CHESAPEAKE
The City Council voted 5-1 this week to pay up to $4.3 million in tax revenues for road improvements that will aid traffic in an Edinburgh development that also includes a proposed Wal-Mart and Cracker Barrel.
Even though parts of the project would cut through a private project called Edinburgh West, City Manager William Harrell said the road improvements were important to the city's effort to address growth and traffic increases in southern Chesapeake.
"In my view, this is a proactive way of addressing what will be a major transportation hub," Harrell said.
The only council member who voted against paying for the improvements Tuesday, Patricia Willis, said she felt uncomfortable with the city putting tax revenue toward something that should be the developer's responsibility.
"I really don't feel like this is one that is appropriate," Willis said.
The deal was approved as part of a new city policy that allows Chesapeake to pay for transportation improvements that could benefit the city's economic or traffic goals.
As part of the deal, the developers of the Edinburgh West subdivision will pay about $6.5 million for road improvements that include work to Edwin Drive, which cuts through the development that could house the Wal-Mart and Cracker Barrel, said Michael A. Culpepper of Commercial Real Estate Services, a principal part of the joint venture group developing Edinburgh West.
The city will pay the purchase price of up to $4.3 million over time using tax revenues generated by the development, according to a memo from City Attorney Ronald Hallman.
Culpepper said the city initially asked the project's developers to make road improvements that would have gone "above and beyond" what the development needed. Edwin Drive, which could connect drivers to the Wal-Mart, will be three or four lanes, he said.
"We wouldn't have constructed a road of that size were it not for the city's desire to accommodate future development," Culpepper said.
Hallman called the deal a "public-private partnership" in which both the developer and city benefit.
Councilwoman Rebecca Adams said the vote was a decision for the future.
"The long-range plans for this area will bring more traffic here," she said before supporting the deal. "I think we are on the track tonight."
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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What's the Difference?
What's the difference if the roadway is paid for by revenue generated by the development? The fact of the matter remains that 4.3 million dollars will not be used to enhance the quality of life of residents, but will be used to subsidize a corporate giant like Wal-Marts roadway to their store. No matter how much spin you put on it, the taxpayer revenue is being utilized. How many Wal-Marts do we need? Can you purchase a home in the Edinburgh Area or maintain it, on a Wal-Mart salary? Obviously the answer is no. So what we have is another Wal-Mart store that will allow people to have a second job and hopefully be able to pay their property taxes. Incumbents up for re-election have had 4, 8, and 12 years to stop this corporate welfare with our taxpayer dollars. How many years, should we keep them in City Hall before they change their spending habits of taxpayer funds? CHANGE IS GREAT IN 2008! VOTE ALL OF THEM OUT! How much of this frivolous spending can we take?
Did the City Councils Call Each Other?
This mess sure sounds like the Norfolk City Council and the condo fiascos. Nice to know there's enough misery to go around. Vote 'em out, Chesapeake citizens!
If you read the article...
You'll see the city has commited to pay UP TO $4.3 million OUT OF THE REVENUES GENERATED by the new development. The retailers will pay for the portions of road improvements directly needed by them. The agreement is revenue based, not a general obligation that has any impact on city residents.
KUDOS to City Councilperson Patricia Willis
Seem's she is the only councilperson that represented the best interest of the citizens on this one. Wal-Mart and Cracker Barrel both stand to pull in enough huge profits from this location to perk their interest in making the necessary road improvements to support their project. It's time that we get the city officials off of the developers and corporations pay-roll and make it clear that they work for the taxpayers of the cities. We don't need to use tax-dollars to support these developments. There is a huge customer base and they will be attracted to that without us having to fund them. Let business take care of business and let's get Gov't out of business. Our tax dollars are not to fund city officials friends and relatives projects. We all hear about these great projects that are going to bring in all these tax dollars, but at the end of it all our taxes go up and the city government finds more developer buddies projects to subsidize. Enough is enough! It's time to VOTE-EM-OUT and stop the corruption and complacency.
SAME TUNE SAME DANCE
Here we go again. Taxpayer dollars subsidizing a corporate titan like Wal-Mart to build a road that will bring more consumers to their store and add more profit to their bottom line. WHY? If they want the road, let them pay for it. It's ironic that those who have a history of supporting projects like this are now voting against them. Election time is in the air. $4.3 million dollars, I wonder how many 25% real estate tax assessment rebate checks to homeowners, who are still paying roughly 28% more than they should for property taxes that money would cover. Why are we not holding a stronger corporate stance in our negotiations with these developers? In my opinion, Wal-Mart would not abandon the area, if you tell them, taxpayers do not want to pay for this particular road, which your project needs. During a time when we are short police officers, “barebones" school budget and citizens complaining about the lack of ditch cleaning, couldn't this money have been spent more wisely. Change in our spending must start sometime. May 6, 2008 can be that time.
People are running over each other to get out there
As I once read it should have been named Edinswamp. I do not see to many people worrying about that area. Now what the could do is put the $4.3 Million into the school budget, which was reported 2 days ago in this paper getting cut.
Road Improvement especially with a Walmart planned.
I sure hope the knuckleheads that approve the new Walmart make sure it has enough exit/entrance points for the megasize lots they have.
For crying out loud, my small office park where I work has more entrance/exit points than the Princess Anne/VA Beach and Battlefield Blvd/Chesapeake Walmarts combined. It's rediculous, you'd think it would be a safety hazard considering the lots stay packed at all hours.
Hope the five people who
Hope the five people who voted yes enjoy thier money taht they received from Walmart