CONTROVERSY HALTS WAL-MART CONSTRUCTION IN ONTARIO, CA

Building officials halt demolition at future Wal-Mart site [Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Calif.)]

Work crews tearing down old signs on the site slated for a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Ontario were ordered to stop Tuesday but continued into Wednesday until building officials told them to stop again.

Dale Briggs, an Ontario resident opposed to the store approved for Mountain Avenue and Fifth Street, spoke of demolition on the site without proper permits at the City Council meeting Tuesday.

“Wal-Mart has a history of not following the rules,” Briggs said in public comments. “Wal-Mart is the 700-pound gorilla.”

Aaron Rios, spokesman for Wal-Mart Stores, did not return calls for comment Wednesday.

Kevin Shear, Ontario building official, said his department started getting calls Monday about action on the site where abandoned buildings still stand that once held a Target, Toys “R” Us and Food 4 Less.

Building department records show permits were issued in 2005 to demolish the buildings, but they had expired in 2006 after no demolition occurred.

“I had granted administrative extensions to those permits,” Shear said.

By extending the permits, Shear said he could dispose of project plans for the buildings and the county assessor could remove the buildings from its tax roll.

But on Tuesday, Shear said city staff discovered it was sign structures that were being torn down - something for which permits had never been pulled.

“We issued a stop work order to the foreman,” Shear said. “This morning, the contractor was still working. He thought he could come in later to get the permit.”

Building officials had to tell the out-of-state contractor once again to cease, Shear said.

By 1 p.m. Wednesday, the right permits were pulled.

Cory Briggs, an attorney who filed a lawsuit challenging the City Council’s approval of the store, said the error was the result of more than just misunderstanding.

“It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission,” Briggs said Wednesday. “That appears to be how Wal-Mart works, and the city does not seem to mind...”

Posted by Joel Nezianya on Thursday, June 19, 2008