We have been following the case of Florence, South Carolina since February of 2003. In the lastest turn of events, a lawyer representing citizens has asked a judge to prevent construction of a Wal-Mart superstore because the city did not follow state and local planning laws when approving the retailer’s development plans two years ago. The lawsuit claims that the Florence County/Municipal Planning Commission rezoned the land “without adequate and proper notice to interested members of the public,” said Columbia attorney Jack Pringle, who is representing the Citizens for Responsible Economic Development. According to the Associated Press, Circuit Court Judge James E. Brogdon Jr. heard the case this week, and took it under advisement. The residents say the Commission should have published a notice of a rezoning hearing in a newspaper of general circulation and put up signs in areas where residents were likely to see them. The city admits they did not follow the letter of the law. “The legislature didn’t say perfect compliance,” the city’s attorney said. “It said substantial compliance. With all due respect, this group is asking you to go back three years and find something minor and incorrect to overturn all this.”
For earlier stories on the Florence, South Carolina sad saga with Wal-Mart, search this database by the name of the township.
