Residents protest projects in 2 counties

Wal-Mart at Marvin, golf course development near lake irk neighbors

By SCOTT DODD

Residents of two suburban Charlotte-area communities that face sweeping changes spent their Saturday morning rallying against major development projects they believe would mar their pleasant neighborhoods.

In southwest Mecklenburg County, a small group marched across the Catawba River to protest a 4,150-home and golf course development they fear would pollute and spoil Lake Wylie.

In Union County, the target was Wal-Mart, which plans a $10 million store near several subdivisions and close to the Mecklenburg County line.

"It's just too close to our neighborhoods. It doesn't fit in," said Billy Simcox, who lives in the Somerset subdivision near the proposed Wal-Mart.

The community is concerned about increased crime, noise, air pollution and flooding, among other things. Several dozen people attended the protest.

Wal-Mart confirmed last week that it wants to build a 150,000- to 200,000-square-foot store near the small town of Marvin. The company said it would be willing to work with residents to address their concerns. The project is still in the planning stages.

The southwest Mecklenburg development, though, appears headed for a vote before the county commissioners next month. Proposed by Crescent Resources and Robert C. Rhein Interests, The Palisades includes a golf course, offices and retail town center on 1,500 acres.

Much of the land was acquired by Duke Power, Crescent's sister company, at a low cost during the early 1900s so the company could dam the river to make electricity.

Some residents welcome the project because it would bring high-priced real estate to the area. The developers, who say they have agreed to many measures to protect water quality, recently scaled back from 4,500 homes.

County planners say they support the overall concept, although they still take issue with some details of the builders' proposal.

But neighbors who formed the Lower Lake Wylie Association want to see the project scaled back even more, with fewer townhomes and apartments and more safeguards against pollution. Seventeen people protested Saturday.

Along with the Catawba Riverkeeper, an environmental watchdog employed by the nonprofit Catawba River Foundation, the opponents have asked for a one-year development moratorium on the lake. They want the city and county to use the time to devise tougher rules to ensure that water quality isn't hurt.

The proposed golf course is a particular concern to them because it's so close to the lake.

"Golf courses are just loaded with chemicals to keep those greens beautiful," said Tega Cay, S.C., resident Dan O'Brien, who brought his 13-year-old son to the protest Saturday. "You have to be sure those chemicals aren't dumping into the lake."

Rusty Rozzelle, the county's water quality program manager, said last week the developers have agreed to many conditions that could protect water quality, but there are additional measures that they've declined to take.

And Riverkeeper Donna Lisenby, who joined the protest Saturday, said the developers have agreed to token steps that "don't come close to being adequate to protect the Catawba River." She said the builders' plan is inappropriate for that location.