After numerous deferrals and delays, a plan to build a shopping center at the intersection of Broad Street and Manakin Road in Centerville gained Planning Commission approval at a meeting earlier this week. The rezoning application, modified several times since its original inception, drew opposition from several neighbors who live close to the proposed project.

Late last year, the Commission deferred action on the application to allow the developer, Manakin Properties, more time to alter its plans addressing several concerns raised in previous hearings and at meetings held with the developer and concerned citizens. First and foremost on that list was an overriding concern for traffic safety and the need for a signal light at what was described as one of the county’s most dangerous intersections.

Neighbors also expressed concern regarding the size of the buildings in the proposed development. The latest version of the proposal downsizes those buildings to a maximum size of 26,000 square feet, or about two-thirds the size of the current Food Lion in Broadview Shopping Center.

Those in opposition to the project also cited a lack of adequate buffer on the western edge of the 10-acre tract. An original agreement to include a 30-foot buffer was amended to include a 30-foot no cut strip in addition to a 20-foot planted strip, bringing the total buffering distance to 50 feet on that border.

The developers also agreed to contribute $30,000 to the envisioned traffic signal and provide left and right-hand turn lanes on both the Manakin and Broad Street Road entrances to the development.

Those traffic upgrades were not enough to satisfy commissioner Courtney Hyers who said she could not support approval on such a large project without “upgraded infrastructure.” She expressed concern over the speed limit, 45 M.P.H., near the shopping center and said exiting to Broad Street from the proposed site represented a serious safety risk.

“Timing is everything, and the timing for this project is just wrong,” she said.

Hyers objections were echoed by a host of speakers who took advantage of a public hearing to express their displeasure with the project. Many said the new shopping center is not needed in Goochland.

William Reinhart of Sycamore Creek Drive was one of many citizens who voiced opposition to the project.

“Goochland is a county where its citizens see little value in the trappings of our neighboring counties,” Reinhart said. “We, instead, enjoy, love and cherish our open spaces, the smell of the fresh-tilled soil, crops being planted and harvested. We wish to preserve this quiet, temporal quality of life we have,” he added.

Reinhart said there are many available tracts of land more suited to this type of development, and this project does not represent the best use of that land. He also noted the traffic safety problem.

Darvin Satterwhite, representing Manakin Properties, said a recent Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) survey of the site concluded the plan does meet their standards for safety.

Laura Julian said her experiences at the intersection don’t comply with those findings. “My primary concern has been and remains traffic safety, Julian said. “I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but we’d rather beat a dead horse than pick up a dead body, I don’t believe it’s a matter of if, but a matter of when,” she added.

Julian also expressed concern over the non-restricted hours of operation and what types of businesses would be allowed in the shopping center.

Richard Nuckols of Manakin Properties and co owner of the property said the latest group of proffers represented a sincere effort on his part to improve the project with concerns raised by neighbors at the forefront of the revised planning. He urged the commission to recommend approval of the long delayed project.

“I will agree with my neighbors that the first plan we brought before you did look like a strip mall,” Nuckols said. “Since then, we’ve worked with the community and made a lot of changes and we feel that what will go there is more village like, walkable, and attractive. This is not a strip mall,” he added. “We’ve done the very best we could.”

James Crews is one of the commissioners who lives in and represents the district in question. He voiced support for the project.

“I’d like to commend the property owners for the efforts they’ve made,” Crews said. “They’ve actually bent over backwards to try to address a lot of the community’s concerns. I’m in support of the project,” he added.

Commissioner Bob Rich said development of that property is inevitable. “Whether you like it or not, that property is going to be developed someday,” he said.

He motioned for a recommendation for approval, seconded by Bill Neal. The motion passed 6-4 with Hyers joined in opposition by Lowe Lunsford, Eugene Bryce and Ty Querry.

The Board of Supervisors will consider the application at its August meeting.