“Did you consider buying the land for yourselves and then doing as you pleased with it, or did you just bully the government to restrict someone else’s property rights?”
Try to ask yourself, “Do I want a 24 hour Walmart within a 1/2 mile of my home?” We didn’t.
It was not a matter of property rights. The land was zoned Residential. Walmart wanted it rezoned before purchasing to the level of Commercial that would allow 24 hour big box stores. The traffic alone would have made this area look and feel like the renowned area of Colonial Drive in Orlando. We compromised for the rezoning of the Property, which residents in my County have voting rights to Light Commercial. There is now a very nice restaurant with a bank and several pads still available for office/retail type buildings.
Yes, we would have bought it but could not raise 2.5 million dollars.
Try to hold back on accusing someone of bullying Property Rights. I’ll defend YOUR right till the day I die to maintain your Property Rights!
OK.. if you buy into a residential zone and Walmart comes in and wants to re-zone then I can buy that you have a right to fight that. No, I would not want one 1/2 mile away, but I love having one 5 miles away.