NBC29The Battle Over Orange County Wal-Mart

The Battle Over Orange County Wal-Mart

A controversial Wal-Mart proposed for Orange County came under fire Thursday night. The idea of the big box store drew hundreds out for a public hearing. More than 70 of them spoke at the public hearing.

People aren't fighting over if a Wal-mart should come to Orange County, but rather how close the store will be to the Wilderness Battlefield.

Planning commissioners are mulling over whether to give a developer a special use permit so that Walmart can build a 138,000 square foot store on Route 3 near Route 20.

Those opposed to the big box store say it doesn't belong across the street from a historic battlefield. "Once something is built in our environment it doesn't get taken away. This is our one chance to protect what we need to protect," said meeting attendee Brenda Schumacher.

Others say the county is in need of an economic boom. "It would help expand the tax base considerably and would help the purchasing power of a county that is struggling in many ways economically," said Kurt Christensen, who attended the meeting.

Walmart says the store will create 300 jobs and bring in half a million dollars in taxes to the county.

The chairman of the planning commission says he doesn't expect a vote Thursday night. In the end, the Orange County Board of supervisors will make the decision.