Over the past month, townspeople of Abingdon, VA have been expressing concerns over the possible development of a large commercial area that would come close to the Virginia Creeper Trail. CEMA, the owner of the seventy acres in all, would allow Food City to be the main proprietor with more than 60,000 square feet while still allowing room for multiple retailers.
When I spoke to Emory & Henry College senior Kaitlyn Pruitt, who attended the town meeting on November 2, she said, “there wasn’t as many people at this meeting as there was back in October, but there was definitely more people that opposed that showed up than ones that supported the development.”
Many citizens expressed concern for the environmental issues of the area, as well as claiming that the complex itself would be an eyesore for citizens and that the rezoning possibility was not advertised enough. Others said that there should not be any development until there is substantial work done for the issue of traffic on Cummings and Green Springs Streets.
Mayor of Abingdon Edward Morgan disagrees, saying, “I really don’t think it will have much visual impact along the trail, it’s a heavily wooded area.” Mayor Morgan went on to say that the sports complexes that will be tacked on the rezoning would be something that the town of Abingdon has needed for over ten years.
There is a way to argue both sides of this issue logically. Proceeding with the rezoning would bring more business and traffic to the area and could be well-received if the Mayor and Town Counsel are able to keep it from affecting taxes. In an interview with WCYB, Mayor Morgan said, “We’re optimistic … property taxes and so forth would be generated from the retail portion on this to pay for the development of the sports complex, without having to raise resident’s taxes.”
On the other hand, if the development was halted or stopped all together, the town of Abingdon would be able to keep its reputation as a traditional Appalachian town, as well as not tampering with a famous trail.
Beyond the issue of when this development could take place, the people of Abingdon showed up to the town meeting on November 2 and were disappointed that they were pushing the topic to a later meeting in December. The plan has been scrapped until then.
