Fairlawn, OH. Residents Mull Over Wal-Mart

Residents discuss possible Wal-Mart [Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)]

There wasn’t much new information offered to Montrose-area residents gathered at a meeting Thursday night to discuss a possible Wal-Mart superstore on vacant land on Rothrock Road.

Fairlawn Mayor Bill Roth listened to about 80 residents gathered at the Rosemont Country Club concerned about the possible development of the property and the additional traffic it might attract.

Roth did say the residents in Rosemont Ridge, Enclave, Rothrock Place and Copley Place developments might want to consider converting some of their streets into cul-de-sacs.

‘’The real issue is, do you really want it that way,’’ he said. ‘’There are advantages and disadvantages. It will be your call.’’

The mayor said he spoke Thursday afternoon with developer Larry Levy, who is interested in building on about 60 acres on Rothrock Road.

The residents are concerned that the commercial land, which is located in Copley Township, could become home to a new Wal-Mart supercenter to replace a smaller Wal-Mart near the intersection of Cleveland-Massillon Road and West Market Street.

‘’Larry said he has no more information for us right now,’’ Roth said. ‘’He has told us he has options and it will be a big-box store, but that was all he would say.

‘’The scary part is we know that sooner or later (this land) is going to be developed, and since it’s outside Fairlawn we have no control over what goes on.’’

Copley Township Trustee Dale Panovich said that Levy has only submitted an aerial photo to the township for the property on the west side of Rothrock Road about a mile from the existing Wal-Mart.

‘’It is not a site plan,’’ she said. ‘’That is all Copley Township has at this point.’’

Roth said he has called Wal-Mart officials and is lobbying them to just expand the existing store in the Rosemont Commons shopping center.

‘’They have the room if they want to do it,’’ Roth said. ‘’They acknowledge that they could expand and stay on the site. And they acknowledge there is great traffic (for commerce) on West Market Street.’’

The mayor said the only commitment that Wal-Mart officials would make is that the Sam’s Club would remain in Rosemont Commons.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Friday, April 25, 2008

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