Neighbors won't budge on Wal-Mart
The company says it's met all the county standards for the new store, but a protest is gearing up.
By DAVID DeCAMP
Published October 20, 2006
HOLIDAY - The neighbors and Wal-Mart's representatives agree on only one thing about their fight over a proposed New Port Richey store: Nothing's changed.
In their second public meeting since July, about 75 residents opposed to a 200,000-square-foot store planned at State Road 54 and Grand Boulevard threw a slew of barbs for two hours Wednesday night. They complained about too much traffic, too much noise - essentially, too much Wal-Mart.
But Wal-Mart officials deflected the criticism, saying they are meeting all of the county's requirements. The stand-off resembled a similar meeting in August but included bickering among neighbors about who got to speak at the meeting at South Holiday Branch Library.
Opponents and Wal-Mart will cross again 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the County Commission meeting at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey.
County staff members are expected to recommend that the commissioners order the project's preliminary review be redone. Preliminary plans were approved in May, but many residents were not notified of the meeting, which had been postponed and rescheduled six times.
Residents, many of whom identified themselves as Wal-Mart shoppers, complained that traffic from the new store would clog Grand Boulevard, making it tough to leave home and creating risks for pedestrians. They also questioned why the store was needed when another supercenter is a few miles away at SR 54 and Little Road.
To organize, they have created anti-Wal-Mart T-shirts and hosted fundraising events, including a spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Colonial Hills neighborhood center and a block party from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Galway and Manor drives.
But Wal-Mart attorney Glenn Smith said the project has met all of the county's standards. The retailer is spending more than $4-million to add traffic signals and sidewalks. The manager of the store at SR 54 and Little Road also suggested the new store could improve the neighborhood by developing the weed-filled vacant lot.
But residents protested the effects on their neighborhood.
"We're not trying to revive a ghost town here," resident Barry Crites said.
David DeCamp covers Pasco County government. He can be reached at 727 869-6232 or ddecamp@sptimes.com.