Do we really need a Sonic Drive-in on Main Street?

The drive-in restaurant is a relic of mid-20th century car culture. It is the most car-intensive use of space, creating a forbidding environment for pedestrians and bikes. It is a powerful generator of noise, light, air pollution, as well as traffic.

On June 10, at 7:30 PM, Town Council will hold a public hearing and vote on an application for a special use permit to build a Sonic Drive-in as part of the “First and Main” development.

Blacksburg United for Responsible Growth urges Town Council to deny this application. And we urge all concerned citizens to email town council, and to attend the public hearing. Tell Town Council why the Sonic represents anything but responsible growth.

Read BURG's position on the Sonic Special User Permit application.

Read the full application.

Our petition has been filed

We have filed a very strong petition with the Virginia Supreme Court, asking the justices to take our case and to reverse the decision of the lower court. We are asking the Court to rule that Fairmount Properties should be subject to the provisions of Ordinance 1450 when developing the “First and Main” project: no big box store without a special use permit.

The town has filed a petition as well. We feel that the two documents compliment each other, and that ours raised important issues, and strong arguments, that were not part of the town's case. You can read our petition here.

Chill at the BURG Snow-Cone Booth (and support the legal fund) at these summer events:

June 21, The First Downtown Blacksburg Summer Solstice Fest, from Noon to Midnight.

August 1-2. Steppin' Out, the annual downtown street festival. Again, cool off at the BURG snow-cone booth.

We'll have organic snow cones with all natural fruit flavors.