Wal-Mart has made an independent decision to scrap plans for a previously proposed Neighborhood Market in Teays Valley, according to a company spokeswoman.
The retail giant's decision to end planning for the Teays Valley location comes less than a week after Putnam County Circuit Judge John Cummings overturned a county zoning decision that would have allowed Wal-Mart to build the smaller retail location along W.Va. 34.
Nearby homeowners and other members of the community have adamantly opposed the proposed store since April, citing concerns over traffic and property values.
However, according to Wal-Mart spokeswoman Anne Hatfield, the company's decision to cease planning for the store is not linked to Cummings' opinion last Friday.
"After careful consideration, we have made an unrelated business decision not to pursue our plans to build a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Teays Valley," Hatfield wrote in an email response, placing emphasis on the word "unrelated."
Hatfield did not respond to a question asking if Wal-Mart has plans to build stores in other regions of Southern West Virginia, but she added that the company is focused on providing service to customers throughout the state.
"Our commitment to our customers has not changed," Hatfield said of Wal-Mart, which is the largest commercial employer in West Virginia. "We will continue to pursue the opportunity to provide our customers throughout West Virginia the convenient and affordable shopping experience that our stores have to offer."
Reach Andrew Brown at andrew.brown@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4814 or follow @Andy_Ed_Brown on Twitter.