By Matt Irvin, Staff Writer
Sunday, March 11, 2007 — Wal-Mart received the blessings of the Locust City Council Thursday night to build a new SuperCenter store near the Crutchfield Campus of Stanly Community College.
The council split on approval and cast a 5-2 vote with councilmembers Charlie Hinson and Ray Smith dissenting.
The public hearing held prior to the vote aired the agreement required for the variance from the town’s master plan and zoning.
More than 150 people packed City Hall to the point where some had to stand in the hallway. Many of the attendees held signs in support of the world’s largest retailer.
Before the hearing, Locust Mayor Harold Greene set the ground rules.
“I will call first for anyone that is opposed and alternate with people that are in support,” he said. “The time limit for speaking is two minutes.
“We are here to respect anyone’s opinions.”
The first to speak was Cathy Cannon, a Locust resident concerned about the mega-store coming to town. Cannon said she was concerned about and empty big-box building in Locust in 20 years.
“I am not anti-Wal-Mart,” she said. “Wal-Mart is not a good corporate citizen.”
She said there were 320 vacant Wal-Mart stores across the U.S., according to media reports, she said.
Locust insurance agent Wilson Barbee, who served on the city council and a former mayor, spoke in favor of the retailer.
“I would like to thank the mayor and council for the forum to hear the public’s position,” he said.
Barbee said many residents of Locust needed the store near-by he said many residents wee retired and on a limited income.
Dottie Medlin, who moved to Locust from Pennsylvania, said a community where she was from turned down a Wal-Mart store.
“Wal-Mart went one mile out of the city limit and built their store,” she said. “You should have them inside the city limits.”
She said the local store will not be losing her business.
A total of seven residents spoke against the development with an equal number in support.
Locust zoning ordinances do not allow retail buildings bigger than 80,000 square feet - a standard that was set when the city developed their master plan, according to City Planner Tim Fesperman.
Larger developments require a developer’s agreement with the city.
“A developer’s agreement allows us flexibility in the appearance of the project,” Fesperman said.
Locust Councilmember David Walker said the mega-store was not a deviation from the city’s master plan.
“With larger developments, we need to manage and control what it looks like,” he said.
Greene thanked the council for its work on the Wal-Mart issue.
“Wal-Mart could have come to town and built one of their cinder block buildings and be within our ordinances if the store did not have the grocery store in it,” he said.
In the developer’s agreement, the Locust SuperCenter will have a unique design and look like a series of shops.
The developer of the site, Scott Smith of WRS Realty, said construction should start by the end of this year.
“We should have all the permits in place by December.” he said. “The store should be completed by the last quarter of 2008 or first quarter of 2009.”
Smith said the development will have 40,000 of small retail spaces built in a separate building.
“We will have three out-parcels available.” he said.
“We are looking forward to building a Class-A store and development for the city of Locust.”
Matt Irvin can be contacted at snaponline26@yahoo.com.
