Group opposing Walmart in Decatur suffers defeat

The DeKalb County Zoning Board of appeals rejected an appeal of a building permit for a Walmart in Decatur.

The supercenter will be built on North Decatur Road between Medlock Road and Church Street.

Opponents showed up at the meeting wearing yellow t-shirts that read "Stop Walmart." T

The group Good Growth DeKalb filed the appeal, saying that a Walmart would lower their property values and bring unwanted traffic to the neighborhood.

"They're going to drive around and have more cut-through traffic in the neighborhoods and have more parking issues in what exists as above ground at Suburban Plaza. This is just not a tenable development," said Louise Runyon of Good Growth DeKalb.

Now that the county zoning board has denied their appeal, the group says it's considering its options, which could include a lawsuit.

Walmart spokesman Bill Wertz released the following statement after the board's ruling: "Walmart looks forward to adding 300 new jobs and millions of dollars in new tax revenue to the county."