Some residents of the Marion County section of The Villages are pushing back against the suggestion that they are opposed to a new Walmart.
Villages-News.com reported this week on the release of a detailed site plan for the new Neighborhood Walmart to be built adjacent to the Phillips Villas near Mulberry Grove Plaza. The story cited the fact that some residents have indicated they are opposed to the new Walmart and have spoken out at Community Development District 4 meetings.
However, other residents say are they happy to welcome Walmart to the neighborhood.
“You falsely reported that the residents of Phillips Villas have been contesting the building of a Neighborhood Walmart. Please be aware that only a small percent of the residents are contesting the construction of Walmart,” said Joy Hay of the Phillips Villas.
She said she and her fellow residents are looking forward to groceries at a reasonable price and gas and prescriptions just a golf cart ride away.
“As we age and are no longer comfortable in the traffic on 42 and 441, this will enable us to get all of the necessities to stay in our homes,” Hay said.
She added that those who own homes closest to the site of Walmart purchased their homes adjacent to commercial property, knowing full well that it would be developed.
Garry Kolb of the Village of Briar Meadow agrees that those who bought homes in the Phillips Villas should have known that commercial development would arrive at some point.
“Complaining about commercial development on commercial property that was there before you moved in is akin to those down south who bought a lot next to the turnpike, and then complain about the noise from the highway. If that property was not zoned for development and then was rezoned, you have an argument. But it was zoned commercial before the first Phillips Villa was built, therefore, your argument doesn’t hold water,” Kolb said.