According to todays online article it seems as if Blairsville City Council approved plans for water system to serve Walmart.

North Georgia's & Union County's Largest Newspaper

Sounds pretty much like a done deal to me:

Stick a fork in that deal because it's done. Passersby in B'ville will notice the heavy equipment has already moved in and construction is underway as far as getting the land suitable for the actual build. Doesn't look like much space from 76 for a Supercenter and I would imagine other retailers. My beloved wife is ready to pull her hair out over this as we are now literally 1 minute from it. So much for getting out of the city

Oh yeah...anybody want to buy a house with now a great view of Lake Nottely and did I mention within close to spitting distance of this new Wal-Mart - our house was already for sale before this news.

Can't stop progress. No progress, no jobs.

It will be nice to see the increased competition.

Really need the jobs in the area...hope it'll help out people in construction around here and retail jobs after...the real trick is how to make money off walmart...

__________________
A bad day off road is better than a good day at work.

Oh boy!!!!!!!!! Another WalMart. Whoopeeee!!!!!!!!!

How about a Target for a change?

Wildman

chop the top off another mountain to build a parking lot? progress? where next the national forest? ps walmart brings their own construction crews, they are real fast, they have only thrown up a couple thousand in the last year. the jobs would be great but at what cost?

There needs to be some strict zoning requirements for the major commercial developments that come to this area.

Major developments should be on the main highway
Signage should be limited as to size
Attractive landscaping should hide most of the development from passers by
Mountains and streams need to be protected.
Parking areas should also have landscaping included

Wildman

Target would be great - They are definetly more in touch with good aesthetics and design and have a better quality of both customers and goods than Walmart.

Unfortunately, the pervasive mentality in these parts is "screw aesthetics" - build it cheap, sell it cheap and to hell with the way anything looks.

That's why there are ugly metal buildings, trailers, junkyards and cheaply built crap strewn all over beautiful North Georgia. Most of the people who decry the new growth would think nothing of throwng up some hideous metal structure blocking a beautiful view, or having a junkyard in their front yard if THEY wanted it. It's time for some common sense land use regulations and architectural standards. If Helen, GA can do it and require faux Alpine tackiness as the town standard, then the other North Georgia Towns can also do it and make something that will be good for the area in the long run as well as visually appealing.