It’s been a bumpy ride for Wal-Mart in Indiana this week. Three roadside wrecks for the retail colossus. According to the Associated Press, the Plan Commission in Decatur, Indiana on a vote of 5-2 nixed plans for a Wal-Mart supercenter on June 8th. Local residents warned the project would hurt nearby property values and create a glut of retail in the city. The one Wal-Mart already in Decatur is one more than enough. The Plan Commission’s vote now goes to the City Council for final action sometime this summer. A Wal-Mart spokesman said he was “confused” by the Plan Commission’s action. The Commission was discussing whether or not the City Council ever had adopted a comprehensive plan for Decatur that was approved by the commission last year. “It had nothing to do with our rezoning,” Wal-Mart complained. Earlier this week, Wal-Mart pulled out of Greenwood, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, according to the AP, “in the face of persistent opposition from residents.” Wal-Mart wanted Greenwood to annex the proposed site and rezone it for a superstore. Thirdly, in the suburb of Fishers, town officials announced today that Wal-Mart had asked the town to put its plans for a Neigborhood Market in the frozen goods section. Residents in Fishers had complained that the proposed 22,000-square-foot store with gas station would lower property values. So the project will now sit on ice until Wal-Mart comes back with a new plan.
For more on the Greenwood story, search this database by the name of the town. More projects, more losses for Wal-Mart.
