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Orange Planning Commission will hold public hearing on Wilderness Wal-Mart Thursday night Date published: 5/20/2009
BY ROBIN KNEPPER
Hundreds of people are expected tomorrow night when the Orange County Planning Commission holds a public hearing on a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter planned for land north of State Route 3 near the Wilderness Battlefield. "I expect that this will be the largest public hearing ever held in Orange County," said County Administrator Bill Rolfe. JDC Ventures is seeking The balance of the 51.6-acre property, to the east and bordered by Wilderness Run, is largely in a flood plain and not proposed for development. Historic preservationists oppose the plan, saying a Supercenter and the traffic it would bring would destroy the ambiance of the nearby Civil War battlefield park. They are urging Wal-Mart to find a new site farther from the battlefield where Union and Confederate forces suffered 29,000 casualties in May 1864. Supporters note that the land has long been zoned for commercial development and that the area is already the site of a Sheetz service station, a McDonald's restaurant, a 7-Eleven and other retail stores. The new shopping center is expected to create 300 jobs and bring $500,000 a year in tax revenue to the county. "There's always interest when Wal-Mart wants to come to a locality," Rolfe said, noting that some Orange residents simply don't like Wal-Mart. "The proximity to Wilderness Battlefield brings up other controversies and challenges." County planning staffers have recommended approval of the special-use permit. Planning commissioners will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which will make the final decision. Planning Commission Chairman Will Likens said it's unlikely a vote will be taken tomorrow night. "It's not our style to listen to hundreds of people and then vote without taking the time to consider what they said," he said. "But we can't lock ourselves in by saying we wouldn't vote that night."
Read more stories about Orange Date published: 5/20/2009
If Wal-Mart doesn't build, my taxes are going up. The battlefields pay no taxes to this county. How about building a hotel so all those out of towners that want to tell my county what to do can come and visit the battlefield and pay to support this county? My ancestors fought here and I want the damn Wal-Mart for tax revenue, jobs and what ever other business come along with Wal-Mart. As for Christmas, that means that I won't have to battle traffic in Central Park or the Spotsy Mall. Gimme Wal-Mart!
Did anyone expect Terry Pace to be in agreement with the other BOD's? I think her opinion is always the opposite of the others. If it's black, she's white and vice versa. Walmart will bring jobs, money, and service to this Orange and the surrounding counties.
If you want to understand how the area will be in 5-10 years just spend some time looking & driving around Central Park. If that doesn't convince you, then try during the holiday season.
The route 3 & 20 intersection will have to be enlarged for the increased traffic. Backups & delays will soon follow.
I recommend taking a lot of pics of the area if this is approved because the area as you know will never be the same. I won't stop with this it will only be more & more until it's all gone.
And if you owned the land, purchased it after it was
already zoned commercial (done in the 80's once again)
wouldn't you want to get what you paid for and out of that
land? I don't see the difference between this and the state
of Conn. did taking a lady's house to put a commercial
enterprise on her land. This time it's someone who has
owned the land for a long time and is being told they can't
do what they purchased the land for 20 years ago.
Move the Wal Mart up the street on non battlefield land that is now zoned agricultural, rezone the land that is now under question, and everybody will be happy.
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