Over the past week, the following nine communities have contacted Sprawl-Busters about their battles:
1. Abingdon, Virginia: residents are fighting a Wal-Mart adjacent to a residential district. The project is reportedly hung up by the VDOT, which is not ready yet to upgrade an interstate exit that Wal-Mart needs to proceed.
2. Antioch,Tennessee: the group Southeast Neighbors for Planned Growth beat off a Wal-Mart last year and prevented 40 acres of agricultural land from being rezoned — but now the company is back seeking to rezone the same land.
3. Beaver Dam, Wisconsin: residents report that they are in litigation over a Wal-Mart distribution center, which involves millions in tax subsidies from the city to help Wal-Mart buy the land they need, and taxpayer’s help to bring water, sewer and wider roads to the site. Residents are fighting the annexation of this land in court.
4. Central Point, Oregon: A group called Central Point First has organized to fight a Wal-Mart, and has a hearing coming up April 15th.
5. Fortuna, California: residents have their hands full figthing off a project with a double whammy: reportedly a Wal-Mart and a Home Depot project.
6. Marion, Iowa: Wal-Mart has submitted preliminary plans to the city council. The area already has two Wal-Mart supercenters within a short distance.
7. Milcreek, Utah: citizens are astonished that Home Depot has plans to build a new store just three miles from an existing Home Depot, but have vowed to try to nail the orange beast shut.
8. Milford, Ohio: Wal-Mart wants to locate on 37 acres of land, displacing some local businesses and residents. The Vice Mayor of this town, upon hearing that Wal-Mart spent $1 million in a losing effort in Inglewood, CA, told the press: “Any company that’s willing to spend money that way, it’s just too arrogant for any company to do.”
9. Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina: reports that their local Zoning board is doing its best to keep Wal-Mart out.
For more information on any of these communities, contact [email protected].
