By Michael Copley, Staff Writer
mcopley@powhatantoday.com

District Three Supervisor Robert Cosby isn’t willing to talk about economic development in absolutes. “I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I think you need to give any economic opportunity due consideration.”

Unconfirmed reports of Wal-Mart’s intent to setup shop in Powhatan have long circled the county. Mention of the might-be project has sent an anxious hum through recent county meetings and more than a few residents speak with certainty about development plans they seem to have known about for years.

Though the national retailer’s name does not appear on any paper work filed thus far with county administrators, the specifics of a September 2008 pre-scoping traffic impact study indicate some kind of “big box” store is, or was, considering a move to Powhatan.

The site in question — north of Route 60 and west of Route 675 (Page Road) — sits adjacent to County Line Tire and the Luck Stone entrance. According to the sign there, the land is owned by Clarence Hubbard of Realco Properties in Powhatan.

The pre-scoping study details the development of a 170,000 square foot retail center on the 53.34 acre lot. The site is currently zoned Industrial One and Residential/Commercial.

County Planner Brandon Stidham said the specifics of the traffic impact study were “definitely consistent” with plans characteristic of a big box store; but reiterated, “I haven’t seen anything with Wal-Mart’s name on it, the only thing our office has had [of that scale] is the September 2008 pre-scoping” study.

Further, Stidham said his office “has not had contact” with the property developer, Lee Warfield of TGM Realty Investors Inc., or the project consultant, Chad A. Baird of Gorove/Slade Associates Inc., since their September 2008 meeting.

Additionally, the required Traffic Impact Analysis was not filed with VDOT subsequent to the pre-scoping study; indicating, it would seem, a halt to plans to move forward.

But Stacy Mitchell, a senior researcher with the New Rules Project, an arm of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, said that sort of time frame is not uncommon to big box development.

She said mega retailers on the order of Wal-Mart have an interest in keeping development details out of public site and away from scrutiny until “they have all their ducks in a row.”

When questioned last month about plans for the property, Hubbard said he was restricted under contract from discussing the property’s future, but indicated the developer continues to work on the project.

Neither Warfield nor Baird were available for comment.