Site Fight Of The Week: Apple Valley, MN

Next week, Wal-Mart is trying for the third time to supersize its store in Apple Valley, MN - just south of Minneapolis. Many of the reasons why locals have opposed the project are the usual suspects - but the major sticking point has been noise. Residents who live directly adjacent to the store say that the late-night delivery trucks are too loud as is, and that a supercenter would only make the problem worse, requiring that more deliveries be made and new loading docks be built even closer to homes. 

According to the Pioneer Press, Wal-Mart brought in its own “noise expert,” who - big suprise - said that “noise would not increase with the new plans.”

Al Norman at sprawl-busters on the noise issue:

As for the noise issue---noise walls will never solve the problem. Just ask residents in Lake Charles, Louisiana, who describe themselves as prisoners of the Wal-Mart supercenter in their backyards. Neighbors in Lake Charles have sued Wal-Mart over noise issues, and say that sound walls have failed to change the loss of the quiet enjoyment of their homes.

Councilmember John Bergman was quoted in the Pioneer Press, and seems ready to put up a fight against Wal-Mart:

Bergman was more concerned about the location of the loading docks and asked the company to consider moving them.

“If the loading docks don’t move ... my vote will be not for expansion,” Bergman said.

The Apple Valley City Council is meeting on Thursday, October 9th to discuss the issue.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Email the Apple Valley Mayor and City Council and tell them to say no to Wal-Mart once and for all.

Posted by Eric Bull on Friday, October 03, 2008

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