Planners discuss Walmart Thursday

Orange County Planning Commission members will meet June 11 to discuss the comments of more than 70 members of the local-and the larger-community, who spoke at last month’s public hearing on a proposed Walmart on Route 3.
At that May 21 public hearing, speakers representing both sides of the battlefield-versus-big-box debate urged county officials either to approve Walmart’s special use permit, or to reject it at an Orange County Planning Commission public hearing.
Supporters said the county could benefit from jobs and tax revenue created by the Walmart. But those opposed claimed historic areas would be threatened or paved over by development and traffic associated with the store. The meeting lasted about four hours and more than 70 people spoke. Commission members voted to reconvene June 11 to consider speakers’ comments and interview Walmart project planners.
The planning commission will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in the meeting room of the Gordon Building. The agenda does not include public comment. After discussion, the planning commission may choose to send the special use permit request back to supervisors, along with a recommendation to approve or deny the request. The board of supervisors will then conduct its own public hearing. A final determination on Walmart’s special use permit will likely be made in coming months.