But will he do anything about it?

Honestly I prefer it at the new location because it is a PIA trying to get to the Abingdon location. I live in the Darlington area and hate the drive. The Fallston store is also hard to get to because of being on Rt 1.

How is the Fallston store hard to get to, it has a light at it's entrance. Easy peasy grandma!

So we are against the idea of successful buisnesses growing and expanding?

Dear Republican supporters,

Next time you complain about Obama and the Dems not doing enough to reduce the unemployment rate, think back to Mr. Craig (Republican) attempting to thwart the Walmart expansion and the numerous jobs it would create.
Oh, and don't move to Harford County and complain about all the people moving there.

http://www.dotca.com

I shop at Target and almost never go to Walmart - they seem to bring such riff raff.

The possible good thing about Wal Mart moving to Bel Air is that they would pay for the roads to be widened and such, probably making the traffic flow better. That's something a lot of small businesses on the same land cannot afford to do.

So, I've been following these Bel-Air Walmart discussions for a few months now...

As far as the common complaints most often heard regarding "Walmart", i.e.:

1) "stereotyping/labeling" of clientele shopping at walmart
2) increased crime
3) decreasing property value
4) degradation of quality of life, etc etc...

I think we can all at least agree these are more "perceptions", and not real certainties related to the integration of a new Walmart into a community?

Discussions like this, and especially as we observed at the local meeting at Patterson Mill, tend to be overrun by people's "emotions" (which of course can get the best of us all!), rather than good solid facts.

If we want to fight or make a case against this at all, it needs to be driven more by facts and/or real concerns,versus here-say or "Walmart fears" that you can easily find all over the net.....

Fallston just had their Walmart built recently, what do local residents say about this?

1) Has there been an influx of shady or low-lifes in the area?
2) Has crime itself gone up in the area?
3) Has traffic been seriously impacted? (although probably not apples to apples with our case in Bel-Air, because Fallston Walmart is in a more industrial area, off of Rt. 1)

4) Do local residents feel their quality of life has been impacted?
5) Any local businesses been closing up, or having trouble, etc etc?

Unfortunately, it seems only good facts will make a difference at this point. We need more than just emotions to send to the local Bel Air council, we need facts and/or data..... I'm sure Walmart will do what suits "them" best when doing that traffic study, if they did not already complete it?

A fully independent traffic study would be a good first step, to show the real volume/congestion already in Bel Air. I've lived here for 2 years, coming from PA, and I must say, we do have serious congestion issues, especially during morning/evening rush, and on weekends!

As far as my personal opinion, I don't like Walmart whatsoever, I will never shop there. I dislike their business model, practices, etc. But these are my personal opinions.

This Plumtree road plot, seems like an absolute traffic disaster as it currently stands. Rt. 924 is so overloaded already during peak hours, and so are many of the cross-streets to Rt. 24.

I would love to "believe" that Walmart will pay to expand the roads, but what is the true reality? Walmart is all about minimizing costs, maximize profits... If there is no main entrance to this store via Rt. 24, then Rt. 924 will pay the price, I can't even imagine how that will look on weekends, or busy shopping times?

Is it election year for County executive?????

It isn't creating jobs!!! They are moving the employees from the abingdon store to the proposed new one. It's a stupid move that isn't necessary. A smaller business that doesn't exist around here would be better.... Go to fallston if you like Wal-Mart that much!!!

County Executive David Craig said "Walmart can, by right under the law, develop this property." He's an executive and along with the City Council they can go in and rewrite the law to specifically exclude Walmart, if they really wanted to. Craig is just posturing to make it look like he's on the voters side of this issue

"While Walmart can, by right under the law, develop this property, I stand with our citizens and urge Walmart to reconsider plans to relocate from Abingdon to Bel Air."

Sounds to me like he is siding with the citizens and votes "No" to the relocation.

NoWalmart...I totally agree with you. Craig is just being political or on the fence.

I've thought about this some more. I think they should leave Wal-Mart right where it is.
Target has food in it, at that location. Is Wal-Mart that greedy that they can't wait and make changes later. It already has milk, bread, eggs, cereals. Maybe they should make a milk, bread, eggs stand up closer to the door. Wait a minute, might as well add toilet paper to that list.

Botttom line...........Bel Air doesn't want the Walmart......nuff said.

All Craig is doing is being a politician, pandering to the anti-Walmarters by appearing to be on their side, but isn't his name signed on the zoning change approving it? Didn't the County Council approve it? The zoning is in place, the Walmart is coming, complain all you want. No laws are being broken, unless the County tries to "exclude" Walmart like some are saying. The landowner has the right to sell his land to the highest bidder & the bidder purchasing the land, as long as the property has the proper zoning, can build what they want as long as it is in compliance with the zoning. As I believe I saw on early stories or in the Aegis, I cannot recall, but there was a post or letter from someone of the Friends of Harford (FOH), talking about when the zoning was changed they were the only ones to stand up & raise an issue, none of the 800+ anti-Walmarters who were @ Patterson Mill a few weeks ago were there. None of the now "outraged" politicians, who approved the zoning change then raised an issue, they were for it. Now, Mr. Craig, who aspires to higher office outside of Harford County, & gave away county taxpayer money earlier this year to prove it, now "Stands with the Citizens of Harford County." You cannot make this stuff up. The store will be built & I am sure when it is it will exceed the sales projections Walmart expects to see. The fact is the zoning is in place, the store will be built, it is too late to stop, & nothing can be done to stop it. Scream all you want.

Those addressing the current zoning status are correct. Even if Walmart decides against moving to the Plumtrre location, there will most certainly be a different retailer who will happily take advantage of this prime location. It's a shame the community is now finding itself in such a frustrating position. The lesson for us all is to become more aware and involved in our community so our voices are heard when it matters most.

it was a great match
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Yep, I agree, we are somewhat screwed, as far as the zoning goes, the plot is essentially up for grabs.....

I would love to see "their" traffic study results, and compare with an independent traffic study.....

It does scare me a bit thinking about all of the "could happen" scenarios if this Walmart does end up here, and it is a 24-hr super-center.... I do hope many of those things are more fears than they are facts...

I know the Fallston Walmart is in more of a business setting, whereas this would be smacked right around dozens of neighborhoods...

I had heard that this plot, and many other much larger plots around Bel-Air are still owned by this same owner? Anyone know anything about this?

I would like to pay more attention to other vacant lots around, so we can be more pro-active looking ahead, so this doesn't happen again...

David Craig will be rewarded abundantly with votes if he does all in his power and keeps Walmart in their present location. It does not fit in the Bel Air South Community.

David Craig will be rewarded abundantly with votes if he does all in his power and keeps Walmart at their present location. It does not fit in the Bel Air South Community.

If you have not done so all ready please write your county representatives. Here are their addresses:

County Executive
David R. Craig
Harford County Government
220 South Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014

Director of Planning and Zoning
Pete C. Gutwald
220 South Main Street
2nd Floor
Bel Air, MD 21014

County Councilman District 'C'
James V. McMahan
212 South Bond Street
1st Floor
Bel Air, MD 21014

This has got to be the dumbest location I can think of traffic wise.Even during light traffic during the day this area gets bottlenecked easy.At one time a rifle and pistol range was supposed to bulit here believe it or not.It was going to be a club but the backers could never put together the money and I am sure neighbors wouldn't have like that idea very much.

While it is too late to stop the Walmart, I hope all the anti-Walmarters have learned a lesson that the time to show up isn't when it's too late, & start screaming @ meetings & instead of being civil. The time is to show up is for the hearings about zoning changes, because obviously no one cared to do so when the opportunity was given, except for the Friends of Harford, who were ignored by Craig, who signed the zoning change after it was approved by the County Council. The same politicians who now are "Standing with the citizens" on this issue. I sure hope "the citizens" aren't buying these politicians new found "Anti-Walmart religion" & can see thru their smokecreen. Very good rditorial in The Aegis on Friday about this matter.

I think the new location would be great for Walmart and the surrounding area.. That so called improved new interchange at 24 and 924 really does nothing to help access that poorly planned mess of a shopping area where they are now... The new location would not only improve the area but you would have at least 3ways to enter and exit.

I hope that if Craig runs, that the rest of the State pay close attention to the way he has conducted business here. I have seen this administration move so far left it is touching the right. They know what is best for us and its sickening. STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY ON STUPID STUFF, Mr. Craig. There is nothing to be done about Walmart because the politicans have long signed it off through zoning. It serves us right and as a life-long Harford County citizen I am so disappointed in what our county has become. They make it all look good from the outside, but there's a lot of dirt going on in the inside. As a citizen, why not register our sentiment with Walmart by not shopping there?

Well, he said he hopes to work with Walmart to see how they can be persuaded to stay in Abingdon. http://www.onlinedatastoragesite.com/softwares/safeguard-my-kid-online-choosing-parental-manage-software.html