Our Opinion

Next week, county citizens will gather in Prospect Heights cafeteria for the first official public hearing on the proposed Walmart supercenter on Route 3, north of Route 20.
In recent months, this project has garnered national attention, as distant politicians and movie stars have campaigned for preservation of lands near the Wilderness Battlefield, lending their voices to those nearby who oppose the project.
Thursday night’s hearing is the first official public discussion of the project. The Orange County Planning Commission will consider whether to recommend approval or denial of Walmart’s special use permit application to the board of supervisors.
The final decision rests with the supervisors, who will later schedule another public hearing after receiving the planning commission’s recommendation.
The store, as proposed, will take up 19 acres of a 50-acre parcel on the north side of Route 3, which is already zoned for commercial use. But the adoption of a large retail use ordinance into Orange County’s code means and retail establishment in excess of 60,000 square feet must submit a special use permit which requires public hearing.
The news of Walmart’s plans to build near battlefields and other historic sites has alarmed preservationists across the country and attracted the attention of national news media and activists. Opponents to the proposed superstore claim the site on which Walmart plans to build threatens the integrity of nearby Civil War battlefields and historic sites. Others have expressed concerns that the store would create traffic congestion.
But supporters of the supercenter defend the project’s potential to increase county revenue, and the creation of jobs and opportunities for county residents. Company officials estimate 300 jobs and $500,000 in tax revenue will accompany the new store.
Issues like this spark strong feelings throughout our community and we welcome the discourse that occurs. We remind those who plan to attend Thursday’s hearing to be respectful of the commission (it’s not their project) and the opposition (disagree, without being disagreeable).
Where we stand on growth remains a critical, defining issue in our community and we’re likely to see clear battle lines Thursday night.
Much like the violent Civil War battle waged on the nearby Wilderness Battlefield, we’ll see family against family, neighbor against neighbor and friend against friend. Let’s hope this skirmish is more civil and less destructive than the original.
The May 21 planning commission public hearing will be at 7 p.m. in the Prospect Heights Middle School cafeteria. Speakers will be called in the order they sign up and their comments will be limited to three minutes to allow everyone equal time to speak.