ATLANTA — A zoning battle is brewing over plans for a new shopping center with Buckhead's first Walmart store.
Some neighbors believe the project would favor traffic over pedestrians in the area of Lindbergh and Morosgo drives.
The developer said he's ready to spend $90 million to put in a mixed-use project that includes more than 200 residential units, a park and a Walmart. A mile away, the civic association for the Garden Hills neighborhood opposes it.
"It's a big box with a big parking lot, and it's received vehement protest from all the neighborhoods," association President Tom Shepherd said.
Shepherd said the area near the Lindberg MARTA station has a special plan for pedestrian-oriented mixed use that the shopping center would violate.
"This is about complying with the hard work that people have put decades into to ensure that Buckhead isn't just another traffic pit," Shepherd said.
Channel 2's Jeff Dore spoke with the developer, the same one who put in the shopping center next door where there's a Home Depot, a Target and a Best Buy. He said his new project will be similar. Now, he needs the property rezoned, which puts the Atlanta City Council in the middle.
"I'm hearing from people who don't want it, of course. I'm also hearing from some people who like it," Councilman Howard Shook told Dore.
Dore also heard from residents on both sides.
"Considering that we need business, I think it'd be great. I mean, Walmart attracts a huge clientele," Halloween City manager Adam Bradley said.
But shopper Cedric Peterson said, "I can't see anything that Walmart would bring to the area that's needed, other than traffic."
The project has received one round of blessings from the zoning officials at City Hall. Shook is delaying the final vote as he gathers information on the project and the law.
WSBTV
