A fight to stop a Walmart Neighborhood Market from being built in Volusia County brought people out in force Wednesday night.
It was standing room only at the meeting in DeBary.
The meeting was so packed speakers were placed outside for those who did not fit inside. It was abundantly clear the majority of the people attending did not want the new shopping center in their backyard.
It is an issue so red hot opponents of the project wore red.
The proposed development would be called The Shoppes at Pine Meadows, in an area that is mainly undeveloped land on State Road 17-92, right down the center of the city.
It didn't take long for the lawyer representing developers to see he was outnumbered.
"I guess I'm getting ambushed tonight," he said.
Opponents like Jessica Ford said she moved to a rural area to enjoy the area's wildlife, not the congestion. The proposed shopping center would literally back up to her backyard.
"The idea that I would have a 24-hour store where I would hear the trucks backing in and out all night, that's not ok by me," Ford said.
Like Ford, many in red said they are not anti-development. They said their shopping needs can be met just a few minutes away in Orange city, not next to their homes. They say they want to keep their neighborhood residential.
"We don't need a five-cent reduction in our lettuce," said Dennis Lienhard. "We just don't need it."
Besides lawyers on both sides of the issue, homeowners also testified. If council does reach a decision on this shopping center, we’ll let you know on your morning news starting at 5.