VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — There are plans to build up the Pungo area.
Developers want to add three to four restaurants near Sherwood Lakes on Princess Anne Road. Troy Parker, the leasing agent on the property, told 13News Now that it is still a proposed development.
If all goes according to plan, the first restaurant could open in 2020.
Nearby neighbors are on the fence about the restaurants coming near their homes. Their concerns include traffic, congestion, and noise.
"It's not that I'm upset, I'm concerned, but there are people in my neighborhood and my wife is one of them who is absolutely livid,” explained nearby neighbor Michael Kleppe.
Kleppe has lived in his home in Sherwood Lakes for nine years. He said he knew the area near his house was rezoned for a commercial before he moved in.
"I knew it was coming, so I've known it was coming, but I'm not excited that it is here," Kleppe said.
Other nearby neighbors have the same concerns, but they said they do see some positives.
"We could walk to restaurants than having to drive to them. From that standpoint, from my wife and my standpoint that would be nice," Peter Kilgore said.
City leaders said in 2008 developers filed an application to rezone the area and City Council Members and the Planning Commission accepted the change in that year.
“My biggest objection to the development is that its traffic is coming into our neighborhood instead of a turn off Princess Anne," Kleppe said.
Others who live in Pungo are also concerned. Stop the Flooding Now Community Leader Virginia Wasserberg said flooding may be an issue if this development is built.
"This neighborhood drains into West Neck Creek so the logic for most neighbors in Pungo is when you add runoff, you’re going to add to that flooding that's going into West Neck Creek," she said.
City leaders said if the proposed plan goes through, the developer is required to use up-to-date stormwater modeling and information.
Parker, the leasing agent said the developers continue to meet with several homeowners associations around the area to keep everyone informed.