A group of Hanover County residents has once again appealed the county’s decision to allow a Wegmans distribution center in their neighborhood.
For residents living near Ashcake and Sliding Hill Roads, like Kathy Woodcock, home has changed dramatically. We were skeptical then and we are truly distraught now,Woodcock said. The 1.7 million-square-foot facility has disrupted the peace and quiet they once enjoyed in Ashland.
The controversy began in 2019 when residents, along with activists like the Hanover NAACP and Renata Harris from the Brown Grove Preservation Group, opposed the facility’s construction on land recognized as a historic Virginia landmark.
This community has a rich history and cultural significance that deserves recognition and protection, Harris said.
The legal battle has been ongoing for years, with no end in sight. On Tuesday, residents gathered at the historic Brown Grove church to express their concerns, highlighting how the facility has impacted their lives. The residents’ attorney noted that over 800 tractor-trailers pass through the area daily, disrupting the once-clear night sky with industrial lights.
Recently, a tractor-trailer overturned in a neighbor’s yard on Ashcake Road, raising concerns about the safety of residential roads. “Be careful when you go home, folks, Woodcock warned, emphasizing the dangers posed by large trucks on narrow roads.
Although the Hanover County Board of Supervisors declined to comment on the ongoing legal battle, they encouraged residents to continue voicing their concerns.
Despite the construction of the building, residents remain determined to fight. We are still here, and we will fight these battles until we win — because when we fight, we win,said Hanover NAACP President Patricia Jordan.
A decision on the case is expected by the end of this year or early 2025. In the meantime, both residents and the county have submitted a letter to Wegmans requesting operational changes and a timeline for ensuring that specific traffic-flow rules are followed.
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