breaking news

Walmart Backing Out of Oldham Drive Plans

By: KNWA News

Updated: November 5, 2012

Just a day before elections, Bella Vista voters have new information to consider regarding the rezoning of land at the intersection of Highway 71 and Oldham Drive.

After a report from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department surfaced denying the request for a traffic signal at the location, Walmart has released a statement suggesting they are no longer interested in developing on the land in question.

According to the statement from Walmart Communications Director Daniel Morales:

"This past week Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department determined that it could not support a traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. Highway 71 and Oldham Drive.

From day one it was our intention to install a fully-actuated traffic signal at this intersection and make the appropriate improvements to make this intersection accessible for residents and our customers as they shopped our store.

Without a traffic signal the intersection is not ideal and does not meet our typical standards of easy access for our customers. Therefore we will move to find a more suitable location that will allow us to serve our customers."

Bella Vista Mayor Frank Anderson confirms there are no plans at this time to construct a traffic signal at the intersection, but the Highway Department also leaves the issue open for future discussion.

Bella Vista voters will decide Tuesday whether or not to rezone the property from residential to commercial which would have allowed Walmart to develop there.

The City Council approved the rezoning back in June, but a group called Citizens for Responsible Development collected thousands of signatures to get the issue on the November ballot.

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