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Orange planners question Wal-Mart, but hold off on vote Date published: 6/12/2009
BY ROBIN KNEPPER
The Orange County Planning Commission questioned Wal-Mart representatives last night about a proposed Supercenter in the Wilderness battlefield area, but did not vote on the issue. Another meeting will be held on June 25 to continue the questions to Wal-Mart, its consultants and representatives of the historical preservation community. Wal-Mart is seeking a special-use permit to build a 138,000-square-foot Supercenter on a 51.5-acre site, owned by JDC Ventures of Vienna a quarter-mile north of the intersection of State Routes 3 and 20 and Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Park Service officials have said the retail center would destroy the ambiance of the Civil War battlefield, increase traffic on Routes 3 and 20, and foster demand to widen those roads through the park. At a public hearing earlier this month, many people said they do not oppose a Wal-Mart in the county but are against the location. Supporters say the retail development would bring needed jobs and tax revenue to the county. Planning commissioners posed a number of questions, most of them to Wal-Mart attorney Tom Kleine last night: Were there other places in the area where the store could be built? What would employees be paid? Would greater police presence be required? How would traffic problems be mitigated? Is there an abandoned gold mine on the site? Kleine said no other suitable location is available. The starting pay for all employees is $11.20 an hour in most locations. A condition of the special-use permit addresses Wal-Mart providing security at all time the store was open. All road improvements will be paid for by Wal-Mart and will include new access roads and turn lanes, Kleine said. No gold mine was found on the proposed development site, but there is an old one farther west, he added. Commissioner Donald Brooks asked a question about something "we've heard time and time again." "Is the Wal-Mart going to be in the middle of the battlefield?" Kleine said after studying the area, examining the history and files at the state Department of Historic Resources and having an archeological and architectural study done by Dovetail Cultural Resources of Fredericksburg, "no evidence of military engagements was found on the site."
Stop dragging this on. Just say yes or no.
...he'd have ducked.
If he knew that a Walmart would have been built at Wilderness, maybe he would have told Gen. Grant, "Never mind the battle. Walmart's coming. Let slavery continue. The Confederacy is just fine, and Virginia is no longer a U.S. state."
does an abandoned gold mine have to do with this? I have several locations that are thought to be where gold is on my property. Previous owner never found a thing. Now, between the Sheetz and LOW, there are several abandoned gold mines where one must be careful about walking thru those woods so as not to fall in.
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