To the Editor:
As a resident of Phillips Villas I feel I must address the Walmart comments. Yes, open space eventually is filled with something. You would be naive to think otherwise. Just how many residents of Phillips welcome it or dread it is irrelevant. It’s coming.
The relevant concern is for the safety of everyone that enters and leaves our gates as well as shoppers entering and exiting the Walmart Market. There is only one way in and one way out of our community. There are no multi-modal paths which means the road is shared by cars, SUV’s, delivery trucks, bikers, golf carts and walkers including those of us walking our dogs. There will be no entrance into the Neighborhood Walmart from Route 42. Cars and delivery trucks will enter and exit the parking lot only from Phillips Lane. The access driveway is precariously close to our entrance which calls to question another safety concern. With one lane in and one lane out of our development, could there be a time when access by emergency vehicles is compromised? It is conceivable and might seem unlikely but if you saw our entry you would understand. The road is narrow and curves.
In addition there will be 20 gas pumps only adding to traffic concerns. Further, this road was never built to accommodate a constant flow of commercial delivery trucks. As residents we have been advised that our district will be responsible for over 60% of the maintenance of this road. That means it won’t be costing only those in the Phillips community, it will cost the entire district. That doesn’t sound reasonable to me, surely Walmart could pay at least their fair share.
Just how much of an impact the new construction will have on our little community remains to be seen. As with everything in life there are pros and cons. The pros will come in convenience especially to those who want an alternative to Publix without traveling outside our immediate area. The cons are the safety issues that are very troublesome to me. This is a wonderfully close knit community and we will remain that way no matter what our feelings regarding Walmart.
Donna Niforos
Phillips Villas
Village of Woodbury