Lynchburg City Candidates: Asked About the Walgreens' Decision

The News and Advance today asked the candidates: Would you have voted for or against the recent Walgreens' pharmacy rezoning request? Why or why not?

These candidates said they would have voted for the rezoning:

ROBERT BAILEY
JASON CAMPBELL
JAMES COLEMAN
BERT DODSON
CHUCK GAMMON
T. SCOTT GARRETT
ROBERT JARVIS
EDIE LIGHT

These candidates said they would have voted against the rezoning:

JOAN FOSTER
JOE FREEMAN
NAT MARSHALL

Joan Foster who was Vice Mayor at the time the council decided to deny Walgreens request said:

"One of my priorities, “High Quality of Life,” requires good planning, safe traffic patterns, and buildings consistent with the neighborhood’s plan. Walgreens’ zoning request did not include these elements. Since these were not a priority for the Walgreens’ developer, my vote was against this location."

Lets consider what really happened. Joan Foster had and is totally bought into the Mid Town plan, but the reality of the situation is that most of Langhorne road is lined with strip businesses. Walgreen's made concessions to fit within her vision of the plan, which included landscaping, lights shielded from residential areas, a brick facade, etc. It was a compromise that the city would not accept.

Part of her argument points to safe traffic patterns. Although, this was one of the reasons presented by the city council at the time of the rezoning denial, was this really an issue? Think about how the city allowed Walgreens' to erect a store on the corner of Wards and Fort. This is perhaps one of the most dangerous intersections in Lynchburg. Where was the safe traffic pattern argument there?

What this Walgreens' decision did was deny 30 new jobs in Lynchburg, and a healthy investment in the mid town area. And, it denied services to you. Just imagine for one moment. You are sick or injured and you make a visit to the emergency room in the middle of the night. The doctor gives you a prescription to fill and it is 3 o'clock in the morning. You would now have to drive across town to find a 24 hour pharmacy. Sorry Joan Foster, I do not buy your argument of quality of life.

To read all of the responses by the city council candidates go to The News And Advance.