Prince William Planning Commission recommends Fairmont Fuel Station despite neighborhood safety and environmental concerns

The Prince William County Planning Commission on Oct. 29 recommended that the Board of County Supervisors approve SUP2019-00023, a proposed 5,600-square-foot convenience store with 12 fuel positions at the intersection of Sudley Road and Fairmont Avenue.

The applicant, represented by Jonelle Cameron of Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, told the commission the plan includes six double-sided pumps, extensive landscaping (a variable buffer ranging from 30 to 80 feet along Blairmore), raised crosswalks and other traffic-calming measures. Cameron said the underground storage tanks will be double-walled and monitored, and that decommissioning procedures are required under the permit conditions. "The tanks are double walled tanks. They're monitored 24 hours," Cameron said during the presentation.

Staff recommended approval and noted the site is designated Mixed Use 4 in the county’s comprehensive plan. Alex Venegas of the planning office said VDOT and county reviewers scoped and accepted the traffic impact analysis and that proposed mitigation would keep intersection levels of service at B and C. Venegas said plan conditions include reviewable lighting restrictions and a decommissioning timeline for fuel facilities.

Residents strongly opposed the application during public comment, citing pedestrian safety, traffic cut-throughs into the adjacent Heritage Crossing development, groundwater risk, light and noise pollution, and property-value impacts. Ryan White, a Heritage Crossing resident, said the community’s private streets are not designed for commercial traffic and urged protection for children who "play in our streets." "I believe those gates will save lives," White said referring to the applicant’s offer to install barrier arms on HOA roads.

Other residents asked for an independent environmental impact assessment, a property-value study and a comprehensive traffic-and-safety analysis before approval. Liliana Vieira urged delay, saying, "It is both unreasonable and irresponsible to move forward without this critical information." Several residents said they had not received promised follow-up on traffic-safety concerns.

The applicant said it had offered multiple mitigation measures, including raised crosswalks, speed-calming features, access channelization to limit turning movements that could create cut-through traffic, and a conditional option to install barrier arms subject to HOA, VDOT and county transportation approval.

Commissioner Justice, who made the motion to recommend approval, acknowledged community concerns and urged continued engagement before the Board hearing: "The applicant has made significant changes and made a lot of commitments to the community," Justice said. The commission’s roll-call produced a majority in favor; the commission recommended approval subject to the conditions dated Aug. 14, 2025. The item now moves to the Board of County Supervisors for final action.

Next steps: the Board of County Supervisors will consider the application; residents and the applicant may continue negotiations about barrier arms, traffic calming and other measures required by the conditions.