Walmart now can supersize its store after the La Plata Town Council approved an annexation Tuesday for land south of Rosewick Road on a 3-2 vote in order for developers to build a Walmart Supercenter in the town.
Council members Wayne Winkler and Joseph Norris, voted for the annexation; council members Keith Back and Paddy Mudd voted against the annexation.
Mayor Roy Hale cast the deciding vote, giving a short explanation of his rationale before revealing his vote.
“I know a lot of people are not happy about this decision,” as many wish to keep La Plata’s small-town feel, Hale said.
“No matter how hard we fight it, growth is inevitable,” he said. “This is a favorable area of the state, and if we don’t plan for the future, it would grow apart from the town.”
“Even looking back 10 years ago, there have been significant changes … the town should benefit from this growth,” Hale said.
The decision brings 14.11 acres into the town of La Plata, including 10 acres that makes up the former Mitchell Supply site and 4.11 acres of U.S. 301 right of way that belongs to the state.
As part of the annexation agreement, 18 acres from the annexation that led to Rosewick Crossing will combine with 10 acres of the current annexation to create one parcel, where Faison Capital Development of Charlotte, N.C., plans to build a 181,500-square-foot Walmart Supercenter with more grocery options, 50,000 square feet of office space, a bank and an existing Enterprise car rental business. Johel Limited Partnership currently owns the 10-acre site.
In an earlier interview, a Walmart spokesman said the cost to construct the Walmart Supercenter is approximately $10 Walmart now can supersize its store after the La Plata Town Council approved an annexation Tuesday for land south of Rosewick Road on a 3-2 vote in order for developers to build a Walmart Supercenter in the town.
Council members Wayne Winkler and Joseph Norris, voted for the annexation; council members Keith Back and Paddy Mudd voted against the annexation.
Mayor Roy Hale cast the deciding vote, giving a short explanation of his rationale before revealing his vote.
“I know a lot of people are not happy about this decision,” as many wish to keep La Plata’s small-town feel, Hale said.
“No matter how hard we fight it, growth is inevitable,” he said. “This is a favorable area of the state, and if we don’t plan for the future, it would grow apart from the town.”
“Even looking back 10 years ago, there have been significant changes … the town should benefit from this growth,” Hale said.
The decision brings 14.11 acres into the town of La Plata, including 10 acres that makes up the former Mitchell Supply site and 4.11 acres of U.S. 301 right of way that belongs to the state.
As part of the annexation agreement, 18 acres from the annexation that led to Rosewick Crossing will combine with 10 acres of the current annexation to create one parcel, where Faison Capital Development of Charlotte, N.C., plans to build a 181,500-square-foot Walmart Supercenter with more grocery options, 50,000 square feet of office space, a bank and an existing Enterprise car rental business. Johel Limited Partnership currently owns the 10-acre site.
In an earlier interview, a Walmart spokesman said the cost to construct the Walmart Supercenter is approximately $10 Walmart now can supersize its store after the La Plata Town Council approved an annexation Tuesday for land south of Rosewick Road on a 3-2 vote in order for developers to build a Walmart Supercenter in the town.
Council members Wayne Winkler and Joseph Norris, voted for the annexation; council members Keith Back and Paddy Mudd voted against the annexation.
Mayor Roy Hale cast the deciding vote, giving a short explanation of his rationale before revealing his vote.
“I know a lot of people are not happy about this decision,” as many wish to keep La Plata’s small-town feel, Hale said.
“No matter how hard we fight it, growth is inevitable,” he said. “This is a favorable area of the state, and if we don’t plan for the future, it would grow apart from the town.”
“Even looking back 10 years ago, there have been significant changes … the town should benefit from this growth,” Hale said.
The decision brings 14.11 acres into the town of La Plata, including 10 acres that makes up the former Mitchell Supply site and 4.11 acres of U.S. 301 right of way that belongs to the state.
As part of the annexation agreement, 18 acres from the annexation that led to Rosewick Crossing will combine with 10 acres of the current annexation to create one parcel, where Faison Capital Development of Charlotte, N.C., plans to build a 181,500-square-foot Walmart Supercenter with more grocery options, 50,000 square feet of office space, a bank and an existing Enterprise car rental business. Johel Limited Partnership currently owns the 10-acre site.
In an earlier interview, a Walmart spokesman said the cost to construct the Walmart Supercenter is approximately $10 million and site work is estimated to cost $7 million.
Steve Scott of Scott Law Group in La Plata, who represents Faison, said the petitioners are pleased with the decision.
“We believe this is a very positive event for the town — both citizens and the business community,” Scott said.
Over the course of three public hearings, supporters cited additional tax revenue, jobs, opportunities for “one-stop” shopping and commercial activity near the site as reasons to support the annexation.
Opponents cited the impact of a vacant Walmart building on small businesses, the impact on competing grocery stores, a potential loss of jobs, traffic and the loss of La Plata’s small-town character.
Hale specifically addressed concerns about the impact of a vacant Walmart building.
Under the annexation agreement, the existing Walmart business will move into the Walmart Supercenter building while Faison works to fill the Walmart building on Drury Drive.
Faison will set up a $500,000 letter of credit that functions as an incentive for Faison to fill the 140,000-square-foot Walmart building.
If businesses do not occupy at least one-half of the building within a year of the supercenter opening, $250,000 will go to the town. If another year passes without at least 50 percent occupancy, the other $250,000 will go to the town.
Currently, Faison has a letter of intent from Kohl’s department store to build a 58,000-square-foot store in the current Walmart building.
Faison also has received letters of interest from Marshalls and Nick’s of Clinton.
Back did not see the “dark store” provision in the same way Hale did.
“I didn’t think there was a substantive change between the previous [annexation agreement] and this one,” Back said. “My concerns are the same as before the vacant store and the impact on small businesses.”
Back said the letters of interest and intent do not represent a “firm commitment” to build those businesses in the existing Walmart building, as they are “not firm contracts.”
“Many small businesses moved there for Walmart. Now, Walmart is moving,” Back said.
Winkler said, “I don’t think the new shopping center will put anyone out of business.”
Winkler said that the fact that Excel Trust, the owners of shopping center Rosewick Crossing that lies just north of the annexation site, supported the annexation also influenced his decision.
Winkler repeated Hale’s call that La Plata needs to plan for the future.
“I believe more people favored than opposed the annexation. We’d be remiss if we did not point that out,” Norris said.
Mudd disagreed.
“Most of the town residents are in opposition to the annexation,” she said.
Mudd cited an empty Walmart building and the impact on small businesses as additional reasons for her vote in opposition.
“I think [the town’s residents] should have a say in this decision. I think there should be a referendum,” she said.
Opponents are looking to bring the annexation to registered voters in the town. La Plata resident James Jarboe and a group of residents and business owners said they would begin compiling signatures this week.
“I would like to congratulate Paddy Mudd and Keith Back for paying attention to the type of growth the people of La Plata want,” Jarboe said. “We feel that an overwhelming majority of people will vote down this annexation.”
Jarboe said that those who wish to participate in the petition should correspond with him.
La Plata resident Michael Runfola spoke neither for or against the annexation, but stressed that major decisions such as annexations should not rest with the council but should be put to a vote for the town’s people.
“Let the people of the town decide,” Runfola said.
Parties petitioning for referendum have 45 days from the approval date to petition a referendum on an annexation vote, according to the Code of Maryland Regulations.
Those who wish to petition a referendum must compile signatures from at least 20 percent of registered voters in the town, or have at least two-thirds of the county commissioners petition a referendum, according to Maryland rules.
According to the Charles County Board of Elections, there are 5,314 active registered voters in the town of La Plata, meaning that petitioners would need to get signatures from at least 1,063 active registered voters in the town.
If the signatures or county petition are verified, the resolution of the annexation is suspended pending the referendum’s results.
Then, referendum petitioners must have a notice of the referendum published in a local newspaper twice, at least one week apart. From there, a referendum can happen from 15 to 90 days after the publication notices.
If the referendum approves the annexation, then the annexation becomes effective two weeks after the referendum date.
If the referendum votes down the annexation, then the annexation is voided at that time.
If 45 days pass without a submitted referendum request, then the annexation becomes effective. In this case, the effective date would be Nov. 11
“There is language included in the annexation agreement that if there is a referendum, the costs are borne by the petitioners, not the town,” Town Manager Daniel Mears said.
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