Colonial Beach Volunteer Fire Department put forward a plan to arrange for the construction of a building on Colonial Avenue behind Lenny’s to store equipment such as hazmat gear, a second fire engine, and a boat. The building would also serve as a community facility for meetings and special events, such as weddings.

“They need additional space for some of the extra equipment they have and the vehicles,” said Angela Lawrence, the town’s Director of Planning & Community Development.

Although the matter was not actually voted on, it was the subject of rigorous discussion among the Planning Commission last Friday.

Commissioner Nigel Long’s primary concern was parking. “I wouldn’t want anyone to think that I was only concerned about parking when I go to Lenny’s, because I’m concerned about the public interest here,” Long commented. “As you can see in the picture you provided, everybody at Lenny’s parks behind there, and on some occasions, it’s completely full. Will we get an opportunity to look at the whole parking lot implications for this change?”

“Yes, sir,” came Lawrence’s reply. “They do have a site plan that they prepared, and we will be evaluating and presenting it to you with the staff report.”

According to Lawrence, the CBVFD has been working with Lenny’s and allowing them to use their parking area for overflow.

“According to the Chief, the CBVFD intends to continue that relationship because, based on their parking layouts and their daily use of the building, there will be spaces that should be available for those clients that are transient users of Lenny’s,” continued Lawrence. “So there shouldn’t be a conflict. It has been discussed, and you’ll hear more about it at the public hearing.”

Vice Chairwoman Vicki Luna gave some verbal support for the plan.

“I recall that lot was being used as a junkyard for cars once, and this is a vast improvement over what was once here,” Luna noted. “One thing though—when we would drive past the junkyard, we kept wishing someone would build a fence or something. Will this have some way of making it so we don’t have to look at the equipment? Is it going to be behind some kind of fence?”

“Yes,” replied Lawrence. “All equipment will be inside the building, and nothing should be left outside.”

These plans will be coming up once more at the Planning Commission’s next meeting on the 9th of April.