IOWA CITY COUNCIL HEARS BOTH SIDES, MAKES NO DECISION ON WAL-MART

Council defers Wal-Mart plan [Iowa City Press Citizen (Iowa)]

The Iowa City Council voted at Monday night’s meeting to extend the public hearing on plans for a new Wal-Mart Supercenter to an Aug. 26 meeting.

Several people spoke in favor of and against Wal-Mart’s plans to build an 189,000-square-foot supercenter that will replace their existing building at 1001 Highway 1 W.

In order for Wal-Mart to build at the site, the council must amend a conditional zoning agreement signed when the property was first developed. The agreement states that the property should contain several smaller stores arranged similar to a shopping center.

Wally Taylor, attorney for Iowa City Stop Wal-Mart, said that the plans fail to meet the “essence” of that zoning agreement.

Taylor said the group would consider legal action if the plans are approved.

Wal-Mart spokesman Ryan Horn said the proposal has garnered support, with a petition to support the supercenter receiving 1,600 signatures.

In other council news:

• The City Council came to a consensus to include all 245 flooded properties in a notice of intent that is the first step toward a federal buyout for homes destroyed by the flood.

Some councilors expressed that the city likely will not be able to provide a 15 percent local match if the buyouts go through. Instead, homeowners would be asked to cover those costs.

“I’m not confident in the city taking on that financial burden. Our budget is tight as it is,” Councilor Matt Hayek said.

Posted by Joel Nezianya on Tuesday, August 12, 2008

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