Lancaster’s Town Board gave its approval to a Wal-Mart on Monday by the barest of margins – voting, 3-2, in favor of a site plan for the 150,228-square-foot “superstore.”

Voting against the plan were Councilwoman Donna G. Stempniak and Councilman John Abraham, who both said they objected to the Wal-Mart on philosophical grounds.

“I don’t like Wal-Mart. I’m against their labor practices. And I don’t believe we should have a Wal-Mart in Lancaster,” Stempniak told The Buffalo News at the conclusion of Monday’s meeting.

She had shepherded the site plan resolution through the town approval process without letting her feelings about the new store be known publicly until after the Monday’s roll-call vote.

Two weeks ago, Stempniak and others on the Town Board unanimously agreed to pull the measure off the table to include additional protective language for residents who live near the new Wal-Mart. The store is to be built near the northeast corner of William Street and Transit Road behind Applebee’s restaurant at 4967 Transit, across from a Wegmans store.

After the meeting, Abraham echoed Stempniak’s concerns and added some of his own.

“I struggled with my vote on this one,” he said. “I know it’s good businesswise for the town, but there are issues with traffic that trouble me. In going door to door and talking with residents, there are many who feel the same way I do.” Wal-Mart has agreed to numerous conditions regulating everything from loading dock deliveries and truck access to the visual shielding of air-conditioning units

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