The Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 20 denied a rezoning and conditional use permit for a Sheetz convenience store and fuel station at the Enon Road and Route 1 intersection.
The proposal sought to rezone about 3.88 acres from A-1 Agricultural and B-1 Commercial to B-2 Urban Commercial on parcels 45-283, 45-284 and 46-17A. It also requested a conditional use permit for a convenience store with a drive-thru and fuel sales.
The Planning Commission recommended approval 6-1 in August after the applicant made revisions. Attorney Charlie Payne, representing the applicant, outlined proffers that included coordination with a Smart Scale project, sidewalks, a shared-use path, $30,000 toward an extra lane and stormwater improvements such as a sediment basin.
A traffic study projected roughly 1,016 trips per day, with most described as pass-by traffic rather than new trips generated by the site. Stafford County Public Schools raised concerns about impacts during afternoon student release and access involving Porter Lane. The applicant said a requested slip lane or other exit improvements tied to those school concerns came too late in the process and would have been adverse to the site layout.
Payne estimated the project would generate about $400,000 in annual local tax revenue, not including gas tax. Public comment was mixed, with some speakers supporting a Sheetz location and others citing traffic and related impacts.
A motion to approve the requests failed. The board then passed a denial resolution, listed in materials as R26-293 or a companion measure. The site is in the Falmouth District near Stafford High School.
The denial leaves the property under its existing zoning. No further action on the Sheetz proposal was taken at the meeting.
Subscribe to our FREE email newsletter to get local news you can trust.
