(MOBILE, Ala.) - Despite some very vocal opposition from neighbors, the City of Mobile has cleared plans for another Publix location, at a high-traffic intersection in Mobile.
Homeowners near the planned Airport-University Boulevard grocery store say traffic is already bad enough for them, and this will only make things worse.
But the city council said today, this was too good of a business opportunity to pass up.
"I don't understand the traffic study, unless it's at 2 in the morning. I invite you to come to my home for tea and crumpets or cocktails, but I can assure you that traffic is ridiculous," said one concerned home owner.
"I am very concerned about the traffic which is already fierce in my neighborhood, I can hardly get out of my driveway," said another.
Residents came armed with 101 reasons why the council should say no to a proposed Publix store at the corner of University and Airport. But in the end, the council voted unanimously in favor of it.
The council agreed they simply could not allow this opportunity to pass them by.
The new Publix store will sit on a 6.8 acre site.
During his pitch to the council, Attorney Doug Anderson said the area surrounding the new store is in for a makeover.
Anderson says there will be beautiful trees surrounding the new store and that there will be no outside dumpsters.
A few council members, like neighbors, raised concerns about possible traffic woes.
But city leaders say engineers will help them figure out the issues.
