Judge rules against proposed WalMart in Bedford Township
2/2/2007MONROE A Monroe County judge ruled this morning in favor of Bedford Township in its fight to stop the building of a WalMart store on property owned by Whitman Ford.
Circuit Judge Joseph A. Costello, Jr. issued an order finding in favor of the township, ruling that the township s laws and master zoning plan do not constitute exclusionary zoning, as claimed by Mr. Whitman s attorneys in a trial last month.
The battle between the township and one of its leading businessmen, Jon Whitman, has drug on for years, with township trustees rejecting several attempts by Mr. Whitman to secure commercial zoning so he could develop his land, reaping millions.
Even though some township officials were supportive of his develop plans, a vocal citizens group, made up mainly of residents of one of the township s largest subdivision adjacent to the proposed WalMart site, turned out in the hundreds at numerous meetings to heckle any officials who voiced support for Mr. Whitman.
In the end, township trustees sided with residents opposed to Mr. Whitman and WalMart.
Read more in later editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com.