Letter to the Editor: Walmart's Opening Not Grand

Walmart is quietly opening their doors on Wednesday Oct. 12, no fanfare, no announcement to the public, no notification to local officials. No road improvements, no parking lot improvements, one entrance, no stormwater management and no improvements of the fire lane which is obviously not up to any code.

This is the first Walmart with only one entrance and no protection for the local residents. According to the Walmart corporate website, the Springfield Walmart, which we know is in will have a ribbon cutting at 7 a.m. on Wednesday and the Springfield Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon, but there is no Springfield Chamber of Commerce.  

After a little research, it was determined that the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon. This was not posted on their website. I wouldn’t want anyone to know I was celebrating the opening of a Walmart. Maybe like many towns, they have deep concerns about the local economy after Walmart opens or perhaps Walmart’s labor policies are something they feel should have been addressed before they could support them moving into our community.

Perhaps they should contact the Delaware County tax assessor in order to make sure the upgrades to the shopping center are addressed. This shopping center has been tax dodging for years and cost the residents of Delaware County a huge amount of money.

PennDot stated that the Highway Occupancy permit which may or may not have been approved will not fix all the traffic problems that currently exists. Its intended purpose is to address existing safety and capacity concerns at the main intersection. This certainly does not sound like planning; a Walmart is a change of use, a huge increase in traffic.

PennDot stated they could not even fix current issues and yet they would approve the HOP for a super center. They stated that they wanted us to know they did everything they could within the parameters of their authority. We heard a lot of that over the last few years, apparently the state, the county and local townships like Springfield have no authority.

Two years ago, Walmart slipped into view with a small public notice as an addendum to moving Marshall’s. It appears to be another case of greed, from the Walmart Corporation, Blank Aschkenasy and Marple Township, local citizens were ignored as the Marple Commissioners and their solicitor Jim Bryne noted, this was a done deal. 

We don’t take a lot of comfort in their honesty. This continues to be a case of underhanded business transactions, closed meetings, refusal to meet with local townships, the county, or local residents. We can only suggest that you follow Marple Township manager Anthony Hamaday’s suggestion that you just avoid the area. Unfortunately for many of us, this is not an option. We live here. Maybe just a little ironic that it is our group that announces the opening.

Patricia Naughton
Writer for No Marple Walmart
Springfield Resident