Wal-Mart files for rezoning in Powhatan
Published: October 3, 2009
Wal-Mart has filed for the rezoning of a 53-acre parcel of land in eastern Powhatan County, making official their intention to build there.
The retailer, which submitted the application to the county Thursday afternoon, hopes to open a 170,000-square-foot store north of U.S. 60 just west of state Route 675.
If Wal-Mart gets the county's blessing, doors could open by 2011.
"There's still a long process we have to go through," said Keith Morris, a spokesman for Wal-Mart.
Two pieces of the property must be rezoned from residential and industrial to commercial, which means at least a four-month process and two public hearings, one before the Planning Commission and the other prior to a decision by the Board of Supervisors.
"We're looking at holding some open community meetings here in the near future and then it will probably be sometime in December or maybe January even before we get to the rounds of public hearings," Morris said.
There has been an outpouring of reaction since word began circulating months ago that Wal-Mart was interested in coming to Powhatan -- much of it concern over the retail giant's presence in the rural community.
Upstart group Powhatan Grow Smart is opposing the store, claiming it will take from local businesses and change the landscape of the county. The group has recruited 505 members on Facebook and obtained about 700 signatures on a petition. The group has a public forum scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Powhatan Village Building.
"I grew up here. Once you open that door, you cannot shut that door for any other big-box retailer, and it will change the look and feel of the county," said Greg Ownby, one of the group's leaders. "Growth is fine as long as it's manageable, but this is too much too soon."
But some say the store would be a welcome addition.
"With three kids, it can be very expensive and Wal-Mart has good prices for us and we appreciate that especially in these economic times," said Caryn Rehme, a Powhatan resident.
Rehme said her family goes elsewhere to do their shopping and ends up spending more money outside the county while they are there for meals.
"This would enable us to spend our money in Powhatan," she said, adding that they would stay loyal to the local businesses they already support.
District 1 Supervisor Joe Walton said the application gave county officials and the community something concrete to discuss.
"Now the debate and the process can begin," he said. "There are probably going to be about as many opinions as there are community members, but I hope we can take the emotion out and look at it from an objective perspective."
Asked if he could see a Wal-Mart fitting in with the Powhatan community, he said: "I'd say that anything is possible. I would never say never."
Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or
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Reader Reactions
I founded one of my first businesses (recording studio) in Powhatan in 1989 - worked for a small family-run chalkboard company since 1974 on Rt. 60 near Plane View. It was terribly difficult for the first 1.5 years to find clients, even as a small biz owner (most would agree). So, after moving to the West Coast and working for BIG players in the Arts, I’ve ended up in the once “fastest growing” county in the Nation - Loudoun. Lessons learned? If you’re going to build a “Huge” store in your County, make sure you don’t cut corners. We have a Home Depot just down the street. It is the SMALLEST version of the store I’ve ever seen. I never shop there because this Home Depot never stocks the items I need for my home. When the Wal-mart goes up, all should agree to keep it at standard size, it will pay down the road. So from my view - Bigger is Even Smarter folks…
Randy, More jobs, more taxes are positive aspects of the development.But the negatives are more crime,more traffic, more cops needed, then the demand for so-called affordable housing.Next we need to extend the busline all the way out Rt 60 to the new Wal-mart which will add further congestion to an already overcrowded route.
Can you imagine several buses a day rolling thru the Village of Midlothian to get to Powhatan?
What about all the small business in Powhatan that will be adversely affected by the opening of a BigBox retailer.
I moved out here to get away from all the congestion of Chesterfield.So did many others.That’s our right.Right?
If you don’t want to drive 20 minutes or so, stay in Chesterfield or wherever.
WILD ROSE is right; once you lose it you can never get it back.
Wal-Mart is a net positive to the community. More jobs, more taxes for the community. The other option is to keep sending your tax dollars out of the county. Not the best move.
You better be careful of how you want to county to grow. Look at what happened to Chesterfield and west end Henrico. The are crammed in tight with both homes and business. Sure growing is good but don’t put folks on top of one another with no space. This is why a lot of us moved out into the counties. Enjoy it while you got it, once it is gone you will not get it back.
Powhatan Grow Smart are probably the same idiots who want the county to not allow homes on less than one-acre lots. Call them Powhatan Grow Stupid.
There are numerous studies that show WalMart does not take away from local businesses and, in fact, helps in some cases because it brings in consumers from other counties. Besides that, the store will bring in millions in sales and property taxes so Powhatan can keep its tax rates from exploding.
It’s called progress. There are some nitwits like Powhatan Grow Stupid who want the county to not allow another thing into the county. They’d put up a fence and charge you to come into their county if they could. Most people will recognize the good WalMart will do for the county and its small communities and it will be approved.
The only thing constant is change. I have lived in Powhatan County for 5 years and have several children that attend Powhatan County schools. I am proud of our county and I think it is great that Wal-Mart wants to move here!
My family goes to Chesterfield County each week and shops at Wal-Mart for household items, some groceries, and cleaning supplies. The taxes from every dollar we currently spend at Wal-Mart go towards paying for the schools and government services in Chesterfield County. I also shop at Tractor Supply, Food Lion, and some other stores in Powhatan but you just can’t beat the convenience of Wal-Mart. In the current economic situation it is critical that we keep our tax dollars in Powhatan County and if we have a Wal-Mart we can do just that. Not to mention the jobs it will create and the residents of Buckingham, Goochland, Amelia and other counties that will come and spend their money in our county.
Powhatan residents should celebrate instead of wasting time opposing this in a misguided desire to preserve a rural dream that no longer exists. Powhatan isn’t a completely rural county any longer and people should stop pretending we have nothing but farms. That changed a long time ago and it will never go back. We have large subdivisions full of Powhatan residents that drive to other counties everyday to work. We should embrace this change and understand that it is the future. You should always be proud of your past, but you should never fear the change the future may bring.
I wish Wal-Mart a long and successful future in Powhatan County!
Powhatan County Supervisor Joe Walton….does he have an uncle or something named Sam?
Aren’t there enough Walmarts in the world already?
bring it….food lion opened up there..no reason Walmart can’t !
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