Editorial: Council makes mistake with Sonic
Wednesday, June 11; 6:25 PM
Town Council made a mistake Tuesday night, voting 4-3 to reject Fairmount University Realty Trust's Special Use Permit request for a Sonic Drive-In.

The fast-food restaurant would have been part of the First and Main project on South Main Street.

Arguments against issuing the permit included noise and light pollution. While it's certainly true that Sonic would bring increased traffic, so would any other fast food chain — Sonic is only required to submit a Special Use Permit request because of its canopy and outside speakers, something that a traditional fast food fixture would not have to do.

Noise is certainly a concern; however, this point is not relevant in Sonic's case. As part of the First and Main project, the building would be surrounded by commercial real estate and should not negatively impact neighbors' quality of life any more than First and Main is already. Even if this was a concern, Mayor Ron Rordam did his research by observing the Sonic in Christiansburg.

"I walked up to what I assume is the property line, and I couldn't hear anything," Rordam said. "I'm not crazy about a Sonic, but I see no reason to deny the application."

In fact, the Council's decision smacks of desperation and spite. Because it was unable to block certain parts of the First and Main proposal that it found unsavory, the Council seems to be trying to stop Fairmount in any way it can.

The Blacksburg Planning Commission recommended granting approval, 7-1. Why have a Planning Commission only to completely disregard its suggestion?

While the argument can be made that a big-box store, such as Wal-Mart, would take a huge toll on local businesses, shutting down smaller, local stores, a Sonic would not have the same effect; it would not supplant a Champs, Sharkey's or Hokie House. It would, however, offer the thirst-quenching delight of a cherry limeade right here in town, instead of a 15-minute drive away.

Town Council needs to grow up and get over its personal slights and squabbles. Blacksburg should grow in a responsible, sustainable manner, but it does need to grow — there is no reason that a well-planned, well-executed drive-in cannot be part of this growth.

Council is supposed to have Blacksburg's best interest at heart but it didn't Tuesday night.

The editorial board is composed of David Harries and Lauren Lee

You might be interested in... Related Topics: town council, sonic, editorial
Posted by: T. Wilson at Jul 28 "BURG" has consistently bullied opponents + friends alike. Those of us who have offered possible solutions through that silly word "compromise" are instantly viewed as the enemy if not 100% in line with their narrow thinking. We live in a growing town in a free market society and simply because they, and subsequently the town, aren't smart enough to understand the details of this and any proposal that will be coming their way - they resort to fear, smear and lies. Shame. Shame. Shame. Burg's focus would be better served if they turned that energy to Downtown Landlords who let their buildings decay while charging hig hrents. First + Main is not the enemy. Downtown's problems have been brewing since the early 1980's...it's called failure to evolve and failure to maintain infrastructure. The enemy is not Wal Mart, the enemy is living right here among us. It's called deception and hatred from the folks at Burg. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Lisa at Jun 20 What gets me is that the anti-car and such for Sonic is a joke. The people that Sonic attract will be those who work at the high-end stores, the ones who watch children in daycare, and the ones who have to drive everywhere in Blacksburg because they cannot afford to live in the town where they work. I know people who would like to go to these meetings but cannot because of work, etc. Also, as mentioned before, who wants to speak out at a meeting where the BURG people are? In past meetings, such people clap whenever someone makes a point that agrees with them, that is a little intimidating. I still wonder to this day that if Costco or some other big-box what was more politically correct moved to First and Main if they would be welcomed with open arms. Flag Abuse
Posted by: John at Jun 16 I too had the same exact problem with Citizens First & BURG...because I also made many of the same arguements about how asinine their claims that "because Wal-Mart sells alcohol" it should be nixed when the ABC, Kroger, etc. (not to mention the proposed Brew Pub) were all next door as well. Common sense, logic, and reason all take a backseat to their political agenda, which is "we hate Wal-Mart and all similar things." Because of that, the group, and the Town, have missed some golden opportunities to work with the developers on this and other projects to make them a better fit for the Town, and to get some very valid concerns heard and incorporated into the designs. Instead, because of their vehement hostility and anger, they have been largely ignored by the developers as kooks, and have systematically told the retail community that Blacksburg is a hostile area to locate new businesses. They got very myopic in fighting Wal-Mart, and still may not win, and as a result have done a wonderful job to sully the image of Blacksburg as a friendly and hospitable college town. Congrats BURG, on a job well done. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Beaverlover at Jun 16 I suspect that others who may have supported the Sonic opted to stay away from the meeting and the open hostility they would meet from the BURG borg. The group doesn't play well with people who disagree with it. I was kicked off the BURG Google group because people didn't like what I had to say. While people were carrying on about having a Wal-Mart selling beer and wine behind Beeks, I was pointing out that the ABC store, Kroger, and the Vintage Cellar are not much further away from the school, while across town Kipps backs right up to the Food Lion that sells beer and wine. I asked pointed questions about some of the shakey arguments that were being put forth and instead of getting reasoned answers, I was [virtually] shouted at and told to go away. Pressure was brought to bear and the moderator of the group threw me out. I also tried to have valid discussions about other projects in and planned for Blacksburg, but the group is too busy hating Wal-Mart and didn't care to live up to its "Responsible Growth" name. Flag Abuse
Posted by: John at Jun 13 That is part of the psychology of mob mentality though Rob...it is far easier to whip people into a frenzy AGAINST something than it is to whip them into a frenzy FOR something. And that is why these very hostile, very vocal, but also very small groups can get so much accomplished in terms of blocking things they oppose because they mobilize and organize extremely well. But it's hard to get people to come out in favor of a Wal-Mart, or a Sonic, or for just about anything else. It's also part of why personal freedoms in this country are taking a major backseat to special interest groups who keep coming out opposing various activities. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Rob at Jun 13 The telling part of the story is that only one person from the town showed up in support of Sonic. The anti-growth people in Blacksburg have a really strong grass roots effort going on right now due to the WalMart fiasco. Perhaps if more pro-growth people would show up and have an opinion it would let the town council know that they care to. Flag Abuse
Posted by: John at Jun 13 Ok well you have a point there Gabe. At least 3 of the council members showed some common sense with the vote in their reasoning of not opposing the project. Problem is that one of those members is being replaced shortly by another BURG-type council member, so the possibility of getting new projects approved considering the mix will go from 4-3 to 5-2 will be a whole lot tougher. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Gabe at Jun 13 I have to say, it's really not fair to blast the whole council over this. Rordam, Lancaster and Leighton all voted for it. Rordam really went out of his way during discussions to make a case that the concerns about Sonic weren't well-founded and that while he "wasn't crazy about Sonic" he saw no reason to vote against it. Flag Abuse
Posted by: John at Jun 12 You know, I'm a bit befuddled by all of this bike and pedestrian stuff. The First & Main developers are building a bike & walking trail connecting to many of the buildings and the Huckleberry Trail extensions, plus sidewalks all through the project. I also used to walk and ride my bike to Wal-Mart and many other stores in my hometown and never noticed any problems with doing so. It's sad that the council so arbitrarily voted against Sonic when there is a Hardee's and Wendy's (recently approved) nearby the site, plus there is the Kroger expansion and other shopping in the vicinity. They completely bucked the true process for the SUP and made this decision out of spite and malice, and they should be repremanded for such petty and improper actions. Besides, they all say what they do not want in the Town...but I never see any of them come out with a proposal or project to actually develop something in the Town. All talk and no action...that says a lot. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kyle Minor at Jun 12 The fact that something is not built with an emphasis on bike or pedestrian safety ought not disqualify it from contention. I mean, roads are a prime example of this - we use roads whether we drive or bike, despite the fact that the 'rules of the road' are designed SPECIFICALLY to maximize the safety of cars and their passengers. Cars, generally speaking, carry more people than bikes do, so when a new store goes up (be it Wendy's, Sonic, or Wal-mart) a parking lot goes up with it. It doesn't mean that the parking lot is devoid of safety - indeed, any place is only as safe as the people in it will it to be. But you're just as likely to be hit by a car on the road as you are in the parking lot, because the safety aspect is almost totally contingent upon the presence of mind of each driver behind the wheel at the time. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Amanda at Jun 12 I'm with Jason T. If anything, Sonic is the *most* pedestrian/bike friendly type of fast-food, since you can enjoy the outdoor dining just as easily if you arrive on foot or bike. Sonic has more outdoor eating space than other fast-food places, too, which is more inviting to foot traffic. Also, with regard to the "vast wasteland of parking lot," wouldn't one have to traverse that wasteland on foot anyway if one parked in its outer reaches? You're right that large parking lots are not designed for pedestrian safety foremost, but the person who arrived at the parking lot by car, and the one who arrived there on foot or bike are in the same position once they get there. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Karen at Jun 12 Especially with Wal-mart and depending on the lay-out, a pedestrian would have to cross a vast wasteland of a parking lot that's focused on the auto rather than pedestrian safety to get to the front door. Again, a fast food restaurant is taylored toward the automobile not pedestrian safety. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jason T at Jun 12 John, what do you mean by "not bike or pedestrian friendly?" I'm fairly certain that you can bike or walk up to the drive-in (as opposed to drive-thru) area of Sonic and place an order. As for Wal-Mart, again, I don't see the problem. Flag Abuse
Posted by: John Woods at Jun 11 Yes, it's true that this was the Town's attempt to establish some control over a situation it has very little control over. But they do raise a legitimate point. Sonic is not bike or pedestrian friendly. Neither is Wal-Mart--which is one of the reasons they opposed it. Flag Abuse
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