CENTERVILLE — The issue of locating a Super Wal-Mart here will come to a head during tonight's Planning Commission meeting at 7 p.m. as the commission is expected to approve or deny a conditional use permit for the store.

If the commission approves the conditional use permit, the conceptual subdivision and conceptual site plan for the 22.5-acre project at 400 W. Parrish Lane, it will be a big blow to a citizens group that has fought the 204,000-square-foot store.

The Planning Commission has the final say on the conditional use permit and the conceptual site plan. The subdivision conceptual and preliminary plans are approved by the Planning Commission and the final subdivision plan will be reviewed by the City Council.

A poll of Centerville residents taken last month and paid for by Centerville Citizens First showed 73 percent of residents were opposed to giving Wal-Mart a building permit. The poll, taken by Ray Briscoe of Insight Research, showed 48 percent of respondents said they were "absolutely opposed" to Wal-Mart and 25 percent said they were just "opposed."

Seventeen percent of those polled were in favor of Wal-Mart locating in Centerville, with 14 percent strongly in favor, and 10 percent said they were not sure.

Although emotions have run high over the issue, the city cannot deny any business the right to build and operate a store based on residents' preferences. As long as a project meets city ordinances the city cannot deny it.

The Planning Commission meeting will be in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 N. Main.

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E-mail: lweist@desnews.com