those individuals, “What in the world would you expect (of a) property off of a four-lane, divided highway that it wouldn’t be a commercial property someday?”
The property is planned to have two access points: a road off of Frontier Way and a right-in, right-out entrance/exit near the southeast corner of the lot onto Rt. 220.
Ashley Mathena of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) shared that the project meets all of VDOT’s requirements and said that she doesn’t see “too many concerns with (potential) traffic.” Mathena went over the spacing requirements and site distance requirements that would allow a right-in, right-out off of Rt. 220. She also shared that the current traffic does not necessitate a need for a crossover on Rt. 220 in front of Heritage’s new location.
Council members shared their thoughts as well. Council member Pamela Binns stated, “I am very grateful for the people who have spoken. I think that the Heritage Market has been a valuable resource to this community and has been a good neighbor. Anyone can drive by its current location and see that it has clearly outgrown where it currently is.
“It is pretty dangerous to try to go down 220 and turn in or, if not turning, waiting to have to turn into a parking space. I think the impact that the Heritage Market has on Fincastle and the surrounding communities is one that is very commendable. If there is a way for us to keep the Heritage Market in Fincastle then we need to move on that opportunity.”
Councilman Jim Reynolds, a Santillane resident, expressed concern about semi-truck traffic coming in and out of the new market’s location. Weaver shared that he expects about a half dozen trucks weekly. While Reynolds admitted that he was once “skeptical” about the project and the “valid traffic concerns” from residents, Reynolds said he is satisfied with the planning behind the project. He stated that “this project is good for the whole community.” Reynolds added that he feels there needs to be a proposed 45-mph zone extended out to Brughs Mill Road as the project moves forward, which has been something council has discussed prior to the approval of Heritage’s new Fincastle location.
Mayor Mary Bess Smith doesn’t see the concern about traffic coming to and from Santillane. She said that there would be traffic at the foot of Frontier Way but doesn’t see a lot of traffic beyond that point heading into the Santillane subdivision. Smith reiterated the community’s need for the market, not just in Fincastle, but northern Botetourt as a whole explaining that “something was going there eventually” and feels like Heritage is the “best fit” for that open space.
The Heritage Market is currently located at 36 Botetourt Road in Fincastle, open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
