When coming to visit powhatan, I have notice that due to all of the city folk moving there it is no longer rural. You drive down route 60 in bumper to bumper traffic and I think of all the older residents trying to drive to the discount/drug stores in Richmond and I say think of them with your decision.

Sprawl will eventually make its way out to Powhatan. Or you can always buy Vero Beach Real Estate.

Not telling the public because of legal requirements is not lying.  The rumors have been there for months.  If you decided to ignore them that is not the public officials problem.  Anyone could have pursued the issue.  If zoning is already there, why should Walmart be treated any differently than a “perceived” better business?

It’s been lied about for months and months…how can you get involved if your government is telling you there is nothing happening - no plans at all for a Walmart. 

And the Powhatan Today is run now by the same group that does the Times Dispatch.  When I learned that, it explained a lot about the why the quality and community feel was no longer there.

yes I bet those that voted against Walmart will be the first in line when they have the grand opening.

There has been alot of good comments for both sides. Some factural and others not. The fact is, if they meet the zoning and are willing to meet the proffers the county ask for, they will be here. We can wave our swords but thier army has had many battles and have won. This is no different than when Food Lion came to Powhatan and put May’s supermaket out of business. Sorry, most of you have not lived in the county long enough to remember May’s. The vacant building on the corner of Dorset and Anderson. But hey, we liked Food Lions prices better.

It is all relative. When I was a kid, I could ride my bicycle to Midlothian with only a couple of cars passing me. So if the supervisors would have kept most of you out of the county, WalMart wouldn,t want to come here. And no, I am not in my eighties, just in the forty range.

We must have commercial development to help pay for the services the citizens of Powhatan want now days. The best schools, libraries, parks and ball fields, fire and EMS services(which are still volunteer) and law enforcement. It all comes at a cost.

The time to get involved in the county is not when an issue comes up. You should be involved before there is an issue, then maybe there would not be an issue. I do believe we have some of the best county employees around. Most of them do truly care about the county. It surely isn’t for the pay. Most could to any other locality and make more. I believe we have the best county administrator around and our current board is by far better than we have had in years.

With the growth of the county in the last 20 years or so, we are ready for the big boxes to come. You keep saying rural community, how many farms can you name in the county. And I don’t mean a 10 or 20 acre horse farm. How many mornings do wake up to the sweet aroma of cow manure or that smell of ammonia from chicken manure. That is the rural I miss!!

Bring in Wal Mart, we let you in!!

Oh, and by the way, Powhatan Today is not a true local business. Rick sold it to a big company and I do not think they truly represent Powhatan any more!!

Concerning a Wal-Mart in Powhatan.
Most of the negative comments I see seem to be emotional and not based on economics or historical facts.

I would like to address some of them.

Wal Mart only provides low paying jobs:
All retail jobs in Powhatan and elsewhere are low paying. This is true of corporate and mom & pop businesses. However, Wal-Mart WILL bring jobs to Powhatan.

Wal-Mart will put mom & pop out of business:
Not true. The Midlothian Apothecary is an example. I remember when they were the only pharmacy on Midlothian Turnpike. Now they are surrounded by many pharmacy options. They are STILL there!

Wal-Mart will ruin the county:
Did Wal-Mart ruin Ashland?
NO!

Fact: Wal-Mart will bring more tax money to the county. Both sales tax and real estate tax money.
Vacant woodland has less value, for tax purposes, than a commercial development.
Powhatan has the highest real estate tax rate of any rural county in central Virginia, any tax relief that a development like Wal-Mart would bring would benefit all tax paying citizens of Powhatan.

Fact: Wal-Mart will bring money into the county
from western Chesterfield and Cumberland.

I,m not proposing that Powhatan become another Chesterfield but growth happens and commercial development is necessary for the economic health of the county.

It would be nice to do most of our shopping in Powhatan not only for convenience but also for the increased tax revenue.

Wal-Mart, LET THEM COME!

A prior article mentioned several other local business had already closed and others were struggling.  Well, Walmart is not here yet, so what affect could they have had on these problems.  Every time I go to Midlo WM, I see Powhatan residents.  So why not move those sale taxes to Powhatan.  Walmart wages were also mentioned but what local retailers pay more?  Mostly the items I go to Walmart for are not available in Powhatan.  As for food, its not like Food Lion is a local business?  I do hope something will be done to stop those blue plastic bags from littering Rt. 60!!  That probably more of a customer problem that one Walmart creates?  But let not pretend Powhatan residents aren’t already shopping Walmart, so I am not sure of affect on local business.  Seems Stock Building Supply could not compete with local?  I never saw any mention of their closing?

Walmart’s interest in Powhatan is a function of the growth of the county and its population, which is great.  It is progress.  We should not stop it.

The arguement that Walmart will hurt all the small business in town is invalid.  Else, the same will hold true for Food lion,Donimos Pizza, McDonalds or even Sheetz.  Walmart brings competition.  It will be good for business and will drive prices down.

The powhatan of old that I remember had the Red Barn and Frisbies - both businesses are still around inspite of Food lion and other food outlets..

I recently emailed Michael Paul Williams to thank him for his column concerning the possible arrival of Walmart to Powhatan—a very thoughtful composition. The impact of a “big-box” store would be a very negative one for the community & ALL of our local retail stores. We treasure the ambiance of Powhatan as it is & have worked for careful planning for our future to enhance that ambiance.

Doing the majority of our shopping in Powhatan supports our county & keeps us in touch with our friends & neighbors. I would hope that our elected representatives enjoy the same pleasure.

After all, there is already a Super Walmart just
15 or so miles toward Richmond.