Large crowd turns out at Walmart hearing

Wednesday, January 9. 2013

As indicated by the large turnout on Tuesday evening, residents in the area around the proposed Walmart in Jefferson were eager to hear what representatives from Wolverton & Associates had to say about the project. Approximately 200 people turned out at the Jefferson Civic Center to hear about the project and to ask questions. The primary question from most of the people who spoke dealt with the traffic along Old Pendergrass Road and its impact on the schools in the area.
One of the key concerns with the project is that both the entrance and exist would be off of Old Pendergrass Road. The site would not have direct access off of the Hwy. 129 Bypass. Todd DeVos, traffic engineer, said the state DOT won’t allow access off of the Damon Gause Bypass.
The next step is for the request to go to the Jefferson-Talmo Planning Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. at the civic center. The planning commission will make a recommendation on the request and this will be sent to the Jefferson City Council for discussion at the work session meeting on Feb. 11 and the council will vote on the request at the meeting on Feb. 25. Both of the city council meetings will be at 6 p.m. at the civic center.
Input will be allowed at the planning commission meeting and the council work session, but not at the council meeting on Feb. 25.
For the full story, see the Jan. 9 issue of The Jackson Herald.

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#1 Andy Crawford on 01/09/13 at 02:57 PM [Reply]

This article omits the central message from the citizens who attended the meeting. The vast majority expressed that the Hog Mountain Road location near I-85 is preferable. The lot is an adequate size for the store's needs, and wouldn't raise the traffic, crime, and pollution concerns that residents around the Old Pendergrass location expressed. Wal-Mart representatives did not give a reasonable answer to why they did not choose the Hog Mountain Road location except that they want to be closer to their customers. Will moving the store a couple miles north really hurt Wal-Mart's business when Jefferson resident already drive to Winder, Commerce, or Hamilton Mill now? I think not.

#2 James Evers on 01/09/13 at 05:56 PM [Reply]

What I fail to understand is what the real tax benefits will be. Will the Jefferson School System get all of the sales tax revenue from this facility? If the Walmart is in Jackson County, but outside the city limits of Jefferson, will that change what amount of money goes to the Jefferson System vs the County School System? How is the Splost money divided?

Also do the people of Jackson County/Jefferson want to lose the tax revenue to a surrounding County?

#3 crystal condon on 01/09/13 at 07:53 PM [Reply]

We need to all attend the meeting next tuesday on the 15th to voice our concerns to the planning committee. That location will cause traffic problems on Old Pendergrass Road at all times of the day. There is no reason for a walmart to be put on a two lane road half a mile from 4 schools, the safety of our children is at stake. The rise in crime, traffic, and pollution will decrease the value of homes around that area and again decrease the safety of our schools. We bought in Jefferson two years ago because of the wonderful school system and the small town charm. We moved from gwinnett to get away from the traffic and crime. There is no reason that Walmart cannot be put by I85, that is only 3 miles from the proposed location but will not effect our schools and neighborhoods and we will receive the tax dollars from it and I believe more tax dollars because you have the interstate traffic as well. If you look at the comprehensive plan for Jefferson it plainly states that the big box stores should be kept by the interstate to keep the charm of jefferson the same. It also states that they want to continue to control traffic problems and always hope to improve in this. I am sorry but putting a walmart on a 2 lane road with one way in and one way out half a mile from our childrens schools is not improving traffic or quality of life for the citizens of jefferson. I am putting my faith in the Jefferson City Council to vote against this location on behalf of all the residents effected by this decision.

#3.1 Jack Martin on 01/10/13 at 09:07 PM [Reply]

Is the location at Hog Mountain Road at I-85 available? If it is that would be a much better and more profitable location for a Walmart. The area at the intersection of Damon Gauze and Old Pendergrass Road is congested now. It will be a nightmare to shop at any of the available stores in the area some people would wind up driving to another Wal-Mart because of the congestion.

Even Kroger would lose customers because of the congestion. Who will benefit if put in this area? What does Wal-Mart gain? Is someone pushing this agenda? Why? The citizens need to stand firm against Wal-Mart locating in the Old Pendergrass Road location. Wal-Mart can choose another location or take their business somewhere else. Would love them to locate in the area but not in the chosen location.

#4 Trying to Understand on 01/09/13 at 09:44 PM [Reply]

I hear you about the traffic concerns regarding the schools. What I still don't understand are all of the residents who bought homes at this intersection acting like they are shocked this is happening, and now complaining about it.

If you buy a home at that intersection (Preserve, Fountainhead, Jefferson Walk, Jefferson Place, etc.) on a major highway with large pieces of undeveloped land on it, what did you think was going to happen? That the land owners would sit on that land, keep it empty, and pay taxes on it for the rest of time out of the goodness of their hearts? My only shock is that this didn't happen when the bypass was first put in.

I would prefer the store to be at I-85 like many others. I think Wal-Mart would benefit more from that as well. But, if this is the only choice, I say let them build it. We will adapt to the traffic, like everyone else does when there is growth. I am tired of driving to Athens, Commerce, Winder, or Hamilton Mill every time I need something.

#4.1 Please say no to Walmart! on 01/11/13 at 12:23 PM [Reply]

For those that "bought land close to that intersection", it was bought with the understanding that their was a comprehensive plan already in place. According to that comprehensive plan, Walmart doesn't fit the bill for that particular piece of land.

#4.2 Jefferson Homeowner on 01/12/13 at 03:31 PM [Reply]

If you wanted to live near a store of this type then you should have purchased a home near one. I have lived in Jefferson since before the by-pass was constructed and I do not want to live in close proximity to this type of store.

#5 tax,tax,tax on 01/10/13 at 10:47 AM [Reply]

"putting my faith in the Jefferson City Council" ?? obviously, you are not familiar with this council. they will ignore residents and vote for this project. too much pressure from Walmart. lawsuit will follow if they turn it down. tree hugging, granola eaters managed to beat them back in Athens, but that was a one a million scenario.

#5.1 Countryboy on 01/10/13 at 03:30 PM [Reply]

If its not placed in Jefferson I think it should be placed in Jackson County not on the Commerce side of the county because you already have one down that way even though it is in Banks County, the sites over around Quicktrip area would be great not to much traffic there except on weekends when the flea market is open, I think this area needs a Walmart due to the fact that it is a long drive to any of the local walmarts now, I mean yeah you have them in Gainesville, Oakwood, Commerce Winder, etc, but to some people on the North and West sides and even in the middle of the county this is a long drive to some folks.... A local walmart would be good and is a long time coming!!! Traffic would not be an worse than it already is on Hwy 129, it might cause some of the local stores now to loose some of there business but I think they could still live.... I hope the council agrees to Walmart coming into the county and if Jefferson residents dotn want it then I hope they will look somewhere on the North side of the county.... Some of you that dont want it do not want change at all and that is one thing that is wrong with this county!!!

#6 Right Thing! on 01/10/13 at 08:01 PM [Reply]

I Think it would be beneficial to the jefferson public... As the Walmarts ar So far Displaced from this Area.

#6.1 Double B on 01/10/13 at 08:48 PM [Reply]

Here is the problem ok Walmart pays 50 people $9 an hour for 28hrs per week that is $13,104.00 per year say 50% of them have 2-3 kids they well qualify for food stamps and medicaid in this state that is 600 a month in food and around $300 a month in medical that is $10900.00 for free then don't forget they can also get rent assistance of up to $700 per month that is $8400.00 so for an estimated half of Walmarts Employees your losing $19,300.00 per year so that means walmart will probably cost the area $482,500.00 per year.

#7 Double B on 01/11/13 at 04:25 AM [Reply]

You people who talk about Walmart have NO IDEA about what Walmart pays their employees. You have no idea about anything that goes on to run a store. You also have no idea what Walmart does for the communities that they are in. If Walmart is so bad then I am sure that the Jefferson Officials will not allow it here. In Fact Maybe Walmart should think twice about even coming here. Just let you guys keep paying all those high prices at Bell's, Kroger and Tabo's.

#7.1 Double B on 01/11/13 at 08:17 AM [Reply]

Here are the real facts http://makingchangeatwalmart.org/factsheet/ Walmart Costs the United states 1.9 billion dollars per year.

#8 Think about it on 01/11/13 at 08:19 AM [Reply]

The amount of sales tax that would stay local not going out of the county is enough to do this project.

Add in the jobs and residual traffic a wal mart brings in. If Jefferson walks away from it and your tax's go up in the next two years...don't start whining about it.

The people citing traffic and I-85 are the same ones that said Kroger wouldn't work ... awful terrible thing yet it stays packed over there.(because they use it )

It's past time for this and if Jefferson walks away then someone else will take that 1 million plus in LOST tax and run with it.

Do the project

#9 Double B on 01/11/13 at 08:13 PM [Reply]

It amazes me to see the same people that hate Obama Care and hand out programs will stand up and support stores that could not operate without government programs. When you support stores like Wal-mart that cost the state and town money you are doing the same thing the government is doing and deserve what you get in the future. This so called 1 million a year tax you would get from Wal-mart after what their employees will get back from the state and local government the Managers at Walmart laugh at how stupid the sheep are. All you can see if the numbers they show you and do no research of your own to see what you lose.

#10 Concerned on 01/12/13 at 06:43 AM [Reply]

I for one am in favor of our own local Walmart. We go shopping at Walmart at least once a week and I'm so tired of going to Commerce or Epps Bridge Parkway to shop. The traffic couldn't be any worse here than what I have to go thru now to shop at Walmart. Hopefully it will bring in resturants such as Longhorn,Red Lobster,etc. I could save a ton on gasoline and shop locally.

#11 karma's a b---- on 01/14/13 at 01:50 PM [Reply]

walmart and jackson county.........

a marriage made in h... well it's not heaven if you thinking. it's the other one.

jackson county has the highest concentration of highly qualified walmart workers than any other place in the nation.....

if it goes through, invest in BAD and BUSTED and then sit back and collect....

#11.1 oh really? on 01/15/13 at 06:24 PM [Reply]

So are you saying Jackson County has no crime now because there is not a Wal-Mart here?? Invest in a Jackson Herald and read the crime pages. Then sit back and collect...

#11.1.1 karma's a b---- on 01/16/13 at 10:04 AM [Reply]

walmart brings more or additional crime.

think before you type

#12 Michael on 01/15/13 at 01:02 PM [Reply]

A Walmart or any "Big Box" store at that location is a TERRIBLE idea with or without access to Hwy 129.

#13 Concerned on 01/15/13 at 07:33 PM [Reply]

to Double B, you can apply those stats to almost any large retail chain, not just Walmart. all pay not so well and limit hours to part time so to dodge the benefits package.
That's the way of giant retailers, cause benfits are so costly to them. it's not right but it took this turn about 10 years ago.;

#13.1 Double B on 01/15/13 at 08:45 PM [Reply]

Concerned I agree it is a lot of big box store but not all. Costco has one of the highest hourly wages of any of the starting at $11 and hour. I don't think a store should pay a lot of money because it is what it is, but if they are going to pay low there should be some benefits that will keep the employee off the taxpayers dole. It seems that if a company has over 50 employees and over 40 percent are on some type of government aid maybe the company should adjust or be fined so we can recoup our money. We as a country need Jobs just not jobs that put people right back on the government dole.

#14 E.W. on 01/16/13 at 05:40 AM [Reply]

Really....I'm sick of Jefferson sticking their nose in the air at anything they feel is beneath them. So it may cause some more traffic..bless y'alls little hearts..let me guess all the little mommies, dressed in their yoga pants, or tennis skirts can't walk around with their starbucks while they shop, trying to look "important". Sheesh, this is the most self-rightous town I have ever had the misfortune of living in. Please prove my point by some pompus butt commenting about moving.
Do i like wal-mart...NO...does this area need a better store than Kroger or oh my goodness Dollar General..YES...the people that Wal-mart would employee are probably already receiving food-stamps, so let them earn income and cut some of that food-stamp cost down. Bring the tax revenue to this town. Or just keep the heck out of us homeowners, and the school begging for more money everytime my kids walk in the door.

#15 Is everyone aware... on 01/16/13 at 02:13 PM [Reply]

.... Is everyone aware that Walmart has asked for 60 days to take
another look at their site and traffic plan?
So it's on hold right now at their request.

#16 Mark Bryan on 02/05/13 at 08:00 PM [Reply]

My family has been around here for years. We need Wal-mart and we need it bad. We don't want to end up like Commerce and be in such a financial mess like they are. So we need the extra sales tax revenue to keep our school system strong.

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Large crowd turns out at Walmart hearing

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