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By Al Everson
posted Jul 29, 2010 - 10:26:04am
Soon, the Volusia County Council may decide how far to push its objections to a Walmart distribution center just across the county line in Crescent City.
The Volusia County legal department has learned Florida Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham signed the order allowing Putnam County to permit the development.
Pelham’s signature was dated July 12, Assistant County Attorney Bruce Page said. Volusia County has 30 days from that date to decide whether to appeal its objections to the 5th District Court of Appeal.
“It’s undecided at this point,” Page said.
The County Council will probably discuss the question at its Aug. 5 meeting, he added.
The case pits Volusia County against its northern neighbor, Putnam. Putnam County embraced the Walmart proposal as a welcome addition to its tax base and an economic-development move that could employ hundreds.
Volusia officials, however, objected because of fears the distribution center along U.S. Highway 17 will strain the rural-road network in the area, and increase the potential for urban sprawl in Northwest Volusia.
The pros and cons of the proposed Walmart complex were aired in a five-day hearing in Palatka on the land-use change in the spring of 2009. Administrative Law Judge Bram Canter presided over the hearing and subsequently rendered a decision in Putnam County’s favor.
Joining with Putnam County on the prevailing side were Walmart and the Florida Department of Community Affairs. Volusia County and a group of residents near the development site were defeated.
The legal feud may not be over, however.
Volusia County became a plaintiff in the administrative lawsuit challenging Putnam’s decision to change the land use of 220 rural acres to allow construction of a 800,000-square-foot Walmart complex. The warehouse may be expanded to more than 1 million square feet under roof in future years.
The Florida Department of Community Affairs, the state agency that implements growth-management laws and regulations, and must approve land-use changes, supported Putnam County’s decision.
Walmart proposes to build the facility to receive, stock and ship by truck food, paper goods and other merchandise to Walmart retail and Sam’s Club stores. The world’s largest company promised Putnam County civic and business leaders the $40 million center will bring about 450 to 600 high-wage jobs.
The project has been in the making for about five years. When it became public knowledge in late 2005, company officials said they hoped to have the facility in operation in 2009. Legal battles have delayed that goal.
To accommodate Walmart, the Putnam County Board of Commissioners had to change the land use of a 240-acre potato farm from Agriculture I to Industrial by amending Putnam’s state-mandated growth-management plan, often referred to as the comprehensive plan, or comp plan, for short.
Volusia County fought — and may continue to fight — the proposed amendment because of traffic-safety and environmental concerns. Based on traffic studies, Volusia officials estimate 800 to 900 freight-laden trucks would roll southward along U.S. 17 into Volusia County each day, seven days a week, compounding hazardous conditions along the two-lane rural highway between Crescent City and DeLeon Springs.
The Florida Department of Transportation has no plans — or money — to widen U.S. 17 in the immediate future. U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, whose district includes parts of Volusia and Putnam counties, and who is a ranking member of the House Transportation Committee, has told local leaders he may be able to secure some federal highway dollars to widen the road. The Congress may begin formulating a new multiyear surface-transportation bill next year.
In addition to the traffic issue, Volusia objected to the planned Walmart complex because of possible environmental concerns, including drainage problems and the effects of such an intensive urban facility on wildlife habitat straddling the Putnam-Volusia county line.
The Walmart complex also was opposed by a group of neighbors in the Clifton Road area south of Crescent City, where the center is to be built. The residents feared the Walmart facility would be out of character with their rural neighborhood, as trucks would come and go around the clock, and center operations may generate noise.
All these arguments may have another day in court, if the parties decide to appeal.
Putnam County Planning Director Lanny Harker said, as far as he knows, Walmart has not been deterred in its desire or intention to build the distribution center.
“We hope it’s still on. With the economy the way it is, we need the 450 to 600 jobs,” Harker told The Beacon.
Aside from any remaining legal hurdles, the Walmart project has “still a ways to go,” he added. Besides road improvements to accommodate large numbers of trucks into and out of the warehouse facility, water and sewer lines must be extended from Crescent City to the property.
The company will have to secure permits from the St. Johns River Water Management District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The property must be rezoned, probably to Industrial Planned Unit Development (IPUD). The Putnam County Board of Commissioners must also approve a site plan and issue a development order before the first shovelful of earth is turned.
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500 jobs will not do much for the economy in this area. I love our prestine environment without a Walmart Dist. Center changing our eco system forever!!!! Enough of that is going on everywhere, Jobs...ya right! Who wants to work for WM???????????????
When Volusia County approved all the new Wal-Marts, did they consider truck traffic and how these stores would be served? Move the new distribution center five miles, ten miles and even twenty miles further North, the same trucks will be still traveling on Highway 17.
The entire region needs stable economic growth. It is time for Volusia County to help, not hinder a project that will provide benefits to the entire tri-county area.
If the County of Volusia and the economic development department wasn't asleep at the wheel hob nobbing, fancy lunches. etc with the chamber,..... they just might have got that super center whse. in volusia county !
lower the tax burden on regular citizens, etc.
Now the best thing we can do is show the way in support business's in north volusia county, maybe a super center truck stop to give all these truckers a place to stay ?
maybe some diners, motels, etc.
oh wait, we dont want that in that part of volusia county !
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