New Kent supervisors defer action on Pilot conditional use permit
New Kent supervisors have elected to defer action on a conditional use permit (CUP) for Pilot LLC until its Oct. 29 work session.
The decision came at the board’s Oct. 14 regular meeting after supervisors received information on three additional conditions for the permit. Those conditions include allowing Pilot to conduct a study for additional parking space and a condition that would require Pilot LLC to conduct a traffic study if traffic is not alleviated upon the construction of the Wilco-Hess travel plaza and the Love’s Truck Stop plaza.
Pilot representative Jack Wilson met with supervisor chairman Thomas Evelyn and members of the planning commission during the first week of October to address concerns about traffic on Route 106 (Emmaus Church Road) and how Pilot plans to reduce it at peak hours. After meeting satisfaction from Evelyn and planning commission members, it was presented at the Tuesday night meeting.
The new addendums were not met with all positives as representatives of both Wilco-Hess and adjacent landowners argued that it was the first time they have heard of the proposed changes. Evelyn admitted he thought all the board members have seen the packet, as well as the public. However, the new information was not available and that caused concern for some supervisors.
“I just need more time to review these additions,” said District 5 representative Ray Davis. “I want to make sure everything listed here addresses the issues the board has had with traffic entering Pilot.”
However, District 4 representative Ron Stiers spoke on Pilot’s contributions to the county in the past and their cooperation.
“They have always done what we asked them to do,” said Stiers. “They are a great source of revenue in the county, and with the way things are turning out with Colonial Downs, we are going to need every bit of business we can get here.”
Board members mitigated briefly, before motioning to defer action until the Oct. 29 work session. That motion passed 4-1, with Stiers casting the lone dissenting vote.