• TSC-Muma Mattawoman Partnership, a developer, reported in May that it would soon submit plans to Prince George's County for a 203,000 square foot Wal-Mart at the intersection of Routes 228 and 210 in Accokeek. This would be the largest Wal-Mart in the state of Maryland. (Note: In late August, the developer said that the store might be "only" 135,000 square feet.)
• A 203,000 square foot building would cover nearly five acres, with a massive parking lot. That is five times the size of Giant or Safeway. It would be a superstore (with a grocery). Superstores are typically open 24 hours per day.
• Studies show that stores of this size generate over 900 car trips per hour. This doesn’t take into consideration the delivery trucks!
• The site is now in trees. It borders on the Mattawoman Creek, in an area that we have fought to preserve as a wildlife refuge for years.
• There are lots of vacancies in shopping centers along 210 now – what will happen to existing businesses if a Wal-Mart is built?
• What happened to Maryland’s Smart Growth policy, that calls for concentration of new development in or near areas which are already developed? It was enacted to combat ever-increasing sprawl, widely recognized as the cause of traffic congestion, overcrowded schools, ever-longer commutes, and the breakdown of local community.

Write your elected officials to let them know how you feel about stopping sprawl. Keep Accokeek Liveable!