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Walmart Could Bring Debate Back To Ballston

Jared C. Benedict/Wikimedia Commons

Walmart has announced that it once again plans to build a new store in the Southern Saratoga County town of Ballston, but the presence of the retailer in the community may still prove controversial.

The nation’s largest retailer announced plans this week to build a new store in Ballston in a commercial development near the corners of Routes 50 and 67.

Walmart says the new store would bring with it 300 jobs, most of them fulltime positions.

Company spokesman Bill Wertz said in a release, “Southern Saratoga County is a rapidly growing area. Our new Walmart will offer jobs, tax revenue and new affordable shopping options for customers in the community.”

Wertz said the company employs 37,000 in New York, with an average fulltime wage of $13.04.

However, Walmart’s presence has long divided Ballston’s — and the surrounding communities’ — residents, ever since the company first explored opening a store in the same area 2005.

Ballston town historian Rick Reynolds recalls the proposal could have filled a real need for local consumers.

“Both the northern and southern areas of Ballston really do not have a grocery store of any kind. And so Walmart moving into the Route 50 and 67 intersection area was a positive thing in that sense because it would provide a grocery store. So that's one perspective,” said Reynolds.

But there was also a vocal negative reaction to Walmart’s bid to enter the community.

“The other side of it is that Ballston Spa is a community of small businesses and I think there was a great deal of fear among some people that bringing a big box kind of store to that area of Ballston could potentially destroy some of those little businesses. And that’s something that Ballston Spa has built up over many, many years and it’s become a thriving little downtown, now,” said Reynolds.

Across the area, homeowners displayed lawn signs both for and against the retailer. Campaigns were launched and community meetings were held.

In March 2005, the Ballston town board imposed a six-month moratorium limiting commercial development, and six months later made changes to the town’s comprehensive plan, among changes related to zoning. A lawsuit was filed from the property owner against the town board.

Walmart’s plan was ultimately withdrawn amidst the controversy.

Today, Walmart contends the newly proposed store will address previous concerns by being 30 percent smaller, and will ensure smooth traffic flow by having access from both Routes 50 and 67.

It remains to be seen how local businesses will react. Sam Capuano, current president of the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association, said he observed in 2005 many business owners objecting to Walmart.

Capuano said he cannot speak for anyone about the new plan, but his organization will be discussing the issue at its next regularly scheduled meeting, set for Monday evening.

“We will be bringing this up just as we would any other type of situation with other businesses coming into the area, so from that standpoint it’s really not anything differently if any other, again, big or small business was coming to the area,” said Capuano.

Capuano said he has already noticed heated discussion online over the proposal since it was first reported in a Times Union blog post Wednesday. Several commenters have already begun debating.

In Walmart’s release, Pete Bardunias, President and CEO of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, said “this new store promises to be a very positive development for the community of Ballston." 

Walmart, which did not return calls seeking additional information, says if approved by the town, construction could begin this fall, with a store opening next year. But debate is almost certain to return to Ballston in the days ahead.

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Lucas Willard is a reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011.
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