Can we save VB millions of dollars?

Can a WAVY.com investigation save Virginia Beach taxpayers over two million dollars?

That's the cost for buying townhouses to build a connector road from Pinewood Road to Laskin Road. Our investigation has raised questions about whether or not that's a huge waste of taxpayer money. Now a member of City Council agrees. "I would vote against it to protect the neighborhoods,"  Councilwoman Rosemary Wilson told WAVY.com.

In response to our investigation, Wilson is the first Virginia Beach Council member to nix any plan for taxpayers to buy the brand new Pinewood Road Townhouses. The cost of the project, based on current assessments would be at least $2,061,200 and that's just to bulldoze them to make a new road to Laskin Road.

Not if Wilson has it her way. When asked if she would support condemning these townhouses she said,  "No, absolutely not. I would not condemn these."

Wilson supported the Laskin Road Gateway Project, but not the taking of the townhomes which is an option and is outlined on the official city powerpoint map showing the road cutting through the townhomes connecting to Laskin Road.

Critics are astounded by the omission, "It tells me at least some of this project was laid out before the townhouses were built," says project critic Ted Davis. Wilson, also concerned about that said, "Look on the picture, there are no townhouses so how did we know this was to happen."

Developer Brian Large, who built the townhouses, was told by the city that the road was a possibility.

"We were told back in January 2007 when we purchased the property that a road alignment through the property was a possibility, but that it is one of many possibilities. There is no definite road alignment even today, so why would the city purchase land for something that may not happen?"

Wilson says the city has done that before. We asked her why didn't the city go in and buy the land before the townhouses were put up? Wilson had no answer.

Large claims he paid $300,000 to another developer for the property which is recorded at the Commissioner of the Revenue's office, then Large claims he gave the developer another $300,000 as a bonus for the right to buy the property -- total cost $600,000.

Following our investigation it's now clear the only acceptable road to Laskin Road would be to the right of the townhouses onto property where the Surf Rider Restaurant is. Stanley Bennett owns the Surf Rider Restaurant. He told WAVY.com, "I have been assured that if we do have to move I will be compensated for the move and all the help will be provided to me."

The actual property is owned by the Browning family, who owns Browning's Marina. None of the three brothers returned our phone calls about what they want in compensation from the city.

Wilson says it's clear to her, "We need to go back to the drawing board." It's also clear to nearby residents who contacted 10 on Your Side the fight has just begun, "The fact you all are covering it and making people know about it is indispensable."

It's clear our investigation and Rosemary Wilson's opposition will send engineers and planners back to the drawing board. It's also clear there's no support we have found that supports taking the townhouses.

In fact, if Virginia Beach drops phase four of the Laskin Road project, which is along 32nd street and Pinewood Road and leaves the Surf Rider Restaurant alone, the city can save $17 million dollars. This part of the project is not visible from Laskin Road except for the traffic circle in front of the Surf Rider. 

We'll continue to follow this story. Look for updates on-air and online.