TEXAS SITE FIGHT: COMPLAINTS DELAY WAL-MART’S PLANS

Resident complaints delay building of new Wal-Mart [KRIS-TV (Corpus Christi, Texas)]

CORPUS CHRISTI - Wal-Mart had planned to build a Supercenter at the corner of Timbergate and South Staples, something not all of its neighbors supported. The city council was set to vote on the rezoning , but Monday afternoon, Wal-Mart decided to pull that rezoning request, and it may have to do with resident complaints.

City councilmen were set to take up the issue Tuesday at 2 p.m., but that won’t be happening now. Wal-Mart officials said they still plan on setting up shop there one day.

Many residents were opposed to the project because they said it would cause problems like traffic congestion, noise and it would be built too close to the houses lining the property.

So Wal-Mart made plans to fix those problems by expanding roadways and building the store farther away from those homes. Of course, Wal-Mart needed to get the area rezoned to being construction.

But Monday, Wal-Mart spokesperson, Sally Aiello, said the city wants to hold the store accountable if they don’t come through with the adjustments to their building plans.

And Aiello said there’s no city ordinance in place allowing councilmen to hold Wal-Mart responsible if they don’t stick to their building plans. As of now, Tuesday’s public hearing to rezone the area has been canceled and has not been rescheduled.

Residents, however, felt it necessary to make their opinions known.

“I think it’s an opportunity for Wal-Mart, for our city council members and for the local community to begin a dialogue about what makes sense,” Sean Robertson, Spanish Wood Drive resident, said.

Robertson has joined other neighbors circulating petitions and talking with city council members. He said he and others aren’t against development, but they are opposed to a store so big going into a lot so close to homes.

Robertson also agreed with the city in holding the store responsible for their promises.

“Wal-Mart’s been saying they want to be a part of the community,” Robertson said. “And in order to do that, they need to act like a responsible member of the community.”

Wal-Mart’s spokesperson has said they’ve followed every procedure to build a Supercenter here. According to Aiello, the city will draw up some sort of contract now, but the word is store managers haven’t given up their fight to put a Wal-Mart at Timbergate and South Staples.

Posted by Beth Gostanian on Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Click Here for a Printer-Friendly Version