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An opinion
BY GERALD OCHS
Rappahannock News Writer
In an unprecedented move, the Rappahannock County Planning Commission voted, by a four to two margin, to permit the Hearthstone Whole Family Learning Center to move its operations to the Country Manor store on US 211 in Sperryville, and to continue to sell fuel at the same site. The primary objection to the Hearthstone scheme from Planning Commission members was the nature of the demarcation between the two activities— the school and the fuel sales—and not necessarily the fact of the mixed use itself.
Speaking for the Hearthstone School, Kevin Weisgerber admitted that the plan to sell gasoline and related products was not ideal, but that the school needed to do whatever it could to support itself financially, and that the use of the existing fuel sales facilities could assure an income stream to support school operations.
In his recommendations to the Commission, Administrator John McCarthy noted his reservations about the appropriateness of the mixed use, but only Commissioners Thomas Tepper and Chairman Werner Krebser seemed to agree—they voted against the application. Mr. Tepper said that “I don’t see the pumping of gas as appropriate and compatible (with school activities),” and he spoke of the dangers to the children in mixing these uses.
Public comment was very supportive of the use of the property for the school, but largely critical of the gasoline pumping/school mixed use. Jeff Butler spoke in glowing terms about the school and about how his daughter “blossomed at Hearthstone.” With regard to gasoline sales, he said that “we need to do whatever it takes to make this work,” suggesting that the gasoline operation could aid the school financially.
Jim Gannon, speaking as the President of the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection (RLEP), said the RLEP Board “enthusiastically endorses the move of the school (to the Country Manor property), but has “serious reservations about the application.” He went on to express concerns about the appropriateness of the school/gasoline sales mixed use, about the traffic safety issue associated with such a mixed use, and about the precedent established by allowing such a mixed use. He asked if a Pizza Hut at the high school might be next.
Phil Irwin and Marcello Del Vecchio echoed Mr. Gannon’s sentiments—both expressing support for the school’s move, and both strongly objecting to the mixed use. Mr. Del Vecchio read from a list of toxicity issues pertaining to gasoline and its additives and their effects on children, and suggested that “the way to address the problem is not to take shortcuts and endanger the children.”
Commission debates issue
In order to permit the Hearthstone .« school to use the Country Manor facility, the Planning Commission first had to approve a zoning amendment to allow school use in a
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