Wal-Mart Wins Forsyth Rezoning Battle

ATLANTA-Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer accustomed to residents' opposition to new outlets, has won a year-long tussle in Forsyth County with a 4-1 approval vote by the county's planning commission.

But residents in the affluent subdivisions of Laurel Springs, Bridle Ridge and Aberdeen told planning commission officials they plan to have the vote overturned by the county's Zoning Board of Appeal. If that happens, Wal-Mart officials say they will fight the board's ruling in court.

Bentonville, AR-based Wal-Mart wants to build an estimated $20-million, 205,000-sf supercenter on a 52.6-acre tract at Bagley and Mathis Airport roads and GA 141. Wal-Mart was in a strong bargaining position going into the public meeting with the planning commission, area retail brokers familiar with the controversy tell GlobeSt.com.

The new supercenter will be built on land that received commercial zoning in 1988. That means Wal-Mart didn't have to re-apply for a new zoning, only for formal approval from the planning commission. The county commission doesn't have to formally approve the project either, brokers monitoring the issue tell GlobeSt.com.

Still, Wal-Mart officials agreed to pacify subdivision residents by offering to build an eight-foot high, 400-foot long stone wall between the store and the homes. Wal-Mart also agreed to abandon plans to build a gasoline station near its store. But the retailer refused to compromise on store hours. The new store, as all other Wal-Mart supercenters, will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

For Wal-Mart, the fight in Forsyth County was just another round of skirmishes the company has had and continues to have in surrounding metro Atlanta counties. In Henry County, for example, residents continue to oppose Wal-Mart's planned $15-million, 200,000-sf supercenter at the north end of the county.

In DeKalb County, the retailer wants the City of Avondale Estates to annex and rezone 23 acres at the vacant Avondale Mall site to make room an estimated 200,000-sf store. In Fulton County, commissioners in August rejected a planned $10-million, 185,000-sf Wal-Mart supercenter in the south end of the county.

But in Midtown Atlanta, Wal-Mart is being welcomed by area shoppers. The company plans to develop an $11-million, 150,000-sf store at the former Castlegate Hotel site off Interstate 75 and Howell Mill Road, as GlobeSt.com previously reported. The new store will be at Selig Enterprises' 300,000-sf, 17-acre mixed-use undertaking which will have 280 rental apartments.

Wal-Mart officials in Arkansas announced earlier this month they plan to open or expand about 45 of its flagship discount stores and about 250 supercenters next year. The company also plans to open about 40 new Sam's Club warehouse stores and expand its Neighborhood Market grocery store chain by about 30 new stores.

The retailer also plans building three new merchandise distribution centers and three new food distribution centers at unannounced sites and remodeling 360 stores and Sam's Clubs. The locations for the new stores and expansions were not announced.