State lawmaker says Wal-Mart should not come to Canfield

State lawmaker says Wal-Mart should not come to Canfield

CANFIELD — Wal-Mart should respect the wishes of the community and not try to build a new supercenter here, a state senator says.

State Sen. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-33rd, said Wal-Mart should respect the pending vote of Canfield Township trustees and follow the will of the people who do not want the company to move its 187,000-square-foot supercenter in the area.

“Township and city residents have made clear their opposition to Wal-Mart moving its supercenter into the community, and Wal-Mart should respect that,” Boccieri said today.

“If the township trustees vote to deny the zoning change, then Wal-Mart should respect the decision of the community and not throw its weight around,” he added.

“Disregarding the vote by local governments, ignoring the wishes of residents, and pressing on with multiple appeals will harm the community and hurt local business. There are many communities that want a Wal-Mart supercenter, and the retail store should pursue those opportunities,” he continued.

Wal-Mart is proposing to build a supercenter, which will include a grocery store, on about 27 acres in the township between Raccoon Road and the Ohio Turnpike and behind businesses on U.S. Route 224.

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.