By Debbie Markel

The September 1 issue of Powhatan Today included two columns written regarding the Walmart zoning decision currently pending before the Board of Supervisors. One, written by Todd Rojcewicz, was clearly in favor of bringing Walmart to Powhatan. The other was submitted by Dan Jones and while written in defense of the Board’s decision to delay their vote, included a few comments which prompted a response.

Mr. Rojcewicz mentioned that the Walmart site is located within the designated development area along Route 60; however, the size and scope of this Walmart clearly negates the currently approved Comprehensive Plan which specifically mentions bringing “small to medium-sized” businesses to the county. A 170,000 square foot super center is far from being small or medium. The Comprehensive Plan also talks about nodal development at three specified places along Route 60: the intersection with Route 522, the Flat Rock area, and South Creek. The development of a Walmart at the intersection with Stavemill, which is not part of the South Creek property, will open a fourth node and create many new traffic issues for that area. Finally, Mr. Rojcewicz believes that bringing Walmart to Powhatan will be good for competition. Perhaps he has never owned a retail business in this county and doesn’t understand the Powhatan shopping dynamic. There is a finite and relatively small number of shoppers here and having a behemoth like Walmart become the competitor will cause the loss of many more small, locally owned businesses despite their service offerings. This is a fact and has been published time and again by independent researchers for many years. We are not like Ashland, whom everyone loves to compare us to, which has a thriving town center with parking along the streets, city-type blocks with sidewalks, and a large village-type shopping area. The only stores that will flourish here will be the chain stores that follow Walmart, turning us into a Chesterfield or a Short Pump. In other words, we will be a McCounty, with nothing to distinguish us from any other suburb.

Mr. Rojcewicz also mentioned the tax benefits to the county from Walmart. Hundreds of thousands of tax dollars sound attractive, but compare their figure of roughly $600,000 to the $68.3 million county budget for FY 2011 and $600,000 becomes a mere drop in the bucket – less than 1% of the total. If one new fire truck costs from $250,000 - $350,000,  $600,000 won’t do very much to alleviate our tax burdens despite the $25,000 proffer to the county for a ladder truck. Development always begets additional infrastructure costs like policing, fire and EMS services, and more road improvements which eat up any taxes a municipality receives. Has anyone noticed Chesterfield or Henrico lowering their taxes as development continues unchecked in their counties? Like in Powhatan, the rate may fluctuate, but the assessments are always adjusted to allow fiscal neutrality. Finally, Mr. Rojcewicz doesn’t see those plastic bags in trees yet; however, wait until Walmart is built. I hope he’ll write us again in a couple of years about those bags and also about the traffic and rising taxes.

Mr. Jones’ commentary mentioned the Board will make a decision that will be advantageous to “the quality of life of county residents, the character of the county, [and] the majority will…” Mr. Jones may or may not realize that over 1000 verified county residents have signed paper petitions against bringing Walmart to the county. It is highly doubtful that our Board members have received even one-fourth that number in pro-Walmart letters, calls, and emails combined. The quality of life of many county residents in Districts 1 and 2 will be negatively affected by the traffic, litter, and noise issues of having Walmart close by, and the unique, rural character of our county will definitely be lost when the suburban chain stores take over Route 60.

Many of the few pro-Walmart speakers at recent Board meetings talked about not being able to stop what they called “progress.” I looked up the definition of “progress” in the dictionary and the one that fit this issue the best was: “development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.” In many people’s opinions, having a Walmart change our direction is neither more beneficial than or superior to what we have now. We certainly need more commercial development and we are by no means against development, but surely there are more creative ways to grow that will be progressive, unique, and innovative. Letting big box stores rule our county is an easy cop-out that will end up being a financial wash. I, for one, will be sorely disappointed in our county leaders if they vote to allow these floodgates to open.

Regards,
Debbie Markel
Powhatan Grow Smart

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.