BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. – After months of speculation and controversy — Daleville is getting a Wawa.
The Botetourt Planning Commission didn’t recommend the popular convenience store for approval, but that didn’t stop the Board of Supervisors from approving the plans with a 4-1 vote.
Board Chair Steve Clinton tells 10 News the project evolved from when it was first proposed.
“It becomes better defined and I think that’s what changes it,” Clinton said.
Some people have voiced concerns about potential heavy traffic.
Clinton said a traffic impact study was done for the project, and ultimately helped him decide to vote to approve.
“What it did was take existing traffic in the area of the Wawa, add to it the traffic the Wawa will add to that site, and then add projections for future growth. And every way I looked at it, not that I’m the expert, but every way I looked at it, it will not have a significant impact,” he said.
One provision to prevent traffic? Wawa is not allowed to advertise on Interstate 81.
Clinton said it’s not to keep potential customers out of the loop but to keep tractor-trailers out.
“The configuration of a Wawa kind of discourages tractor trailers but nonetheless, didn’t want to attract them off the highway and the other was to just keep it a community store feel and not unduly attract heavy traffic,” he said.
He said in the end, the growth of the Daleville Town Center gives people the opportunity for new jobs, entertainment, and more.
“While those things bring challenges of their own, they tend to bring a more vibrant, active community,” Clinton said.