'Devastating to the community.' Equine clinic pushes back on DOT's plan for road changes ahead of VinFast construction
The VinFast development is expected to bring about 7,500 jobs to the Triangle, but the amount of people driving in to Chatham County comes at a cost.
The state Department of Transportation is working on a multi-phase road project, with changes to U.S Highway 1, Old U.S. Highway 1, Elam Church Road and Pea Ridge Road.
Along Pea Ridge Road, Performance Equine Veterinary Clinic has been open for less than a year, but under the current DOT's phase 2 plans, it could be forced to close its doors.
Dr. Lynn Gomes and her husband Merv Berkelaar found the 28 acre property in 2019 after three years of searching. They chose the site based on its logistics for large vehicles and its quiet and serene outdoor area.
Gomes said it took almost two years to prepare the property and another year for construction. Now, under current road plans, it could all be wiped out.
"With how phase 2 is currently laid out, it affects us the most. The corner of our property — not the property but the buildings. The interstate would encroach on the corner of the property. That would render this place useless," said Gomes.
Just as large manufacturing plants require a large infrastructure of roadway to a facility, we require the same thing."
Performance Equine Veterinary Services provides emergency care, basic exams and performance evaluations for horses on multiple different surfaces.
Gomes said the safety and quietness of the property would be obliterated by the road project. She’s asking her clients to write to DOT and weigh in on the plans before the Sept. 1 deadline.
"The DOT has set a very tight public comment period, and in accordance with that period, we have reached out to the people that it will affect the most," Gomes said. "We’d like DOT to consider an alternative route and not realign Pea Ridge Road. We don’t intend to try and stop VinFast. We welcome the economic development around us."
Dr. Lauren Schnabel has been working with horses for more than 20 years and is board certified in sports medicine and rehabilitation and equine orthopedic surgery. She’s also done work on advisory boards for scientific advisory and equine welfare, including the Morris Animal Foundation and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
Schnabel sees the need for the clinic to remain open.
‘"The equine industry and the horse community in this area, in the Triangle region, has been growing tremendously. However, we still have a shortage of equine veterinarians, and we have extremely few equine clinics and very very few of this caliber," Schnabel said. "To lose a clinic like performance equine would be devastating to the community."
Schnabel often refers clients to Gomes’ practice, and she says every aspect of the facility was designed with horse health in mind.
"It’s a really peaceful environment, which is critical for all horses, but especially those that are sick or healing or need treatment," Schnabel said.
Will Faudree is one of Gomes’ clients who lives outside of Pinehurst. He’s been a competitive rider for the last 25 years, representing the United States at the Pan American Games, the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics.
Faudree said the clinic is uniquely positioned to serve clients up and down the East Coast.
"It’s conveniently located. It’s right off of U.S. 1, so you’re not making a bunch of turns in a trailer if a horse is injured or sick. You get off US 1, and you’re right there," Faudree said. "The safety involved in getting them to and from clinics to be treated is paramount."’
He also believes the peace and quiet is essential to the health of the horses.
"The horses are, they’re a fight or flight animal and loud noises, any sort of disruption could spook the horses," Faudree explained.
Gomes met with DOT representatives Wednesday morning, and she said they were receptive to her comments.
DOT told WRAL News that the clinic is the only property their staff and representatives have met with on site at this point. A spokesman said the department's staff will review every comment and begin the process of altering and adjusting plans as needed.
At the Aug. 16 public meeting, DOT representatives said all timelines were tentative. Right of way acquisition for phase 1 was originally scheduled to begin in September of 2022; now it will begin in early 2023.
DOT said that delay is to ensure all of the environmental permits are obtained before the ROW process begins.
You can learn more about the project here.
