The debate over Walmart coming to Orange County will be the topic of conversation over the next week at various public hearings, according to Fredericksburg.com.

Walmart has been in talks with Orange County officials about bringing a 138,000-square-foot store to the county near the Route 3/20 area. It is predicted that the store will bring over 600 jobs to the area and $800,000 a year in tax revenue to the rural county once the store is in operation.

However, many residents and historic preservationists oppose the site saying the new store and the increase in traffic would diminish the Wilderness Battlefield, a Civil War battlefield.

Walmart has been unwilling to find another location nearby saying that this is the only site that fits the criteria for commercial zoning, size and traffic access.

The Planning Commission hopes to vote tomorrow night, however, if more time is needed a second meeting is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. in the county administration building.

County Supervisiors will hold their public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday in the high school auditorium and will hold a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night.

Homeowners are encouraged to attend these meetings and participate in conversations about the effect a big-box store and its traffic could have on the county's tourism resulted from the battlefield, and also how the development could affect their property values. Typically the addition of amenities increases home values due to the convenience of running errands and receiving services. However, the addition of big-box stores such as Walmart is a hotly debated topic in many rural areas across the country. It is best in these situations for local leaders and residents to work towards community development projects that bring economic growth to the county, enhance quality of living and protect property values.

"The Orange County Planning Commission is once again ready to listen to public comment on plans to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the Wilderness Battlefield area.

A public hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Orange County High School auditorium."

Supervisors will hold their public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday in the high school auditorium and will hold a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night.

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