WINFIELD, W.Va. — After nearly four hours of testimony, the Putnam County Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday night postponed its decision on a special permit for a Walmart Neighborhood Market targeted for Route 34 in Teays Valley.
Before a packed courthouse, the board voted 3-2 to table the motion until July 9.
The hearing at the Putnam County Courthouse featured input from residents opposing the store, a presentation from Walmart representatives and lawyers on both sides.
Board chairman Stephen Sluss was the deciding factor in postponing the decision until the next meeting.
“We received a lot of information this evening; additional information from both parties,” Sluss said. “The rules as stated in both the ordinance and the statute say that if we receive information less than 30 days before the meeting, then we can table it to make a full and fair decision.”
Bencor Inc., the group hoping to build the Walmart, began the hearing with a presentation as to why a special permit should be granted. The “Keep the Promise” Coalition, which has opposed the store for months, then presented its case against the store.
John Michael Cassell, a Charles Town attorney representing “Keep the Promise,” thought the residents made their case.
“I think that the board has worked overtime on this. I think they’re out of energy, and they need time to look at the material,” Cassell said. “When they’ve worked this hard and they’re this tired, I don’t think it’s a smart idea to make a monumental decision like this with this much fatigue on their faces.”
Mark Saad, a Charleston attorney representing Bencor Inc., called the BZA’s diligence a good sign for Walmart.
“I’m very happy that this board of zoning appeals in Putnam County is taking the time to consider all of the evidence, all of the testimony, and weighing it against the law,” Sadd said. “Ultimately I feel very comfortable they will approve this permit.”
Walmart essentially must prove eight criteria necessary for the special permit.
“We don’t feel that they’ve overcome the eight items or any one of the eight items that they need to in order to get permission to move ahead,” Teays Valley resident Andy Martone said. “I feel good about the case that was presented tonight on behalf of the coalition.”
The decision will be first on the agenda for the July 9 meeting, Sluss said, adding that deliberations would be open to the public but no new input would be allowed from either party.