Montgomery Council Tables Ban on Grocery Stores
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Montgomery City Councilmen vote to table an ordinance that would put a moratorium on grocery stores. This, in response to plans for a neighborhood Wal-mart in East Montgomery.
It wasn’t the vote some East Montgomery residents were hoping for.
An ordinance to put a moratorium on grocery stores over 20 thousand square feet was tabled. Councilman Glen Pruitt, who sponsored the ordinance, says he had no choice.
“I don’t have the votes. Plain and simple I was told I don’t have the votes. I counted my numbers, I didn’t have the votes.”
But Pruitt asked the council to set up an ad-hoc committee to address concerns about traffic and safety.
“The Mayor is going to be there,” he said. “Robert Smith, Bubba Bowden to talk about the traffic site plan. Bubba’s going to talk about the traffic engineering, or the study for the traffic engineering and what improvements we can make. You can’t tell me Wal-Mart on Ann Street spent a million dollars on road improvements and this Wal-Mart has spent zero dollars.”
Some residents say they look forward to meeting with city leaders about the issues.
“At least it’s a pause in order to see what needs to be done to get this correct the first time,” says business owner Donnie Sasser.
“I just hope that they pay attention to the neighborhoods and whatever they do, they will give them thought because we’re the ones who live here and pay the taxes,” said Linda Burnett, President of the Halcyon South Neighborhood Association.
Others, like Sturbridge resident Barbara Reed, tell us they don’t believe the committee will actually do anything about those concerns.
“I feel like they just appeased everybody because their minds were already made up. This development is going in. The thing that’s so upsetting to me is that it’s definitely a traffic issue, it’s a safety issue.”
Dennis Charlesworth of Deer Creek says residents will now have to turn to a grassroots approach and boycott the neighborhood Wal-Mart.
“At this point, the citizens are going to have to get together and decide it’s not something that’s needed, wanted, and we won’t shop there.”
The ad-hoc committee, which includes Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, will hold a meeting on April 20th.
The public is invited to come voice concerns about the new Wal-Mart.
