OHIO SITE FIGHT: VICTORY IN ETNA
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Wal-Mart scraps Etna Twp. plans [Newark Advocate (Ohio)]
ETNA TOWNSHIP—In a sudden turn of events, Wal-Mart announced Wednesday it no longer plans on building a store on Ohio 310.
The announcement came days after Wal-Mart and several other parties reached an agreement to end litigation blocking the retail giant’s efforts to build a store there.
“Wal-Mart has announced that it has decided not to move forward with the proposed supercenter site on (Ohio) 310,” said Jason Wetzel, the company’s senior public affairs manager.
When asked why, Wetzel said, “Our company announced last year it would slow expansion in response to shareholders’ input and to focus resources on existing stores.”
The move comes days after the release of an agreed entry of dismissal, whereby township resident Gilbert Guttentag, Wal-Mart, the Etna Board of Trustees and the Langel family, who owns the property Wal-Mart had contracted to build the store, ended five lawsuits.
As part of the dismissal, agreed to by all the parties in the Licking County Common Pleas Court, the township zoning inspector was supposed to approve the construction of a 144,000-square-foot store on 20 acres on the east side of Ohio 310. Wal-Mart then had one year to start construction on the store and two-and-a-half years to complete it.
The battle between Guttentag and Wal-Mart began in 2006, when the company submitted a proposal to build a 203,819-square-foot store on the site. The company later submitted plans to build a smaller, 184,189-square-foot store.
Guttentag, who lives in Cumberland Trail, a subdivision on the west side of Ohio 310 across from where Wal-Mart wanted to build its store, could not be reached Wednesday for comment, but earlier in the week he expressed some comfort at seeing the retail giant scale down the size of the project.
Neil Ingle also lives in Cumberland Trail, and Ingle, like Guttentag, fought Wal-Mart’s efforts to locate on Ohio 310 from the start. When told Wednesday of Wal-Mart’s announcement, Ingle said, “Am I relieved? Yes, I am. I have never believed it was the proper place for Wal-Mart.”
Etna Township Trustee Dick Knapp offered a similar response when informed of the announcement.
“It was a very poor location for them to locate there,” said Knapp, who repeatedly spoke out against Wal-Mart’s efforts to locate on Ohio 310. “I’m happy to hear they’re not. It’s good for the overall planning for us to maintain our quality of life in Etna Township. The residents in Cameron Chase and, obviously, Cumberland Trail, have to be elated.”
Ingle’s elation was somewhat dampened by the fact the announcement leaves Etna Township without a future retail center. He said he hopes Wal-Mart or another developer consider building a center near the Ohio 310-Interstate 70 interchange. Much of the area around the interchange remains open for development.
“I think Wal-Mart could be an anchor to a shopping destination, which would be beneficial to Etna Township,” Ingle said. “It would bring jobs in here. I don’t want to see our money going to Franklin County.”
Pataskala attorney Scott Hayes has represented the Langel family throughout the proceedings, and Hayes on Wednesday expressed surprise at the sudden announcement. He said the family did not want to comment.
Wetzel, after delivering the announcement, did not close the door on the company one day returning to Etna Township.
“We’re always interested in potential opportunities for growth and serving our customers,” he said.
Posted by Luke West on Thursday, September 25, 2008
