By Powhatan Smart Growth

The following is a group response to Thoughts While Shaving and In My Opinion published in Powhatan Today on June 23, 2010.

Dear Editor,

The debate regarding Walmart’s plans to open a store in Powhatan is still healthily rolling on, with opinions from both sides being heard across the county at Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors meetings, online; and at restaurants, homes, and sporting events.

Gene Veler’s comments regarding the debate warrant some specific responses.

An attempt to diminish the opposition to Walmart by asking where was the opposition to the first Food Lions appearance in the county illustrates Mr. Veler’s apparent vague understanding of the Smart Growth position. The county’s own Comprehensive Plan, while not legally binding, presents the blueprint of what Powhatan residents foresee, desire, and conceive of being Powhatan’s future development. This plan calls for the development and support of small to medium sized businesses. Food Lion and the small strip mall stores that surround them fall within these parameters. Other than those that would argue size is only relative, most residents have agreed that big box means just that: BIG. An apparent trampling of the Comprehensive Plan is what has raised the ire of the residents that have been paying attention. Karin Carmack stated at the 6/1 Planning Commission meeting that government should not dictate who can do business in the county. Ms. Carmack is correct. However, while many residents have expressed opposition to Walmart’s business practices, the core objection to the development has been its size and the precedent which it would set for big box store development in Powhatan. Also keep in mind that the Comprehensive Plan has already established store size limitations in the 711 and Village areas. Isn’t that government dictating parameters to businesses?

Mr. Veler also sought to diminish the validity of the 800+ signatures by arguing that it might only really represent 400 families if Mr. and Mrs. XYZ had signed the petition in quick succession. Perhaps closer examination of the petition data is warranted, but there are still 800+ individual signatures of concerned residents available for inspection. Mr Veler himself reported that probably 60-65 percent of the audience at the 6/1 Planning Commission were against Walmart and that 21 out of 29 residents that rose to speak were also expressing opposition to the development.
Mr.Veler’s assertion that Walmart does not create crime but just provides a better gathering spot does hold some weight. Large, windowless buildings with large parking lots full of shadows and routes designed for fluid egress are a great attractant for malefactors. Would this not further bolster the idea that large development would be antithetical to the principles of community and low crime rate that we hold dear in Powhatan? The crime statistics from surrounding communities bear facts that support the exponential rise in crime that follows Walmart stores in our area. The same does not hold true for Food Lions.

Also in the 6/23 Powhatan Today was the opinion of Dr. A.Fletcher Mangum, the Managing Partner of the firm contracted by Walmart to conduct a study of Walmart’s economic impact in Powhatan.
First, Walmart did pay for the study done by Dr. Mangum and one could suggest that you usually do get what you pay for. While no one would argue against an increase in funds in these economic times, the apparent windfall from Walmart may not be all that it appears to be. When factors such as increased policing, rescue services, road maintenance, the possible strain on the county water supply, and the loss of existing businesses are considered, the injection of cash is somewhat diminished.

Dr. Mangum’s own report stated that some businesses may experience a loss in sales if there is no differentiation of products or services. This alone suggests that there is little possibility of competition from our local and family owned businesses whose revenues will diminish or disappear completely.

The economic impact study also drew financial statistics from periods before and after the opening of a Walmart in localities considered similar in size to Powhatan. What the study did not do, and where these numbers may not hold as much weight as they may initially appear to, is describe other developments that occurred at or about the same time as Walmart’s opening.
For example, Staunton, a city with about the same population as Powhatan, also has an extensive stretch of fast food restaurants, strip malls, grocery stores, etc., much more so than Powhatan.
In comparison, Amherst County does not have the same development that Staunton has and only saw an 8.3 per cent increase in revenue in the two year period after Walmart opened in 1995, an increase of only $100,000.

Instead of putting all our eggs into one metaphorical basket, prudence and pragmatism would suggest an adherence to our Comprehensive Plan. If the big box stores are interested in Powhatan, it would also suggest that Powhatan has a population that could support new and interesting small to medium sized businesses within the County, as well as support those that are already well established here. Smart Growth’s position is not necessarily anti-Walmart; they are the first big box store to seek development here and so have had the attention drawn to them and their impact on the County.
Smart Growth, and the residents that have continued to voice opposition to the idea of big development in Powhatan, are looking to encourage and support development that embraces our bucolic environment and balances our need to grow with careful and considered planning, not a rush to get big quickly.

Powhatan Smart Growth

My Point of View welcomes submissions that pertain to life and issues in Powhatan County.
The views expressed in the column are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the editorial views of the staff of Powhatan Today.