Shopping center opponents turn out for meeting
The Washington County Planning Commission meeting, usually attended only by county staff and an occasional civic association member, was packed Monday night with east county residents opposed to plans for a shopping center at the intersection of U.S. 40 and Interstate 70.
More than 20 residents showed up for the start of the meeting at 7 p.m. and most waited the two hours it took the planning commission to get to the matter on its agenda.
Even after finding out that public comment is not taken at the planning commission's monthly meetings, most people stayed.
"It's the traffic, more than anything. That's why we're here," said Thomas Stoner, who lives on Summers Lane.
Several people said the shopping center would make driving on rural roads near the interchange a nightmare.
"Any Friday night, you can drive down there and sit. It's terrible," said Bette Shifler, who lives on Beaver Creek Road.
