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To Meijer Or Not To Meijer? Residents React (Part 2)

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Others give a mixed bag of opinions on location of store.

Monday's Warsaw City Council meeting may mark a turning point for the city.

Meijer's request to rezone 41.65 acres to C5 (special commercial) to build a store at 900 Husky Trail, along Patterson Road, will be heard by the city council.

The Warsaw plan commission unanimously recommended April 10 that the council not approve the petition.

But Meijer representatives have said that the site is currently their only option. If the rezoning is not approved, Meijer likely will not come to Warsaw.

Residents in the Timber Ridge, Helser and Patterson Place housing additions have said they don't want Meijer at 900 Husky Trail.

But how do other residents of Warsaw feel about Meijer and their rezoning request?

Times-Union staffers randomly spoke to people on the street in Warsaw to find out what they think on the issue.

Tony Arnold said, "I think it's a good idea. Any business that comes into town can benefit the entire community, financially as well as giving growth to the community in general. Any growth is good.

"Rezoning has to happen eventually. That's what allows a city to grow. If rezoning doesn't happen, then this city becomes stagnant and people go to other locations. I'd rather keep the money in the community than to allow it to go outside the community."

Greg Deniston is an example of a local person who goes elsewhere to shop. "I like Meijer stores. We go to Fort Wayne and go to the one up there, so I'd like to see one come into Warsaw." He said it also would bring more people into Warsaw to do their shopping.

A couple of years ago, Deb Fortney moved to Warsaw. "I live on the north side of town," she said, "and there's nothing out there and we would appreciate something on that side of town. We would really like something out there."

"I don't see why not," said Rich McGlynn of Meijer's bid to come to Warsaw. "I just moved here from Phoenix and I'm all for places to shop to keep the costs down. I've been to a few Meijers, in Elkhart, in the South Bend area. I don't see any reason why they shouldn't build one here."

Though she thinks Meijer's chosen location is not a good idea, Bobbie Ridenour said, "I think it would be good to have a Meijer in Warsaw." If they don't come to Warsaw, however, she said, "It's no big deal to me. We can always go to Fort Wayne."

Emily LeBlanc said, "I understand there's a school right nearby there, Harrison. And I understand the parents there probably don't want heavy traffic right near the school. It makes sense to me that they wouldn't want their children run over by careless drivers or people who are just in and out of the parking lot all the time."

As for Meijer itself, she said, "I've always liked Meijer as a store, I think it's a good place, but I won't fall to pieces if it doesn't exist, either."

Heather Bellamer said she would like to see Meijer come to Warsaw. "I don't see why not," Bellamer said. "I think it would be a good idea."

"I always think competition is good," Myra Barnett said of the possible Meijer addition to Warsaw. "It improves everything."

Robert Hoeppner said he thinks Meijer should be here in Warsaw, but not at the location they're requesting. Hoeppner also said there's plenty of places for Meijer to build.

Asked what he thought of Meijer's statement regarding location, he said, "They haven't looked hard enough" to find another location.

Eddie Wright said "we could always use a Meijer store."

Wright is in favor of Meijer coming to Warsaw.

The waiting will be over Monday. At 7 p.m. in the old courtroom in the county courthouse; the Warsaw City Council will have the final say.