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our weeks after news broke that Walmart was planning a grocery-style Walmart Express store just outside Oriental’s town limits, the Oriental Town Board holds its first special meeting regarding the store. According to the statement from Town Hall, the Board will meet to “discuss the proposed Wal-Mart Express on the outskirts of Oriental and to consider any resolutions that any board member(s) may propose.” The meeting is set for 5:30p today.

From the building plans submitted by Walmart to the Pamlico County Building Inspector this week, the Walmart Express storefront that would face Highway 55 just a few hundred feet outside the Oriental town limits. The 12,000 square foot grocery store and gas station would be known as Walmart Store 7207. It would be a dozen miles from a 70,000 square foot Supercenter planned for Grantsboro, Store 7238

Four Thursdays ago, on August 22, the initial email from Oriental’s Town Hall stated, “The Town of Oriental will be welcoming a Wal Mart Express.”

That sentiment is echoed by those in the area who say they want Walmart’s reputed low prices and who say the grocery store and gas station are just traditional American competition for the other businesses in Oriental.

But as it has emerged, not all welcome Walmart to Oriental. Some area residents say Walmart would do to Oriental what it’s done to other communities — diminish local, independently-run businesses.

Town Hall has said this is the site for the Walmart Express – property on Hwy 55 a few hundred feet outside the town limits. There, Walmart would pay no property tax to Oriental, but the town would have to provide police protection. The land is currently owned by Chris Fulcher, the local businessman who recently obtained 13,000 square feet of riverfront and harborfront right of way land from the Town in a land swap with the current Town Board and whose roofless building stands at the end of Oriental’s harbor.

In recent weeks, the local opponents have been circulating a petition, writing to Walmart officials and calling on the Oriental Town Board to take a stand against the Walmart outside of town because of Walmart’s impact on businesses inside of town. Some have also suggested the Town stick to its water policy and not provide city water to Walmart unless the store were annexed in to the Town (where the zoning would not allow a store bigger than 8,000 square feet.)

Signs of things to come? The plans call for an 83 square foot sign — Oriental’s sign ordinance which sets a maximum size for signs would not apply because the Walmart Express that is planned would be several hundred feet from the Town limits.

A sign on the utility pole on the right of way in front of the Chris Fulcher property where Town Hall says Walmart plans to put a store. The sign is one of the miniature protest signs against the coming of a Walmart Express.

While the topic has been one of much discussion – pro and con – in town since the story first broke, there was no discussion by the Town Board at its regularly scheduled meeting on September 3. During the public comment portion of that meeting, half a dozen residents and business owners spoke against the opening of the Walmart store (no one spoke in favor.) But once that public comment period was over, not a word was uttered by the Board on the subject until two hours later. Then, as the meeting was drawing to a close, Commissioner Barb Venturi asked why it hadn’t been on the agenda.

Ruth Ireland, for 40 years the owner of Town-and-Country grocery store, speaking during the public comment period of the September 3 Town Board meeting. She said “any help the TOwn Board Can give us small businesses.. would be greatly appreciated.” The Board did not speak of the matter that night. For Ireland’s full comments, click here.

Now Walmart is the subject of a special meeting, four weeks after the news of the Walmart plans first broke, and two days after Walmart’s building plans arrived at the Pamlico County building inspector’s office. While opponents of the Walmart store say they want a directly worded resolution that says the Town does not welcome a Walmart store in its vicinity, it is unclear that they have the three votes necessary for that.

Oriental’s Town Board at the September 3 Town Board meeting at which Walmart was not discussed. From left, Michelle Bessette, Warren Johnson, Sherrill Styron, Mayor Bill Sage, Barbara Venturi, and Larry Summers.

Asking Commissioners, Mayor and Candidates Their Views

This week, TownDock.net emailed Town Board Commissioners and the Mayor three questions regarding the Walmart issue. Since the Walmart story evolves just a few months before Oriental’s municipal elections on November 6, those questions also have been asked of the candidates seeking seats on the Board and the Mayor’s seat. Three commissioners — Michelle Bessette, Larry Summers and Barbara Venturi are seeking re-election as is Mayor Bill Sage. Besides those incumbents, the other candidates are Lori Wagoner for Mayor, and, for seats on the Board, Ben Cox, Martha Gail Good, Bob Maxbauer, Charlie Overcash, Peter Ritchie, David White & Sandy Winfrey.

TownDock.net will be publishing the answers.

Posted Thursday September 19, 2013 by Melinda Penkava