The Zoning Board of Appeals in Nashua, New Hampshire poured cold water last night on Wal-Mart’s hopes to build a supercenter in this community. The retailer came looking for a special exception and two variances, but instead officials rejected the company’s plan to fill in three-quarters of an acre of wetlands, and said the project could possibly harm the water supply. Wal-Mart of course held that their water filtration system would actually improve water quality. Wal-Mart’s lawyer recounted the retailer’s two year attempt to convince the city’s Conservation Commission that the water would leave the site cleaner than when it entered. Wal-Mart also offered to spend $2 million on road improvments leading to the store. But the ZBA noted that traffic is already a problem, and congestion is an issue that affects the quality of life of city residents. Wal-Mart is not done in Nashua. They can ask for another ZBA hearing, or they can appeal to Superior Court. Either way, its an uphill climb now for the company.
Since Wal-Marts improve traffic and drinking water, every community should consider building more Wal-Marts to make the traffic much better, and the water cleaner. I have always felt that big box development is the best way to ensure clean drinking water. More development, more impervious surface, less wetlands — this is the asphalt and concrete road to the future. So if you don’t like the way your water tastes, or resent having to wait in line at traffic lights, call up the good folks at Wal-Mart, and ask them to come build all over your little town today!
