Wawa, Reventon Farms move forward

By Heather Michon
Correspondent

Two major – if very different – new developments took preliminary steps forward in April. 

Both a Wawa gas station and convenience store for Zion Crossroads and a major new “glamping” and outdoor recreational facility near Scottsville were slated to appear before the Planning and Zoning Department’s Technical Review Committee (TRC), Community Development Director Douglas Miles told the Planning Commission at its monthly meeting on April 11.

The TRC is made up of stakeholders from various county departments and reviews are designed to address potential development issues ahead of a formal zoning application.

WAWA

Renaud Consulting, which developed the Wawa at Rt. 29 and Proffitt Road in Charlottesville in 2022, wants to build the convenience store and deli, along with a nine-pump gas station, on the Fluvanna County side of the Rt. 15/ Rt. 250 intersection.

“They’re coming to us with the same, if not slightly better product than what was done in Albemarle,” said Miles.

Some of their early discussions with the developer had focused on the color scheme of the building’s facade and the canopy over the gas pumps. The county wants Wawa to stick to earth tones in their design, and some preliminary site plans filed with the Planning Department show a muted brick and faux stone exterior design.

To move forward, the developer would have to win a rezoning request from both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors to take the property from A-1 (Agricultural) to I-1 (Industrial) and B-1 (Business) zoning to cover both the gas storage and the food service parts of the business. 

Reventon Farms

Reventon Farms presents a far more complex set of potential zoning issues.

Michigan-based Sun Outdoors hopes to turn the 745-acre property into a “glamping” facility with up to 250 cabins for rent. Glamping is a form of camping more luxurious than traditional camping. They would also offer biking, hiking, horseback riding, watersports, and potentially an adventure course to their visitors.

However, the property is split nearly in half between Fluvanna and Albemarle counties, meaning the company would need to win the appropriate zoning permits from both sides to move forward on development.

Miles said most of the infrastructure for the cabins and outbuildings would be on the Albemarle County side of the line, while the main entrances and some major outbuildings would be on the Fluvanna County side. 

The development could have major impacts for traffic on Rolling Road South and Briery Creek Road in Fluvanna.

“I don’t think either board could approve something without the other one, because you can’t have a project without proper traffic management and you can’t have a project without proper utilities and stormwater drainage,” he said. “So we’ve basically told Albemarle County we’re equal partners in this, even if the bulk of the development is in Albemarle.”

Miles said his department has some “reservations” about the project. Company representatives have not yet addressed some of the questions surrounding their plans. He pointed out that during a contentious community meeting held at Reventon Farm on March 30, the company started out trying to assure worried residents that they were not planning on building an RV park on the site, but under repeated questioning later said they could not rule out having between 40-50 RV sites. 

Miles said he didn’t expect action on Reventon Farms “any time soon,” but if it does happen, it will likely take up considerable staff time.

The TRC was scheduled to meet on April 13 and Miles could potentially report back to the Planning Commission on some of the findings at the May 9 meeting.