Many who live in the Dunn and Falls of Neuse roads area say they want the store to be smaller than what the developer intends.
Commission members heard from residents who said the area is only zoned for a small shopping center - not a 49,000 square foot grocery the size of Publix - and they plan to fight this to the end.
"It's a beautiful area. We're just concerned about preserving the nature of the Falls of Neuse corridor and object to having such a large shopping plaza built in the middle of our neighborhood," said resident David Cox. "This isn't going to harm just the people that live in the area. It's going to harm these amenities in this northern gateway to the city."
Members of the commission heard about traffic studies and heard from an attorney for the developer, who is hoping to eventually convince City Council to approve the project.
But despite residents gathering more than 3,000 signatures opposing the grocery store, not everyone in the neighborhood is against it.
Robin Reid says her property abuts the development on two sides, and she says she doesn't buy the argument about increased traffic congestion.
"To be truthful, the Falls of Neuse widening project created the most increase in traffic," she said. "I would bet that if you proposed a park on this site, it would generate even more traffic than a grocery store."
Members of the Planning Commission will have to take a vote on the zoning at one of their meetings, and that recommendation has to go to City Council.
The store is one of two Publix plans for the Triangle. A second store in Cary is close to completion.
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