Business & Tech

Mabel Drive Residents Alarmed by Having Super Wal-Mart Next Door [VIDEO]

According to resident Joseph Mello, only 40 feet will stand between the superstore and his one-family house.

Seekonk First, a citizens group dedicated to battling a proposal to build a , has been working quietly. But support for the grassroots organization has been steadily growing in the cover of neighborhood living rooms, e-mail threads and phone calls. 

According to organizer Lori Mello, the organization first started in a Mabel Drive home close to the proposed site. Originally, neighbors were invited to casually discuss the impact of Wal-Mart's plans and see what they could do to salvage their property values. Mello anticipates the new business would increase trash, crime and noise significantly if plans continue.

But soon the band grew to 58 members who are starting conversations in neighborhoods, printing fliers and urging residents to attend the next August . There, Walmart engineers are anticipated to present the next round of plans. Al Norman of Sprawl-Busters, an anti-megastore consultant, has also been educating members on social media communication tactics to galvanize the movement.

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According to Mello, those against the project know the Conservation Commission must make decisions based upon town guidelines and the Wetland Protection Act — however, they want to use the public forum as a speakerbox for their mission.

"[Neighbors] think it will be okay. But once they realize how very close it will be — there will be a 24-hour store, property values will go down significantly — it's getting people very upset," she said.

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And especially for the Mello family, the project reaches a bit too close to home. According to Joseph Mello, Lori's husband, the proposed Wal-Mart building would be about 40 feet away from his Mabel Drive property line currently shaded by a row of trees.

Not only will be the building be unsightly, but he's concerned about potential health hazards. He suffers from Alpha One, a syndrome that exhibits emphysema-like symptoms. 

"Are they going to take care of their materials?" he asked, noting older buildings tend to use asbestos.

He is also concerned about a vernal pool that is located near the property. It houses creatures like fairy shrimp, a type of crustacean.

"It's seasonal but there's water there most of the year," he said. "What about fairy shrimp? There's other [wildlife] in there."

And though the Mellos are aware their house is close to a commercial zone, they are perplexed as to why Wal-Mart must build so close to a residential area.

"There are other options," Mr. Mello said.

According to Walmart employees, a woman visits the store to give out fliers to customers informing them of the project. According to some Seekonk First members, this an affront to their mission.

"They're retaliating against our retaliation. It's push comes to shove, I guess," said Mr. Mello.


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