The possibility of a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Gastonia remains in the balance. The Gastonia Planning Commission was to discuss a rezoning request made by the retail giant during a meeting Thursday night. But the matter got postponed until January.
“Some of the planning commission members had conflicts, and there was some potential for them to have to leave the meeting early,” said Jason Thompson, Gastonia senior planner.
Planning board members and people in the audience were polled and the consensus was it would be best to postpone the discussion until the Jan. 9 meeting, Thompson said. Wal-Mart has expressed interest in building a grocery store on a 6.2-acre tract of land near the intersection of South New Hope Road and Redbud Drive.
The discount giant’s neighborhood markets offer mainly groceries in smaller spaces than the “superstores” associated with the Wal-Mart name. Last month, the company announced plans for a similar market in Kings Mountain. Gastonia’s could be the sixth such store in the state.
To move forward with the idea, Wal-Mart applied to change the zoning at South New Hope and Redbud from neighborhood commercial to highway commercial. The Planning Board will first review the request then make a recommendation to Gastonia City Council.
If Wal-Mart moves in, the business will tear down the Eastwood Village shopping center which is 41,117 square feet, and replace it with a 43,624 square foot grocery store. The existing shopping center used to house a Food Lion. It is now home to a Family Dollar, a Pizza Hut take-out and delivery only restaurant, Lovely Nails and Ashbrook Dry Cleaners, which would all have to relocate if the project gets the city’s OK.
A driveway from Redbud Drive would continue to provide secondary access to the shopping center. Wal-Mart is working with the state DOT on transportation improvements that would be made to a turn lane on Redbud. Based on 2010 traffic counts, 18,000 vehicles passed the shopping center each day on South New Hope Road, along with 15,000 vehicles passing by on Redbud Drive.
The grocery store would employ about 90 full- and part-time employees, according to a Wal-Mart spokesman.
You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.
The Gazette’s Facebook readers offered thoughts on whether the new store should set up shop in Gastonia.
Cons:
Kyle Walker: I can name six to seven Wal-Marts I can get to in 30 minutes or less. I believe that’s enough Wal-Marts.
Dawn Whitten Jenkins: Another Wal-Mart? For Pete's sake, why? Why would a second Wal-Mart, less than 10 minutes from the first, be necessary or desirable? No. Just no.
Lizzy Heffner: When's Gastonia getting an organic food store? I'd rather see a Trader Joes there than another Wal-Mart.
Brooke Taylor: Traffic here is already a nightmare. Stupid idea when there is already one 10 minutes down the road.
Pros:
Jake Doster: I think one would be great anywhere in Gastonia. Tired of the long lines from the super Wal-Marts. Would like to get a loaf of bread cheap without having to wait on someone buying a big screen TV.
James Mosley: They need to do something with that property anyway. A store that close to Ashbrook would provide great after school employment opportunities to the students there. I wish it were a locally owned business, but it will be nice to see that property spruced up a bit.
Candace Sims Brown: I would much rather see a Harris Teeter or even an Ingle’s in our area, but job creation with any business is needed in the county and should be welcomed.
Falon Nichole: I’m all for this. Would love to have a Wal-Mart closer and one (where) I didn't have to fight getting into the door or wait in obnoxiously long lines.