CHESTERTON — Opponents of a proposed Wal-Mart at a newly annexed location on the southeast corner of Indiana 149 and the Indiana Toll Road were back in greater numbers to confront the Chesterton Plan Commission on Thursday.

Half of the 20 people in the audience against the project spoke early in the meeting against plans for the 300,000-square-foot retail store and 17 acres of parking in Coffee Creek Crossing, which was presented to the plan commission in November.

They were back with more arguments and additional materials to follow up Monday’s Stormwater Management Board meeting on the advice of board president Larry Brandt to tell the planners of their objections. Again, no representative of developer I-80 Partners LLC was present.

“If a big box development moves into town, it would ruin me,” said Jeff McCraw, a Chesterton small-business owner who had spoken Monday. He said he compiled a list of 20 vacant business sites.

The commissioners listened to everyone without questions, comments or discussion.

McCraw’s wife, Cheryl, gave them copies of studies she said showed that a big store would be a drain on the town budget, would raise tax rates, and force downtown retailers to downsize or closes.

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