Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church on Whitfield Road was the site of a community meeting Monday, September 15 hosted by Clarksville City Councilwoman Kaye Jones for the public to meet with developers of a proposed Walmart Neighborhood Market on Whitfield Road.
Richard Hopgood, an attorney representing Walmart opened the meeting by describing the plans for the area at the corner of Whitfield Road and the 101st Airborne Division Parkway. “It’s a small grocery store. it’s not a mini-Walmart. It’s groceries, a pharmacy with health and beauty aids and a fueling station out front,” said Hopgood.
Many of the close to 100 local residents attending the meeting were opposed to the plan with most of the comments centering on the problem of traffic in the area. One of the main concerns was the fear of increased congestion from future shoppers traveling around nearby Glenellen Elementary School.
One local resident not in favor of the project was Amber Vanorden. “What many people said tonight is we are not opposed to Walmart. We’re opposed to the location. It’s just going to ruin traffic that’s already congested. We don’t mind business coming into Clarksville, we just don’t think it’s a good location,” Vanorden said.
Brandon Knox was one of those attending the meeting who was in favor of the plan. “I’m in support of it. I think it’s a good idea to have a local grocery store and pharmacy that people can go to within walking distance of the six or seven neighborhoods in this area,” said Knox.
The proposed zoning change for the project was approved by the Regional Planning Commission and passed the Clarksville City Council on first reading September 4. It will be up for a vote on second reading at the October 2 City Council meeting.