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The majority of people who spoke about the plans for Shelton Store on Monday didn’t have a problem with the concept. They just wanted more details about the project, especially when it comes to traffic concerns. 

The Buckingham County Planning Commission held a public hearing on Monday, Dec. 16 and took a vote on the Gooden family’s plan to revive the old country store on their farm. The Gooden Family Trust owns the property at 1779 Shelton Store Road in Buckingham, where the family’s old country store is located. Built and originally opened in 1913, the Shelton Store was in operation until 1985. It was current manager Jacqueline Gooden-Seay’s grandfather who built and opened the store.

Now what the family wants is to rebuild and reopen it as part country/retail store and part events center. Events on the property would include community meetings, special programs to teach about both agriculture and the area’s history, as well as tours and other activities for up to 250 people. Gooden-Seay also requested a permit to allow glamping (think ‘glamourous, resort-style camping), dry campsites and nature trails on the property. 

Questions asked and answered

The main problem appeared to be just a lack of information. Several of those who had questions about the project may own property nearby, but they live in Northern Virginia, North Carolina or other areas. As a result, they came in asking questions more about the planning process, how things work in Buckingham and what they would need to do, in order to continue doing what they’ve been doing. That was the case for Culpeper resident Kenneth Weakley, who wanted to know what the impact of something like this would have on the land he owned next door for hunting. 

“I don’t want to be restricted, I don’t want my property to be walked on by people I don’t know,” Weakley told the commission. “And do I need to post signs saying firearms in use? Or what do I need to do here to make it safe?”

As the store is not right up against the property line and there’s no reason to think people would walk over to the Weakley property, being that it’s on the other side from where the trails and camping would be, the commission didn’t indicate that he needed to put up any signs or make changes.  

Weakley seemed to believe this was a new store, rather than reviving one that had been in operation from 1913 to 1985. He told the commission that a store like this needs to be “closer to town or something.”  

Stephen Parker, meanwhile, said he just had concerns about the scope of the project as well as the timeline. The New Bern, North Carolina resident, who owns property nearby on Shelton Store Road, came in with a list of questions, saying it seemed the Gooden family was trying to go from zero to 100 all at once, without stages ramping up. 

“(The) current roads are narrow, two lane country roads with no shoulder. They currently barely accommodate two pickup trucks, so I’m concerned about traffic,” Parker said. “With alcohol, will it be sold at the store on an ongoing basis? Or only at special events? What kind of policing will be involved, to ensure intoxicated drivers aren’t driving those narrow country roads? With the store, will it be open on a daily basis to the general public? Will the EV stations be open 24/7?”

All of those things have been raised before and were addressed during Monday’s hearing, along with other questions about a timeline for the project. 

‘That is our legacy’ 

Members of the Gooden family said they wanted to do something that would benefit the community, while also improving the condition of a historic landmark. 

“It can’t go on like it looks (now),” said Dr. Cush Jenkins. The Gooden family member told both the planning commission and residents in the audience Monday that he hoped the community would realize they just want to improve it, while giving something back in the form of both a country store and an events center. 

“The road is named after Shelton Store, that is our legacy,” said Jenkins, who works as a professor at Northern Virginia Community College. He also addressed fears raised by some members of the community that Dominion or some other major company was behind this. 

“Some folks wrote in and said ‘I think you’re trying to get Dominion Power money,’” Jenkins said. “Last I checked, I’m a professor with a doctorate, I can’t afford to put a $3,000 power center up? I can’t afford to just say hey, we’re gonna buy a couple of things? I want to make a public promise to everybody. That money is coming out of our pocket.” 

What was promised  for Shelton Store

Gooden-Seay echoed Jenkins’ response, saying the goal isn’t to flood the area with events. Five will be the max each year, and it’s not guaranteed they would even do up to five. If you have a maximum of 250 people at an event, where would you allow them to park? Gooden-Seay pointed out the family property includes 40 acres of open pasture where they can set up parking.

As some of this area would be a bit far to walk to the store, the family also plans to set up some transportation, to take people from the parking lot to the main events. Commission members also asked about the glamping, as far as how many sites would be set up at any given time. The answer to that is no more than 15 to 20. Also, yes, there will be two electric vehicle charging stations set up at the country store

As for the concerns over traffic, the Virginia Department of Transportation said the current entrance to the property doesn’t meet requirements. Even if county supervisors approve the special use permit, the family will have to submit plans to VDOT about how they plan to adjust the entrance and that would have to be completed before any activities could start or any store open. 

So what’s next for Shelton Store? 

The planning commission majority recommended approval of the permit. That means it’ll go before Buckingham supervisors, during their meeting next month. That’ll take place on Monday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m.