Traffic Light Controversy Heats Up In Bristol Virginia

BRISTOL, Va. – Tempers rose and cooled numerous times Thursday evening as city officials and a citizens committee met to discuss a controversial intersection proposal.

The conversation quickly turned away from traffic signals and turn lanes proposed for Bonham Road and cross streets Linden and Alexis drives, and onto the probability of commercial development on land adjacent to the Robin Circle subdivision, near Interstate 81’s Exit 7.

The Bonham Road property at the subdivision entrance was recently purchased by commercial developer Steve Johnson.

"The road is not the problem," an obviously irritated Mayor Jim Rector said. "Not getting the light is not the problem. The problem is, for some reason, you think the city is in cahoots with Steve Johnson. And that is absolutely false."

Rector said the city is only trying to install a traffic signal that many of the same residents had requested for years.

The Johnson-owned land is currently zoned R-1 residential, but it is the only tracts along that stretch of road not zoned commercially.

"We’re opposed to doing something on the R-1 side," resident Lonnie Whitley said in response, adding city officials – not the residents – raised the rezoning issue that was discussed extensively during two previous meetings.

"We are dealing with a light. We are not dealing with rezoning, that is a whole different animal," Rector said.

Johnson has repeatedly said he doesn’t yet know what he plans to do with the property.

Residents said they’re upset because city officials advised Johnson they planned to install a traffic signal but they didn’t know until a public notice was published in the Herald Courier.

"We did not cut a deal with Steve Johnson," City Manager Bill Dennison said.

City officials agreed to meet with the committee after residents decried a previous plan they said would make the intersection more dangerous.

During Thursday’s meeting, city officials outlined a revised intersection proposal they said addressed many concerns raised by the residents.

Throughout the meeting, some of the 11-member committee challenged city leaders – especially Dennison – about the design, funding and rationale behind the plan.

"I’m very disappointed," resident Cathy Stephenson said after the meeting. "This is half the same proposal they had last time, and we see right through it."

Asked if she meant the group’s concerns with Johnson and possible rezoning, Stephenson said yes.

"We feel like they’re not listening," she said.

The city’s latest concept would align Robin Circle with Linden Drive to accommodate a new traffic signal, but would prohibit commercial traffic from entering the subdivision.

The plan includes a new turn lane on Linden Drive and left-turn lane from Robin Circle onto Bonham Road.

The other major changes include blocking off Alexis Drive from Bonham Road and ending the short street in a cul-de-sac behind the Olde Bakery Place retail center.

The project also now calls for realigning the Alexis intersection with Lee Highway and Travalite Drive, installing a traffic signal there and a new bridge to accommodate an expected increase in traffic.

Residents voiced mixed reviews about that plan because it involves the city acquiring the home of Cecil Leonard to accommodate the new Robin Circle entrance.

Dennison said a proposal submitted by the residents that would bypass that home was neither efficient nor practical.

City leaders agreed to review another proposal that would include using some Linden Drive property now owned by the Holiday Inn. That plan wouldn’t require acquiring the Leonard home.

Whitley said the group has talked with the hotel’s new ownership group and was told they were willing to work with the city.

Dennison said no one at the city has had any communication with the Holiday Inn’s owners.

The two sides are expected to meet again in early May, after the group’s proposal has been refined.

"I think we broke through the ice of offenses – offenses on both sides – and accusations that had been made," Whitley said after the meeting.

"We’ve come to some common ground here and they said they’re willing to work with the Holiday Inn," Whitley said.

City leaders hope to conclude this phase of the planning process and begin designing the project soon, because the approval process could take more than two years before work could begin.

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