COMMENTARY:
Don’t Ignore Mason Avenue Parking Needs
By DEBORAH BENDER
April 14, 2014
Local developer Patrick Hand has an idea to redevelop the old Be-Lo grocery store property on Mason Avenue. There is no question that the old shuttered grocery blights the streetscape of Mason Avenue. No one can argue against having a nice new building on that lot. But with important matters to consider about the proposal, Town Council has thrown caution to the wind.
At a recent Board of Zoning Appeals meeting, Mr. Hand said that he approached some members of Town Council six or seven months ago about his plans for the property. He proposed selling some of the property to the town for public parking, but he and Town Council could not agree on a price. But rather than ask townspeople what they want, Council cut off negotiations.
Then Town Council decided to buy seven empty lots on the entrance to town. Why did Council think it was more important to buy those lots from Dickie Foster than to purchase parking on Mason Avenue?
Residents, homeowners, shop owners, and some members of Town Council were left in the dark about the Be-Lo proposed project until just a few weeks ago. Most of us only heard about the plan at the March Town Council meeting. Later, a few adjacent property owners received a letter about the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting held last Monday. Mr. Hand’s proposal has never been raised with the Planning Commission or the Harbor District Review Board. It seems that they are only needed when it is time to pull out the rubber stamp.
For going on 20 years the parking lots at the old Be-Lo store have been available to the public in Cape Charles. They have been used for parking to attend functions at the Palace Theatre, to shop on Mason Avenue, and to eat at the Coffee House, as well as other uses. Where will tourists and shoppers park when those lots are closed?
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Some members of Town Council think that parking underneath the pecan tree on Randolph Avenue and Pine Street will work for Arts Enter and the Coffee House. My guess is that people will stay home if there is no place closer to park. Do we want to take that chance?
At the very least, there should be community discussion and consideration of what should be done. I have attended many Town Council meetings and spoken on matters of concern to me, but I have never felt that the mayor or most members of Town Council paid attention to a word that I said. That is why I decided to run for Town Council.
I would truly like to commend the Board of Zoning Appeals, however, because they took my concerns seriously. They are considering Mr. Hand’s request, but they are not discounting the needs of the adjacent businesses and those who frequent them. It would be nice if our Town Council would make an equal effort, with transparency, to make sure that both the needs of the town and the needs of Mr. Hand’s development are evaluated.
I believe that if the public is invited to address their concerns about this project, it will end up as a better project.
Deborah Bender is a candidate in the May 6 Town Council elections. Submissions to COMMENTARY are welcome on any subject relevant to Cape Charles. Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily of this publication.
It is understandable that the proposed development of the old Colonial Store property raises concerns about parking in Town. It is, however, not the developer’s responsibility to solve the Town’s parking needs; he must address the impacts of the development, including parking and site circulation. If the Town requires public parking, it may reach a compromise with the developer, or develop its own public lot, but it should be prepared for both alternatives to be at a cost to the public. In other words, the Town cannot take his property to satisfy public needs even if the developer has requested siting waivers, etc.
If anyone would like to hear the actual facts of my father’s plan instead of misleading nonfactual information as well as his ideas on how pieces of the property will be used to improve the town, please come out to the zoning appeal boards meeting at 4 p.m. Thank you.
Certainly, this seems like something simple enough for everyone to meet in the middle. The Town should have acquired this property years ago, but since they didn’t, this has to be looked at as a partnership. As a town, we need Mr. Hand to enter the risk/reward gambit, which as taxpayers, we hope will provide value for us, and profit for him. At the same time, the developer has to realize this is not taking place in an empty field somewhere, but in the Historic District — some strings may be attached. Seems like a no-brainer that some agreement could be reached where the Town receives some parking at an equitable price and Mr. Hand receives the permits and variances needed to move forward with the project. Ms. Bender’s parking concerns are appropriate, but I would also mention the residents of the Wilson Building, who do not have off-street parking either. When things start to spill over, where will they go?
Over time, efforts have been made to paint Bender and Wendell as obstructionists and fringe malcontents, yet when there are issues that affect all citizens of this village, you don’t find them turtled up in Sullivan’s Office supply, sneakily receiving mentoring on how to get invited to the Chamber of Commerce Christmas party, but out on the front lines, “damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead.” When you think about the quality of people that you want to represent (fight for) your interests, I would admonish you not to forget or take this lightly.
Diagonal (angle) parking on Mason and on the side streets is a reasonable solution; volunteer-run valet parking for a nominal fee for special events is another. What is most important is to have a decent, happening downtown and it looks like we might be getting there. I agree with Debbie: we so need a “nice new building on that lot”!
VDOT will not allow angle parking.