Due to the fact that so many in Powhatan oppose the Walmart coming to the county, some of us who are in support of it, feel we have less right to speak up in support of the store.  I am excited about having a Walmart in the county.  I look forward to the lower prices on the exact same products that other stores here and elsewhere sell for higher prices.  In today’s economy and today’s world, why pay more? I have always shopped at Walmart for these reasons.  I would love to shop in my own county and let us receive the revenue from the tax dollars in our own county. The reasons I have heard from people saying they don’t want a Walmart here don’t make much sense to me, One of these reasons is the stores are dirty.  I have not ever noticed the stores being dirty.  They say the customer service is not good.  If you are looking for superior customer service and you don’t think you can get it there, then don’t shop there.  I rarely ever need help to go in there and get what I need and come out.  As far as prescriptions, some people just can’t pay the higher prices that the private stores charge.  It is just a fact.  If they need medecine and they can afford it from Walmart and get it, then that is a good thing for them.  If paying higher prices for better service is something others want and can afford, then that is good for them also.  I have worked in a pharmacy and seen customers not get any medecine simply bacause they can’t afford it.  Walmart is a blessing for these people.  Think of the jobs that the store here could bring to the people in the county.  Yeah, they may be lower paying jobs, but they are still jobs that currently aren’t in this county to get.  Any job is better than no job for the many people who don’t have a job here who would love to work closer to home or just work,period.  Not everyone is qualified for the higher paying jobs out there, but they still need to work.  Not to mention, even the people who are qualified for the higher paying jobs, can’t even find one in today’s economy. So come on Powhatan….think about it….it’s not all bad.  There is some good to come from this store coming to Powhatan. Why should Chesterfield get all the revenue from the Powhatan people who like or need to shop at Walmart.  Think of what our county could provice our citizens with the revenue and the job income could provide our families out here.  The store will provide more for us than it will take away.  Powhatan is still a rural county and always will be.  No Walmart store in the county is going to change that fact.  I say come on Walmart! I can’t wait!

Powhatan’s comprehensive plan is merely a guide and will play no role in whether or not Wal Mart builds a store here.  The Board of Supervisors can set aside the comprehensive plan any time they choose.  Case in point:  Tim and Lisa Benusa’s Malvern project, where the BOS rezoned 28 acres from Rural Residential (which allows zero commercial development) to Commercial with Conditions.  Also, the BOS is sworn to treat everyone equally and to deny Wal Mart’s rezoning request withouth any legal basis will invite a lawsuit against the county.  The most we can hope for is for the Planning Commission and BOS to craft a set of conditions for the rezoning that will result in getting the best deal possible for Powhatan.  If the county government really wanted to keep big box stores out of Powhatan, the wheels would already be in motion to make changes to the Zoning Ordinance.  I see no evidence of that.  Get ready to “Save Money. Live Better.”

If Wal*Mart wants to come to Powhatan, I say bring it on!  The tax payors have paid to bring water along 60 and no one who lives off of 60 gets any benefit from it. With the water, along comes development.  You wanted it, you got it.
Let’s look at being proactive, how about putting in the long promised and never delivered second ‘transfer’ station?  Let’s put in a hardware store that doesn’t double the price for materials like some other local businesses?  The rural character of the county is being preserved, as all the development is along 60.  Let’s keep it up along 60, and let’s not confuse rural character with backwards character and luddite views.  Local businesses are going to have to compete, and with competition, we the average consumer gets to benefit.

Doug D,
Kudos to you for speaking up.  I respect your right to do so.  However, I ask that you research the effects of Wal-Mart on a community before basing your decision on the “convenience factor”.
Growsmartpowhatan.com has some interesting facts from a financical perspective.
I also encourage you to research the impact Wal-Mart has on the environment including their multiple, federal offenses against the environment.
I also encourage you to research the traffic increase.  I don’t know specifics but we are talking 1000s of cars on a road that is already crowded at peak hours.  Wal-Mart will provide a turn lane.  Those 1000s of cars still have to get to that turn lane which will increase the gas usage and CO2 emissions.
Again, I’m not asking you to change your opinion based on the above.  Please research the impact of Wal-Mart before making a final decision.

Who was the genius that came up with the idea of building a Walmart next to a quarry? The truck drivers have a hard time entering Route 60 the way it is right now without the added danger of store traffic.  What fit of insanity caused our elected officials to even consider such an unsafe proposal?

If this Walmart wants to come the county should set up some rules for it. They should ask them to incude a sidewalk or a bike path along Route 60 to link up the nighborhoods that have been bottled up by Route 60’s growing traffic levels. If we don’t think about Powhatan will look like 50 years in the future we will lose our county before we know it.

I moved to Powhatan for a reason.  I don’t want to be around crappy box stores such as Wal-mart.  I wanted to be in the country where I can go to a small store and get good old fashioned customer service by knowledgeable people.  If I wanted to live in a well developed shopping area I would have moved to Richmond or Midlothian.  While you may love having the convenience of a “variety” store here, I dread having to deal with the traffic when there is one less than 20 miles.  Also if you no anything about business, you can expect to see many of the small locally owned businesses here close because of Wal-Mart.  Its what they do and I’ve seen it happen many times over with the various places I’ve lived.  I can already see our local pharmacy losing business with Wal-Marts $4 drug list.  I don’t shop at Wal-Mart because I dislike the way they do business and I believe the quality of the merchandise is subpar.  While I also don’t want to shop at food lion for the meat, I will go to Ukrops or Kroger on my way home from work. I’d rather pay the extra in gas than give that money to a chain I have no respect for.  In time Powhatan will no longer have that down home country feel.  It will just be another town with a Wal-Mart.  Oh and God forbid you have to leave Powhatan for something.  There is so much more to see and experience if you get out once in a while!!!

While I respect folks whom oppose Big Box coming to Powhatan, I still feel that the voice of those whom support it need to be heard as well.
I am in support of Walmart coming to Powhatan.
It will save my family money on food and gas not to mention the time involved with the trips to Chesterfield County.
I feel growth can be great for the county and it should be done with proper planning.  We currently have two Food Lions in Powhatan, how did that happen? I do not want to see small business go under and I don’t think that will be the case if they continue to deliver what separates them from the big boys, I know I’d prefer higher quality service from someone that truly cares about my business.  That being said it doesn’t mean all my business would move to Walmart, however it does provide me with an option and gives the county competition.
Food Lion lacks quality meats and the deli is riddled with flies and ill trained employees whom work in the food production side, too often I’ve witnessed too many coughs and sleeve wiping that I cannot bring myself to buy any deli sliced products, so therefore I’m stuck with prepackaged more expensive, sometimes less quality deli items.
I’m sure many opposed to Walmart are also supporters of the green initiative, less driving to Midlothian means better environment right?
As far as traffic, that’s always the same old argument, was when an Asphalt plan was being rejected by some of the residents, so far I’ve seen no difference in traffic or any problems that could be isolated back to the Asphalt Company.  I support Wal-mart coming to Powhatan until I hear a solid argument to convince me otherwise!