FLORIDA SITE FIGHT: MARY ESTHER WINS ROUND ONE

Wal-Mart loses [WJHG-7 (Fla.)]

Council members listened as the hometown folks let their feelings be known.

“Putting a Wal-Mart there is a very bad idea.”

“I don’t think there are many developers who would devote 10 percent of their property as a buffer.

“City’s grow, it’s inevitable. Others may not be as responsible as Wal-Mart.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a motel, a car lot, a funeral home or whatever; nothing generates traffic like Wal-Mart.”

And an increase in traffic had residents concerned about safety.

“It kind of scares me to think of my students being injured possibly killed going back and forth across the street.”

“We believe that rezoning is not a property right it’s a modification executed at the discretion of the citizens of a community.”

Wal-Mart disputed the arguments saying the council had no legitimate reason to deny a zoning policy. Council member George Crews moved to deny Wal-Mart, saying the city of Mary Esther was not running short of commercial property.

“In looking at the plot of our city I think you would all agree with me that there is a substantial amount of our city devoted to commercial property.”

The motion was passed unanimously, and opponents of the project left the meeting with smiles on their faces. Prior to the vote Wal-Mart attorneys indicated Wal-Mart would take the matter to court.

However, a Wal-Mart rep after the meeting said it would be premature to say for sure whether the matter would actually end up in court.

Posted by Beth Gostanian on Thursday, August 02, 2007

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