Zoning commission member starts pro- Wal-Mart petition

CANFIELD — A Canfield Township Zoning Commission member says it’s only fair that any Canfield area resident who supports bringing a Wal-Mart supercenter to the north side of U.S. Route 224 at Raccoon Road should be allowed to have his voice heard.

Last week, commission member and township resident Chuck Coleman learned that a petition opposing the store had been placed on the counter at the township hall.

So, Coleman drew up another petition asking for signatures of those who wish for Mahoning County and township officials to approve any zone change necessary to allow the store to be built.

“It seemed to me that the township could be accused of partisanship (before all of the facts were in) if we only allowed an “anti-Wal-Mart” petition to be openly displayed in the town hall,” Coleman wrote when township officials asked whether he cared to identify himself as author of the petition.

“Isn’t it a better gauge of sentiment if we give residents a clear choice, i.e., two petitions: one for and one against?”

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and at Vindy.com