By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HARRISON - Wal-Mart made progress toward building another store in Southwest Ohio on Wednesday when the Hamilton County commissioners approved a 54-acre annexation in western Hamilton County.

Harrison Township leaders had delayed the proposed annexation into the city of Harrison for several months on technicalities. Ultimately, however, because all property owners requested annexation, the commissioners had to grant the request, commission President John Dowlin said. The vote was 3-0.

Wal-Mart will still have to go through the zoning and planning process, and the township will continue to lobby to delay the project, township Administrator William Ennis said Wednesday.

"It's a traffic congestion and safety issue," he said. "To the extent that we have any persuasive power with the city, we will continue to try to get them to see our point of view."

The 54-acre site is on New Haven Road near Interstate 74. The township is concerned about traffic problems if the store is built before New Haven Road is widened, Ennis said.

E-mail candrews@enquirer.com