SWANSBORO, N.C. -- "It is a one way pass. It's very crucial to act now," said Laurent Meilleur, president of Swansboro Area Citizens for Responsible Economic Development (SACRED).
That's what residents in Swansboro are feeling after developers were given a permit to build a Walmart Supercenter in the area.
"They compelled the city commissioners to approve a permit for this development of 158,000 square feet directly adjacent to our high school, elementary school and across the street from our middle school," said Meilleur.
Meilleur says the plan is detrimental, especially because of it's location.
"This is just unheard of. There's no restrictions, even if there was a fence it will be in close proximity to our elementary schools and that's something that a Walmart parking lot shouldn't be next to," said Meilleur.
Going and coming traffic could also be a safety hazard along Highway 24.
"Specifically, we're very tourist oriented so we have a big influx of tourists, tens of thousands literally over weekends ago in and out of the beaches. That traffic was not accounted for in the traffic assessment study done by the developer."
According to town officials, the supercenter could have an impact on everyone.
"I don't know that anyone on the board currently is particularly happy about the location, but it is what it is. There's kind of two sides to the coin here...one is that they will be annexed in the town. The town will benefit from the property tax. They will also benefit from a portion of the sales tax," said Mayor Pro Tem Philip Keagy, Board of Commissioners.
But residents say it's the future of the town that they are worried about.
"It's likely to change the character of this town. Most people moved here or live here because they like the small town charm of Swansboro and this is very likely to change that," said Frank Tursi, member of SACRED.
"If this development is approved by the city and is approved by the DOT and does start development...its impact is there. We can't take it back," said Meilleur.