Public can speak on Walgreens

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

Public outcry has caused town of Wytheville government officials to caution against a new business set to build in the town and to revise a recently updated set of cemetery fees.
The Wytheville Planning Commission has recommended to the Town Council that a special exception permit for Walgreens Pharmacy to build a store on Fourth Street should be disapproved following a number of complaints from nearby residents.
Mid-Atlantic Commercial Properties is seeking the permit to build the Walgreens on the west side of North Fourth Street between West Ridge Road and West Fulton Street. The site is occupied by medical offices belonging to Thomas Hunter and James McConnell.
Laird Baldwin was one of the many residents against the development to attend the Planning Commission’s Sept. 13 public hearing.
Baldwin, who has lived at 695 N. Sixth St. since 2000, said the Walgreens would negatively alter the spirit of the surrounding neighborhood.
He added that he isn’t opposed to Walgreens or growth, but wants the growth to be managed responsibly.
“My family chose Wytheville primarily because we could see that a lot of tasteful planning had gone into the way the city was planned,” Baldwin said. “I want to see growth happen tastefully.”
Roy Hackler, who lives at 400 W. Fulton St. next to the property, said his main concern was water run-off. He said his backyard already has flooding problems and that more pavement would only exacerbate the issue.
Hackler also named noise, traffic and parking lot lighting as some of his other concerns. Hackler has lived at the Fulton Street address for 37 years.
Both Hackler and Baldwin said they were pleased that the Planning Commission listened to their concerns, but they weren’t ready to celebrate just yet.
The Town Council will conduct a public hearing on the issue on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. before voting to approve or disapprove the permit.
“Wild horses couldn’t keep me away,” Baldwin responded when asked if he planned to attend the hearing.
Baldwin added that he is not only concerned about his neighborhood, but the changing dynamics of the town in general. He said he is worried that if Walgreens gets the exception permit it will be easier for other businesses to also build up and down Fourth Street.
“To me this is almost a symbolic foot in the door,” Baldwin said. “I think this is a matter that affects everyone in a 50-mile radius of Wytheville. It sets a precedent.”
After living in many big cities all around the world, Baldwin said he specifically moved to Wytheville for the small-town feel and he doesn’t want to see that ruined by overdevelopment in residential areas.
“There’s nothing in those big cities for me anymore,” he said. “We just thought this was the most beautiful little town with wonderful character.”
According to a staff report given to the Planning Commission, the property is zoned as MA-1 Medical Arts Zoning District. Although Walgreens does provide pharmacy services, the company has to obtain the special exception permit because it also would have about 10,000 square feet of retail space on the property.
The other issue that recently brought concerns from Wytheville residents was the revision of the cemetery fees by the Town Council in August.
The fees were raised by the Town Council during its Aug. 13 meeting in order to recover more of the labor costs associated with burials, especially when overtime has to be paid.
The main complaint with the new fees was that extra grave digging expenses began at 2 p.m. instead of at 4 p.m. as under the old regulations.
“We had a number of comments,” said Town Manager Wayne Sutherland.
In response to the concerned citizens, the Town Council voted during its Monday meeting to approve a flat fee of $500 for any weekday grave opening and closing. The new fee represents an additional $150 increase from the updated fees in August, although the flat fee will still be less than the charge was for graves opened and closed after 2 p.m.
Sutherland said the flat fee is much easier logistically for the cemeteries. Although extra fees will no longer apply for afternoon funerals, additional charges are still in place for weekend and holiday burials.
The town of Wytheville maintains three cemeteries – West End, East End and Oakwood.
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or .