Governor, speaker urge new location

Plenty of groups and individuals have made public their opinions about Walmart's plans to build in Orange County, most recently, the commonwealth's top politicians. Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine and House Speaker William Howell (R-28th District) "strongly encouraged" Orange County officials to find an alternate location for the proposed big-box development in a letter last week to Orange County supervisors.
In the letter, Kaine and Howell urged supervisors to work with Walmart planners in locating a site for the planned 138,000-square-foot supercenter which would be "in the vicinity of the proposed site yet situated outside the boundaries of Wilderness Battlefield and out of view from Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park."
Along with advocating for preservation of battlefield land, the letter acknowledged local government's authority to reach its own conclusions concerning land use.
"We believe strongly that land use decisions must remain within the purview of local governments, and we understand the challenges local governments face when trying to balance competing interests," the letter stated.
Walmart announced plans last year to locate a retail store on a 17-acre site just north of the intersection of Route 3 and Route 20. Since then, a discussion about the appropriateness of the location has included celebrities, historians, and preservationists from across the nation, as well as county residents and officials. Project supporters say the county needs the store's projected $800,000 in tax revenues and anticipated jobs. But opponents claim the store's location will destroy the integrity of nearby Civil War historic sites, and will cause traffic problems and increases in crime.
Last month, the Orange County Planning Commission recommended supervisors approve Walmart's special use permit application with a 5 to 4 vote. The board of supervisors will hold a public hearing on Walmart's special use permit application July 27, at 7 p.m. in the Orange County High School auditorium.
The supervisors have not issued a formal statement about the letter, although they have discussed it.
District 1 Supervisor Mark Johnson said his preference would be for state politicians to focus on the commonwealth's dire budget issues, rather than on localities' land use matters.
"I was surprised Tuesday when I received a joint letter from Gov. Kaine and Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Howell urging the Orange County Board of Supervisors to reject the special use permit application for a Walmart in eastern Orange County," Johnson said. "While I am gratified that Mr. Kaine and Mr. Howell have come together in a bipartisan effort, I would much prefer that they concentrate their new-found synergy on solving Virginia's massive transportation problems, full funding of all state mandates and respectful concern for each taxpayer.
"I am pleased that Mr. Kaine and Mr. Howell have however affirmed their belief that land use decisions are ultimately best made at the local level and I am confident that their belief will be rewarded and enhanced by the conclusion of the Walmart SUP process."
Walmart Community Relations Manager Keith Morris said the actual plans and proposal for development made intervention at the level of the governor's office unnecessary.
"We wholeheartedly agree this project presents the unique opportunity to bring the interests of battlefield preservation and smart development effectively into balance, and that is precisely what we have accomplished with our current proposal," Morris said. "The site has been zoned appropriately for commercial development for more than 20 years, is consistent with the county's comprehensive plan for future growth, and is in an area where more than 5,000 residential homes and other compatible commercial development are already built out dramatically closer to the preserved boundaries of the Wilderness Battlefield than our project."
The Wilderness Battlefield Coalition, an organization of national, regional and local preservation groups, indicated support for the letter in a statement: "We firmly believe that encouraging Wal-Mart to move to an alternative location is in the best interests of both the National Park and Orange County residents. We are prepared to work with the Commonwealth, the county, Wal-Mart and local citizens to find an alternative location that benefits all."