However, Crawford told commissioners at a public meeting this week he plans to resubmit a development order application next year after he has had an opportunity to discuss the venture fully with area residents. Residents told commissioners the planned store wouldn't complement the residential and commercial corridor that has developed where Cascade Road meets Interstate 285.

For Wal-Mart, the setback may be only temporary, retail brokers tell GlobeSt.com, since the company has a development history of regrouping and resubmitting revised construction plans at later dates in many part of the country.

For example, in suburban Lawrenceville, Wal-Mart recently overcame residents' opposition to a new supercenter which will replace a former Wal-Mart store nearby, brokers tells GlobeSt.com. And at the 1.3-million-sf Town Center at Cobb Mall, Cobb County commissioners approved a 125,000-sf supercenter after earlier opposing the project because of its size.