Abingdon Deserves Design Control For Mega-Development

Six years ago, Abingdon took steps to give the town design control over mega-developments by enacting a provision covering any building larger than 50,000 square feet and located along thoroughfares leading to the historic downtown.

But a developer aiming to build a 184,000-square-foot Walmart SuperCenter along Old Jonesboro Road, near the Exit 14 intersection, claimed it was not bound by that provision because the town planning commission approved a site plan for the project in April 2003, three months before the zoning changes were adopted.

Circuit Court Judge C. Randall Lowe endorsed the town’s position in an opinion drafted Aug. 25 and released by the town Friday.

We heartily support Lowe’s ruling. Abingdon, a town that is well-known for its historic charm, must retain greater control in how large-scale development ultimately looks. The town’s zoning commission developed the Abingdon Historic Corridor Overlay District provision to maintain design control for the benefit of all business and property owners in Abingdon.

Many residents might question if Walmart is a good fit for Abingdon at all. And the mega-chain already has a strong presence locally, including SuperCenters in both Bristols, two stores in Johnson City, Tenn., one in Kingsport, Tenn. and others in the region.

But Commonwealth-Abingdon Partners LP has been looking to develop a Walmart in Abingdon since 2003. The question of “if” was settled long ago. Now the issue is when and how.

An attorney for the developer groused in 2008 that it might scrap the project if it were to lose the court case. But Tim Scoggin, president of Commonwealth, said last year that he was “in it for the long haul” and expressed confidence that the project would materialize.

We support Scoggin moving forward, recognizing that Abingdon has a right and a vested interest in protecting its image.

Judge Lowe’s ruling gives the town that ability – to bring this favorite discount retailer to town, while maintaining greater design control of how the development will ultimately look.