THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 29, 1996 TAG: 9610290275
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL CLANCY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 48 lines
Lake James residents were planning ``Pep'' rallies today, but they'll celebrate instead.
A spokesman for Pep Boys, a national car service chain, said Monday the company has withdrawn its application to build an auto service store near the Kempsville lake ``because the site is not the best option for the company.''
The Planning Commission on Sept. 11 recommended against a conditional use permit that would have allowed Pep Boys to put a 12-bay auto center on Indian River Road about 70 yards from the lake. The site formerly housed a garden center and plant nursery.
Pep Boys, which offered to make several concessions to appease homeowners, hoped to take its case to City Council but will look for other locations instead.
The withdrawal is a major victory for the 261 members of the Lake James Homeowners Association who signed a petition opposing the store, claiming it would result in oily waste products washing into their lake.
Lake James residents went undercover in their opposition to the store. Staking out existing repair shops in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, they photographed used oil washing into a storm drain and took samples of wastes from parking lots to analyze their toxicity.
And they took clandestine photos showing Pep Boys employees working on cars outside companybays in apparent violation of company policy.
Donna Summerour, a Lake James resident who led the opposition, said the company had little choice but to withdraw. ``They would have looked awful bad with the evidence we had. I really honestly feel that they cut their losses while they could.''
The homeowners banned motorboats and personal watercraft on the lake several years ago for fear of oil pollution. Sailing, paddle boating, fishing and swimming are allowed.
``We have a beautiful lake, and one company could destroy it,'' she said.
The residents had a caravan ready for today's City Council session and several pep rallies, but they won't be needed.
Pep Boys is a Philadelphia-based company with 550 stores in 33 states. Company spokesman Bill Furtkevic said there are more than 100 applications for new stores in the works. Three stores now operate in South Hampton Roads, including one in Virginia Beach.
He said the company has ``an environmentally friendly'' record that meets or exceeds all federal, state and local codes.
He added, ``The city has been very helpful and they're working with us to explore other sites in Virginia Beach.'' by CNB