Wal-Mart plan opposed

Pittston Dispatch // News

October 28

Exeter First offers witnesses who question plan to build store on Wyoming Avenue.

B. GARRET ROGAN Times Leader Correspondent

EXETER – In the third public hearing on the possible construction of a Wal-Mart in the borough, members of Exeter First called an expert witness whose testimony they hoped would undercut that of experts previously called by company attorney Neil Sklaroff.

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Denny Peters testifies before the Exeter Borough Council Tuesday night about the proposed zoning changes that would make it possible for Wal-Mart to be built along Wyoming Avenue.

Aimee Dilger/The Times Leader

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The group is opposed to the retail giant’s plans for a possible store on Wyoming Avenue.

Denny Peters, of the Berwick-based Peters Consultants Inc., reviewed the documents that propose the potential building site as well as the transcripts of the previous public hearings and said he was left with one lingering question: “Why do they want to put a Wal-Mart on Wyoming Avenue?”

The Wal-Mart opponents applauded when Peters detailed how he came to repeatedly ask that question when reviewing the relevant documents.

Peters has been an engineer since 1978 and has done zoning work for several counties and municipalities throughout the region. He also has worked for Wal-Mart on two separate occasions.

He helped to conduct the tests and design the zoning specifications that were used to ultimately plan a store in Hazleton as well as the Buckhorn Wal-Mart in Columbia County.

He said he determined that the property owner’s request to change the current zoning ordinance to accommodate the store would be “spot zoning.”

This occurs when one particular portion of a community is zoned differently than the surrounding neighborhoods in such a way that it does not necessarily benefit the surrounding neighborhoods, he said.

Peters said the developers are seeking to change a 15-acre parcel of land from a M2, a light industrial designation, to a B3, a commercial designation. There are no other B3 properties that come close to that size, he said.

Peters said spot zoning is a violation of the Pennsylvania Municipal Zoning Code and noted that local governments that allow spot zoning can be challenged by the public in court.

He also said he thought the proposed zoning change was not designed to benefit Exeter as a whole, but rather the economic interests of the individual property owners of that tract of land.

The proposed store would be built at a site on Route 11 at the southern end of the borough nearby other commercial buildings.

He also said he took issue with the testimony of experts in favor of the Wal-Mart who said that construction of the box store fits in with the borough’s stated objective of achieving the best possible use of its land and to improve the aesthetic qualities.

Also, Peters was joined by Tom Barnard of the Hicks Creek Watershed Association in questioning the quality of the traffic study done for the project.

Both said the traffic study figures were based on patterns observed in August 2007. There are concerns the study may not be accurate because it would not account for holiday traffic or school buses.

Barnard and Peters also brought up concerns that the traffic and parking lot construction could adversely affect pollution control measures for Hicks Creek.

The Exeter Borough Council will continue to weigh the concerns of residents, as well as the requests made by Wal-Mart.

According to Municipal Solicitor Peter Moses, the council will ultimately compile a list of 20 to 30 issues that they will require Wal-Mart to address in detail before any decision is made.

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27 Reader Comments

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Angela- lifetime Exeter resident said...

Come on already, the vacant land looks like a dump, it looked like a dump before! We need the jobs in this area!! What is wrong with you people? Everything is so desolate around here! Would you argue if it were another bar going up?

October 28, 2009 at 7:25 AM

TAX PAY'ER said...

A STORE OF THAT SIZE IS WAY TO BIG FOR A LITTLE TOWN LIKE EXETER AND STATE RT. 11 THAT PART OF RT.11 IS JUST TWO LANES ONE NORTH AND ONE SOUTH . NOT GOOD FOR THAT AMOUNT OF AUTOS

October 28, 2009 at 7:41 AM

David said...

This can't be true. Len Gally said the boro would get hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes, not $ 16,000. as was stated last night. They also said very full time jobs not 400 as Gally said on t.v. No wonder Exeter is always in legal trouble with him.

October 28, 2009 at 8:26 AM

Rob said...

Walmart's mantra: we will crush ANY small businesses in your town! Do our bidding or face our lawyers!

October 28, 2009 at 8:41 AM

robert brown said...

where at in exeter are they trying to do this i have not lived there in 15 years but i cannot think of where it would go and i don't think it would help exeter to have a wal-mart

October 28, 2009 at 8:56 AM

walt said...

a group of old farts trying to ruin it for everybody!some people don't like to travel and others simply can't!now you have this group wasting other peoples time and money;i bet some of these W-H-I-N-E-R-S will be the first ones in there!the store is coming,that's it!!!

October 28, 2009 at 8:59 AM

Diane said...

You go Exeter - stand your ground!

October 28, 2009 at 9:08 AM

Wayne said...

Remember when Edwardsville rejected Wegman's? Now they have Lowe's. Is Exeter holding out for something better??? Maybe West Pittston or Wyoming will have a place for Walmart and reap the benefits!!!

October 28, 2009 at 9:32 AM

Progress Now said...

Bring in Walmart, competition will benefit us consumers, and will bring in the needed tax dollars the town needs. A few whinny old residents will not stop progress. Remember Arena Now? Stop living in the past you few Exeter residents. This area needs the jobs and the taxes!

October 28, 2009 at 10:44 AM

GPS said...

To Robert Brown : The Wal-Mart would be located on the old Wyoming Homes trailer site, up and across the street from where Sabatini's pizza is located.

October 28, 2009 at 10:46 AM

Exeter Businessman said...

Please help stop these global elites from bankrupting our town with their minimum wage jobs, cheap quality plastic crappy products, as well as putting our small local family run shops out of business. Keep our resources local and not send them to China. Let's all take a stand against this economic cancer. Your children will thank you.

October 28, 2009 at 10:50 AM

Candycane said...

They're building a Walmart in Pittston Township. Are they trying to be like Starbucks with one on every street corner? Just how many Walmarts do we need around here?

October 28, 2009 at 11:14 AM

Don said...

As a former resident of West Wyoming, I think the people of Exeter that oppose the buildingo the Wal_Mart ar being selfish. It not onlu effects Exeter but all ofth West side. As an Employee o Wal-Mart Ikno that Wal-Mart will do what ever it takes to mk the store fit into te area I know the aea an it has been a blight for year ad here is a chnce to make somethingof the area, lt onlne create jobs forthe area not just Exeter. Wal Mart supports te community . 1st ward get your head on sight and look to te future not to the past.

October 28, 2009 at 11:28 AM

EDUCATED Exeter Resident said...

We have a super Walmart in Wilkes-Barre. Soon we will also have another Super Walmart in Pittston. I do not believe that we need yet another one. Two in a 25 mile raduis sounds like enough to me. Something looking like a "dump" doesn't mean put in a Walmart. Maybe have a community day or make it into a beautification project for local groups like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or one of the numerous school groups. It'll give people and children in the community something beneficial to do and be proud of. Having yet another Walmart isn't something to be proud of at all. Exeter was once a place that could boast of the mom and pop shops. This would just be a slap in the face to them.

October 28, 2009 at 11:31 AM

Amanda said...

You can bet that if this Wal-Mart is built it is because there were bribes involved, just like everywhere else in Luzerne County. Only an idiot would think a huge store like a Wal-Mart would be a good idea in that area.

October 28, 2009 at 11:34 AM

Kim said...

Bring a Walmart to the West Side! What about Kingston? We'll take it! Come on already.....

October 28, 2009 at 11:51 AM

ed said...

Good for Exeter. Walmart is an Evil Empire type of business. They think their this special company but pay garbage wages to the workers. Many lawsuits have been filed against walmart and they pay to keep them outside the news. Walmarts are a breeding ground for low life crooks and thieves. Walmart comes in, crime goes up.

October 28, 2009 at 12:20 PM

Corey said...

It's gonna happen whether we want it to or not... Like another Wal-Mart is really needed. One stop shopping is nice, but would be nicer if it was another store besides Wal-Mart

October 28, 2009 at 1:49 PM

Made in USA said...

Be careful what you wish 4 walmart lovers. They have singlehandledly destroyed more small businesses with descent paying jobs than any other corporation in existence. So you get a few more minimum wage jobs in the area to go with the big box filled with all kinds of garbage manufactured outside of the US. wow! what a deal for the neighborhood and teh economy in general! Here's a crazy idea..How about turning the vacant lot into a small business incubator of some sort and give the start-ups all the money and tax breaks you were going to give Walmart. Start patronizing your local small businesses if you really want to promote growth in the area. Wanna really Live Better? Shop elsewhere!

October 28, 2009 at 5:43 PM

Philip G. Pizano said...

No problem. I'll go to the one in Dupont when it is finished. Then go across the street and get some gas then maybe stop at one of the many places to eat in the area. That's all Exeter needs is something to stimulate the Local Economy. Maybe they need another Trailor Park there.

October 28, 2009 at 6:14 PM

darth valley said...

forget exeter build in DALLAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

October 28, 2009 at 8:29 PM

relic said...

robert brown they want to put the walmart where Wyoming Homes is/was. All mobile homes in the front section were removed a few years back. The back section, (over the railroad tracks ) are still there. Those are the people I feel sorry for, they will have tractor trailers coming and going at all hours. I for one would approve any store/company that paid a "living wage", not walmarts/targets etc. If you work there you need to have 2 to 3 jobs to make ends meet. And why do they want another store when there is one less than 5 miles away? KOZ zone?

October 29, 2009 at 8:26 AM

One who has the courage to speak up said...

The saddest comment here is Corey's -- "it's going to happen whether we want it or not." The people in our local govt. know that this apathetic attitude runs rampant in our population! Those who don't take the time to speak out (whether they're for or against an issue) DESERVE what they get!

October 29, 2009 at 11:13 AM

Bridget said...

Yes Angela, we need jobs, more skilled jobs not even more uneducated, low paying jobs. This area is losing so many of us younger college graduates because there's nothing here for us. I say build something that will create some decent jobs so we don't have to keep leaving the area in hordes to find a decent job. Walmart only causes more problems and doesn't solve any.

October 29, 2009 at 11:32 AM

Sick of big boxes said...

Building Walmarts in every town IS the equivalent of having coal breakers in every town. Same thing, just modern version. Big box stores are the new breaker eyesores. So how have we progressed from that fine coal baron era where only a few profit? Let's not kid ourselves into thinking this will be different. Want a WalMart? Look at the old Price Chopper property in Kingston! Build it there where the land is already paved over and waiting for a tenant.

October 30, 2009 at 1:22 AM

Marcy said...

Leave it to Exeter menatality. Aside from Pride and Keystone, what successful business would even consider Exeter as a market. We haven't had positive, dependable development in 30+ years. It may be a stepping stone job, but in this economy, it is a job. No little business is going to be put out of business that is not already struggling.

November 1, 2009 at 8:40 AM

No more service jobs said...

The key is "diversified industry". An article in this newspaper 11-1-09 states that is what keeps certain areas of the country ahead of downturns in the economy. In my opinion, Wal-Mart and other retail stores do not fit that picture. It's just more of the same and I don't think our lawmakers are helping our area to attract "diversified" employers. All we keep getting are more service jobs in retail and here-today-gone tomorrow restaurant chains. And silly people think that's wonderful for this area. Well if your standards are that low, then that's all we are ever going to get in this valley. Read the article. How about some better companies coming in than Wal-Mart?

November 1, 2009 at 8:25 PM