Hall Planning Commission says 'No' to Wal-Mart

GAINESVILLE- The Hall County Planning Commission, after listening to over three hours of testimony, voted 4-1 against a proposed rezoning on Thompson Bridge Road for a new Wal-Mart Monday night.

A crowd estimated at 600 jammed the Gainesville Civic Center for the hearing and at least 50 speakers took the podium, most of them opposed to the store location.

Gainesville attorney Tom Jarrard, representing Wal-Mart, told commissioners the retail giant met or exceeded many of the county's development requirements for buffering, lighting, etc.

Jarrard said the area's rapid residential growth and access to major transportation routes were main reasons Wal-Mart wants a North Hall store.

"(Your) professional staff recommends approval, the planning commission recommends denial, that puts it in the lap of the County Commissioners December the 9th," Jarrard said.

The county commission, expecting a big crowd, as well, will also hold the December 9 meeting at the civic center, starting at 4:30.

Planning board chairman Frank Sosebee, saying the county's Comprehensive Land Use Plan is not a bible, voted against the rezoning, adding he had planned to vote for it, but after listening to the comments from the public, he changed his mind.

"I think the community outcry was it for me," Sosebee said. "This was an ideal place for it in one sense. It was in the community's back yard and they're the ones who will initially have to support it. I just could not see putting something there they did not want."

Commissioner Dixie Truelove cast the only "yes" vote, saying Wal-Mart's rezoning request agreed with the land use plan, and noted the property is already in a commercially developed area and the company's plans called for a minimum 40-foot buffer to shield residences.

Many of the objections from property holders were environmental, including concerns over increased traffic, worry over plunging property values, and a fear that their residential quality of life would be lost with the arrival of the "big box" store near their homes.

Bill Cokley said he moved to North Hall for the peace and quiet and to get away from big box stores and did not want one of them near him.

"There's got to be a point at which we say our quality of life is more important than the tax revenues - there's a point where the money is not enough," Cokeley said.

"This is going to be a very difficult decision for me," County Commission Chairman Gary Gibbs said after the meeting.

Gibbs has been a strong supporter of more commercial, business and industrial development in the county.

"While we're desperately needing (such developments), I'm still looking for some facts and figures from Wal-Mart as to what is the amount of revenue they will generate versus the amount of revenue we'll lose from other businesses."

"The jury is still out on this one. We'll wait until December 9th and we'll see where we go."