The newly opened

Wal-Mart Supercenter off Ga. Highway 54 West in Peachtree City is by far

the largest retail building in the city.

But Mayor Steve

Brown, who battled the previous City Council when he was a private citizen

about Wal-Mart's plans to build here, clarified Wednesday that he holds

no ill will towards Wal-Mart officials.

"We discussed

my concerns and they have done their very best to address each issue that

I presented to them," Brown said in a press release issued Wednesday.

"Wal-Mart has already begun to make some civic donations to the school

system and the city for which we are very grateful. I am looking forward

to continued good relations."

As a citizen,

Brown fought against Wal-Mart, as did others, worried about increased

traffic in the area, increased crime and the potential damage to local

small businesses.

But the City

Council approved the site plan for Wal-Mart against the wishes of the

planning commission on a 3-2 vote. Brown still contends council acted

inappropriately since the state Department of Transportation didn't approve

the company's traffic mitigation plan.

But at that

November 2000 meeting, several council members cited the opinion of the

city's traffic consultant that the new traffic mitigation plan would allow

the Wal-Mart store to meet the city's traffic ordinance.

"Three

of the members of the City Council were insistent upon voting the same

night the material had been presented without allowing ample time to review

all the documentation and verify the claims made," Brown said in

the press release.

But that's

all in the past and Wal-Mart is here, Brown noted.

"I truly

appreciate Wal-Mart's attempts at addressing my concerns and their desire

to be a good corporate neighbor," Brown said. "I can assure

you that we will both be working diligently on building a good relationship

because there is a great deal at stake."

Back

to News Home Page | Back

to the top of the page