Project expanding with shops, services, warehouses
Only three miles east of the Rappahannock County line at Clevengers Corner – where routes 211 and 229 intersect – sits Stonehaven, an imposing 500-plus-acre housing development.
The project calls for the construction of 761 homes by the Lennar Corporation, and a yet-to-be built “village center” with planned shops and services. So far, almost 300 homes have been constructed and the commercial developer, Emad Saadeh of Saadeh Partners LLC of Woodbridge says he needs more time to lure businesses to the site.
Why it matters
Citizens and groups have expressed concerns over growth and the loss of the rural character of Clevengers Corner and the surrounding area, that adding industrial uses heightens that concern and traffic-wise, the intersection already has been the site of several crashes in recent years.
Site changes: The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors (BOS) recently approved changes to reduce the commercial setback footage from 178 feet to 50 feet for storefronts along Route 211.
Design concerns: In a letter to the supervisors, Sarah Parmelee of the Piedmont Environmental Council wrote, “… at this prominent intersection, the last stoplight before Shenandoah National Park, these 45-foot tall structures and their illuminated signs will be out of place.”
What to expect
New services: Saadeh said there has been strong interest from a Wawa gas station, national coffee chain, urgent care center, a pharmacy, a carwash and grocers Lidl and Aldi.
Industrial site: Saadeh plans to reconfigure half of the commercial space for industrial uses such as warehouses. He has pledged not to build a data center, and to comply with lighting guidelines to prevent degradation of night skies.
More traffic: The Virginia Department of Transportation is reviewing a traffic impact analysis and expects improvements to include road widening and turn lanes along Route 229. On Route 211, plans call for northbound dual left turn lanes onto Route 229 and a new intersection.
More growth: Just across Route 211 from Stonehaven a proposed 140-unit housing rezoning application is pending before the Culpeper Planning Commission.
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