Posted on 05/04/2009 11:12:18 AM PDT by Publius804
But the entire state of Virginia is historical grounds. It was the central site of action in the War of Northern Aggression and the American Revolution. If people don’t want the economic development and jobs that come with the Walmart, that’s one thing, but don’t use the fact that it is somewhere near a battlefield to argue against it.
Individuals have the right to pressure whomever they want to pressure. This applies to battlefield preservationists too. Its called the First Amendment.
And WalMart is likewise free to ignore them.
Some might argue that land was bought and paid for with the blood of men fighting for the same principles of individual liberty that you espouse.
I love Wal Mart too, but would not want to see one sitting over Gettysburg or Antietam. Here’s hoping they think better of this and do the right thing. Sadly all too many Americans just have no concept of the number of lives lost during our Civil War. (if they did the drive-by media would not have gotten away with their ginned-up freak-out over Iraq)
If it's just yelling and screaming then sure...but using the government to do it for you is not the same thing.
“Did you consider buying the land for yourselves and then doing as you pleased with it, or did you just bully the government to restrict someone else’s property rights?”
Try to ask yourself, “Do I want a 24 hour Walmart within a 1/2 mile of my home?” We didn’t.
It was not a matter of property rights. The land was zoned Residential. Walmart wanted it rezoned before purchasing to the level of Commercial that would allow 24 hour big box stores. The traffic alone would have made this area look and feel like the renowned area of Colonial Drive in Orlando. We compromised for the rezoning of the Property, which residents in my County have voting rights to Light Commercial. There is now a very nice restaurant with a bank and several pads still available for office/retail type buildings.
Yes, we would have bought it but could not raise 2.5 million dollars.
Try to hold back on accusing someone of bullying Property Rights. I’ll defend YOUR right till the day I die to maintain your Property Rights!
OK.. if you buy into a residential zone and Walmart comes in and wants to re-zone then I can buy that you have a right to fight that. No, I would not want one 1/2 mile away, but I love having one 5 miles away.
I can understand that the official battlefield frequently does not cover the entire area over which the battle occurred. There were likely a number of skirmishes that took place all around that we consider the Wilderness Battlefield. But, more often than not, the official reason for opposing a WalMart is little more than an excuse for forcing the land owners to not use their land as they wish.
I'm all for economic development and I'm certainly not against Walmart. But Walmart, as well as other big-box retailers, want it on the cheap. As an example, Walmart prefers to build on uninhabited land where there's no building to demolish, there's no trash or ruble to remove and there probably isn't any "environmental" remediation that needs to be done.
So, rather than building on property that already has exiting structure that is either out-dated or empty, Walmart prefers to build where it will be cheapest and fastest.
You have a point there. Walmart might win this one. Hey, if the community wants it fine.
I have one 4.5 miles down the road in one direction another 6.8 miles in the other. It will be up the the County and the residents. They probably want this and maybe Duval is sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.
Not if they are requesting a zoning variance and are turned down.
Walmart ended up building a much need Super Center in the small town of Deland just north of here. Hundreds of new jobs and all that.
Yes, 5 miles is close enough for me too. Great prices on ammo and fishing equipment!
The article doesn't mention that the land is zoned residential and Walmart is trying to change that. The zoning entity is certainly within their right not to grant the variance.
I'm just curious, if the land were being divided and sold off for single family dwellings, would Duvall be concerned with the battlefield?
I don’t know that you can find ANY area in Northern Virginia that didn’t have a ‘skirmish’.
I sure would, Gettysburg needs the jobs, and the revenue.
The pricipals of individual liberty exist as a gift from God, regardless the the blood we have shed squabbling over the details.
I too believe that battlefields are hallowed ground. I have been to the earth works in Richmond, VA and there is nothing there but earth mounds where there were huge battles. You Can’t even think to walk there...the feeling is so strong of the deaths of many. The idea of building anything on a site like that is absolutely abhorrent.
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