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Neighbors fighting Wal-Mart
By MELIA BOWIE, Times Staff Writer
HOLIDAY -- When Sandi Price first heard rumors that a new neighbor might be moving in nearby she rallied the welcoming committee. They held meetings to get ready and knocked on doors alerting others. Price went out to peek at the spot where the newcomer would settle on U.S. 19 north of Gulf Trace Boulevard. Then the welcoming committee began arranging protests and petitions to keep the new neighbor out. The new neighbor would be Wal-Mart. Price and other homeowners have collected more than 220 signatures opposing a rezoning to allow a proposed Supercenter near their neighborhood. "I don't think we should lose any of our quality of life just so they can make a buck," said Westwood homeowner Krista Dollar, who fears the retail giant will destroy local woodlands, decimate nearby mom and pop stores, and cause safety and traffic woes. "Wal-Mart could take over one of the vacant buildings on (U.S. 19) but they want to kill the green." Last month the Pasco County Planning Commission postponed a hearing on Wal-Mart's request to rezone 30 acres on U.S. 19 just north of Gulf Trace Boulevard. More than 300 homes in the the neighborhoods of Gulf Trace, Edgewood and Westwood would be affected. The land is owned by Dimmitt Car Leasing and is designated for both multifamily housing and commercial. Attorney Steve Booth, who represents Dimmitt, said his client is seeking to have it rezoned all commercial for the retailer. "They are under contract to purchase the site in Holiday," Booth said of Wal-Mart. "We are in the process of working up a site plan." Neighbors will have their say before the planning commission on April 8. But traffic solutions must be in place before approval could be granted, said county officials. Wal-Mart must first gain permission to add another traffic light on U.S. 19 from the Florida Department of Transportation, said county zoning administrator Debra Zampetti. "If they can't do that . . . they probably won't get a Wal-Mart," she said. Last year the company continued its push into Pasco when it opened a store in Zephyrhills and made plans for Holiday. Another intended site is the old Bayonet Point Mall, which has sat mostly vacant since the 1980s. The chain has three discount stores, two Supercenters and a Sam's Club already built in Dade City, Land O'Lakes, New Port Richey, Zephyrhills and Port Richey. "Wal-Mart is less than 6 miles from us on Ridge . . . you go in the other direction 6 miles and there's another Wal-Mart," said Price who bought her first home last May in Gulf Trace. "They said they'd rather compete with themselves than the locals." But Price said she does not want to compete with the traffic she and her group fear a Supercenter could bring. Marian Scorza with the Florida Department of Transportation said the area around Gulf Trace sees 65,000 car trips a day on U.S. 19 south of State Road 54 and 74,000 north of Alt. U.S. 19. Worries about traffic, the environment and public safety led Price and a half dozen-homeowners to form the Concerned Citizens of Gulf Trace and Westwood. They cite anxiety about speeding on neighborhood roads where school buses drop off children. No to mention "the trash, the 24-hour lights," Price said. "It's going to bring crime to the neighborhood." Booth said he intends to talk with homeowners soon. "I plan very shortly on setting up a meeting to outline to residents what the proposal is," he said. It might be a hard sell to the group that is corresponding with the author of Slam-Dunking Wal-Mart, a book by Al Norman advising readers how to block a Wal-Mart from opening near them. The group meets each Saturday at 10 a.m. at the local recreation center to organize their campaign. "I've lived here most of my life and this is a little personal for me," said Cheryl Ward, who recently bought the Westwood home her grandmother lived in since 1976. But ultimately "it's not us against Wal-Mart," Ward said. "It's about rezoning the area beyond what it can handle. "Wal-Mart is welcome in Holiday; just not at that site." -- Melia Bowie covers business in Pasco County. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6229, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6229. Her e-mail address is bowie@sptimes.com
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