NK planning commission favors 10-year CUP for Pilot

New Kent Planning Commission members have voted to send a favorable recommendation to county supervisors to allow Pilot LLC to continue operations under a new conditional use permit (CUP).

Monday’s (Sept. 15) decision came as a result of the applicant’s request for a new permit. Pilot’s current CUP for its truck stop/convenience store on Route 106 near the Interstate 64/Talleysville interchange expires at the end of December.

After a presentation from county planner Kelli De Luc, Pilot attorney Jack Wilson addressed commissioners on the permit. Wilson indicated that operations will remain the same, with the only exceptions being research into redesigning the outlay of the travel center’s design to alleviate traffic from Route 106.

Wilson also asked commissioners to adhere to a 30-year CUP, similar to what Wilco-Hess LLC and Love’s have received as part of their conditions to build travel centers in that area. However, an objection by lawyers from Wilco-Hess LLC and Love’s questioned the length and plan of Pilot and its current location. Those opponents also argued that Pilot is not adhering to county code where travel plazas are required to have 15 acres of land. The current Pilot operates on 6.94 acres of land.

While commissioners agreed with opponents saying the 30-year term is too long, they said revenue provided by Pilot to the county has made it a significant entity.

“They [Pilot] have been good to us,” said commissioner Edward Pollard.

Chairman Jack Chalmers commented about his major concern of safety at the location.

“I have spoken to the sheriff about that location and I want to see somebody on-site [at Pilot] they can contact when something happens,” the chairman said. “Pilot has provided a big tax break for the county and taken pressure off the citizens.”

As far as the tenure, commissioner Richard Kontny Jr. said the history of Pilot and its relationship with New Kent should be taken into consideration.

“I don’t mind them having a 10-year CUP,” he said. “I don’t want them having to come back every five or six years.

“I would like to see them have plans on the things they are doing to meet the 15-acre requirement though,” he added. “I want to see what direction they are heading in to meet those conditions.”

Commissioners voted 8-0-1 to forward the request for a 10-year conditional use permit to supervisors.