The parcel of land was for decades a plant nursery which recently ceased business and the land was rezoned for professional/light commerce, compatible with surrounding businesses.
Walmart's proposal will require a rezoning to heavy commercial. The hearing master meeting is October 15.
The parcel of land is on the main four lane north/south road, heavily trafficked, of Tampa, Florida, at an intersection with a two lane road of residential housing. It will require erecting a stop light.
One can go in any direction from this spot and within two miles shop at an existing Walmart if one wanted to do so.
It would appear that a large majority of businesses and residents in the immediate area are adamantly opposed and are organized with sign holding protests at the intersection three mornings a week, distribution of information packets informing people of the proposed change, the bureaucratic process involved, and what they can do to support the effort to oppose Walmart. We continue to receive helpful TV and print media coverage of this "David and Goliath" confrontation.
Any input would be appreciated.
If you want to stop the expansion of Walmart then:
A. Stop shopping there (if you haven’t already)
B. Convince as many people as possible to stop shopping there.
That’s the free market solution. The problem is that Walmart allows people to actually buy cheap food and clothing, and my God, people like that! It’ll be pretty hard to convince people to pay more for their items at other stores just because you don’t like Walmart.
Walmart = slavers
This is Free Republic. Is this a trick question?
Unless there is enough community opposition that the elected officials fear for their careers in retaliation for allowing the re-zoning you’re gonna be SOL.
Walmart is planning a new store by us, a couple miles from one that is way too small. When they had the public comment time at zoning meeting, no one said a word, now suddenly, the anti Wal-Mart crowd is all up in arms and wants the project stopped. Sorry gang, it’s unconstitutional to change the law after the fact. You had your chance and blew it.
Good luck! They have been fought from coast to coast and rarely lose. At the end of the day you may hold them up for a couple of years but they will win out as will your attorneys whose fees you will pay.
I believe in private property rights. If you own the land, don’t lease it to them.
My main issues with Walmart.
1) Way to much stuff from China.Why not import more from other counties ?
2) They stopped selling Sam’s Club Water in their vending machines.
3)Some of the stores took away their outside benches.
If the other stores are that close, are you sure it’s not a Neighborhood Market going in?
Why don’t you post this over at Democratic Underground. I’m sure they will be glad to help you.
Personally I love WalMart.
They found an Indian graveyard at the proposed Wal-mart site here. That pretty much killed it. They had to move a mile down the road.
As for “One can go in any direction from this spot and within two miles shop at an existing Walmart if one wanted to do so”, this is physically impossible. Just how many WM’s would that be?
I’m all for Wal-Mart.
Why are you here with an anti-business agenda that the unions support? This is something liberals would say and try to do.
I hope they win and build there. Just to tick off you NIMBY whiners who probably love HOA’s and the little Hitlers that run them, too.
It never ceases to amaze me when FReepers oppose federalism, small government, subsidiarity, devolution of power, and local control - and then call themselves “conservatives”. (We used to say when I was a kid, “I’ll take this all the way to the Supreme Court if I have to!”)
You wanna try to keep Wal-Mart out? Go for it. Persuade your neighbors. It’s your community, after all, so it’s your decision.
As you’ve seen, opposing a business (no matter what the circumstances) really gets these faux conservatives worked up.
The only crime worse that that is supporting a home-owners’ association! :-)
Contact the local SEIU or UFCW office, they will put you in touch with people who will be glad to use you to help stop Wal-Mart.
Walmarts are good for the economy.
Buy the land.
I live in Tampa...what roads are you talking about ?
If I were you, I'd get with the folks at Bella Vista, AR and learn their tactics to resist the growth of Walmart into their area.