Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 26, 1994 TAG: 9401260191
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ADRIENNE PETTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
One woman who spoke before the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission lamented that she had to do all her Christmas shopping outside of the county, especially for her son - "a husky fellow" - because she can't find a large enough selection in the county.
Its impact on traffic, though, is another story.
Many citizens and members of the commission voiced concern that increased congestion caused by traffic coming to the store would add to an already dangerous stretch of Virginia 40 East, which narrows to two lanes one-third of a mile from the proposed site.
The planning and zoning commission approved Wal-Mart's request to rezone the 38 acres, but tabled its request for a special-use permit to provide for a 146,401-square-foot store.
The commission will resume its consideration of the permit after hammering out details - namely, how to split the cost of road improvements - with officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Richmond Development Group, which is representing Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in its acquisition of the land.
The Board of Supervisors has final say next month on Wal-Mart's request.
"Somebody at Wal-Mart needs to be willing to step up to the plate and contribute some dollars," said Blue Ridge Commission member Melvin Clark.
Virginia 40 is scheduled to be widened to four lanes from the U.S. 220 bypass to Virginia 122 by 1999 at a cost of about $2 million.
Arthur Clanton of CEI Engineering Associates Inc., which assists Wal-Mart with design and production of plans, said Wal-Mart will negotiate with the transportation department to pay for part of the road improvements and to move up the timetable so the store can open in spring 1996.
But it will not foot the bill for problems that already exist, he said.
"We recognize that we would exacerbate the problem, and we're willing to contribute to offset the impact," he said. "But, no, we're not the savior."
If traffic details are worked out, many residents seem to favor Wal-Mart moving into the county, despite concerns of downtown merchants that the mammoth store would lead to their demise.
"A lot of people go to Wal-Mart in Roanoke or in Martinsville," said Stephanie Edmund, who worked at a Wal-Mart store in North Carolina for eight years. "So the retail dollar is leaving here anyway. Why not bring it back here?"
Frankly, some said, local merchants are not meeting their needs.
"Small merchants are not responsive to the needs of the customers they're serving," said Steve King of Steve King Associates.
by CNB