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Orange Planning Commission again set to take public input on Wal-Mart plan Date published: 8/19/2009
BY ROBIN KNEPPER
The Orange County Planning Commission is once again ready to listen to public comment on plans to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the Wilderness Battlefield area. A public hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Orange County High School auditorium. The controversy over the Wal-Mart appeared to be nearing a climactic vote last month before a legal glitch forced the county to reset the application process. On May 21, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on JDC Ventures' application for a special-use permit for Wal-Mart and other retailers to build on a 51-acre site north of the intersection of State Routes 3 and 20. On June 25, the commission voted 5-4 to recommend that county supervisors approve the permit. On Aug. 20, the Board of Supervisors was to hold its own public hearing. But the meeting was canceled that day after county officials learned that one of the legally required notices advertising the Planning Commission public hearing had not been printed in the local weekly newspaper. The approval process was then restarted, with public hearings rescheduled by both the commission and the supervisors. The majority of supervisors and planning commissioners favors the Wal-Mart project, which promises to bring 622 jobs and $800,000 a year in tax revenue to the rural county once the store is in operation. Historic preservationists oppose the site, saying the 138,000-square-foot store and traffic it would bring would diminish the Civil War battlefield. Wal-Mart has so far rebuffed requests to find another location nearby, saying the proposed site is the only one in the Route 3/20 area that meets its criteria for commercial zoning, size and traffic access. Planning Commission Chairman Will Likins said Supervisors will hold their public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday in the high school auditorium and will hold a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night. Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
does he go to Target, or Kmart or Sears, cause they all have the same merchandise that Walmart does, I guess he's probably just bitter cause he didn't get hired for the "greeter" job at the Massaponax store when it opened cause the job was just to complex for someone of his abilities.
what will you let me build there?
Resident57...seriously..I live in Orange County in a brand new home (not a trailer)...I have a college degree, a government job, and I want them to build the Wal-mart. I resent your remarks about the citizens of Orange County...maybe you should look in the mirror and restate your comments. I don't think that anyone who is not an Orange County resident should have any say in this matter. Build the Wal-mart! Build the Wal-Mart!! You all know the county won't pass up this opportunity!!!!!
How many people will WallMart employee that can live comfortably? Why don't we invest in a tech center or some sort
of agriculture cloning center?
Tonight, Orange County will become just as messed as Spotsylvania. Congratulations!
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