La Plata Mayor Roy Hale cast the key vote on the key resolution paving the way for Walmart Supercenter to come to La Plata.  The vote, held on Tuesday evening, on the sticking point went down to a 3-2 vote.

 

Councilman Wayne Winkler (Ward I) and Councilman Joseph Norris (Ward IV) also voted to approve the key annexation agreement.  Councilman Keith Back (Ward II) and Councilwoman Patti Mudd (Ward III) voted against the key annexation agreement.  The other three annexation agreements were passed unanimously.

 

“If we deny every annexation, we will never grow,” Winkler said.  “If I took that attitude, being born and raised here, we wouldn’t have Quailwood or King’s Grant.  We’d be a town of 1,000 people and we’d probably be dead in the water so that’s why I voted the way I did.”

 

“I believe that it’s a good opportunity to the town,” Norris said.  “Some on the council are afraid of the empty building.  I look at it as an opportunity for additional development in the building which would not take place without construction of the new store.  I think it’s good for the town.  It’s particularly good for those of low income in the town who are very excited about the opportunity for a place to have one-stop shopping.”

 

“I voted for the annexation agreement because it’s extremely important for planning for the development of La Plata,” Mayor Roy Hale said.  “The town is scheduled to grow from a little over 9,000 today to 20-25,000 in the next decade or two.  Commercial development is extremely important for where this development occurs.  I personally rather have the development in La Plata and have the residents benefit from that than have the same development occur outside the boundaries in the County or in Waldorf or other locations in the State.

 

“There are many reasons why commercial development should be here.  One is tax based, two is commercial development substantially provides additional infrastructure along with that development.  It also helps slow down our tax rate which is currently 32 cents per hundred.  That is one half of what it is in other locations.

 

“Commercial development is important; it’s important now and will be in the future.”