WAL-MART LOOKS TO SELL LAND IN KINGMAN, AZ

Rezone allows Wal-Mart to sell small parcel [Kingman Daily Parcel (Ariz.)]

Wal-Mart has been granted a rezone that will allow the mega retailer to sell the 0.72-acre parcel between its superstore and the Smith’s on Stockton Hill Road, but the issue did not satisfy all officials who voted on it Monday.

Councilman Ray Lyons opposed the request because, he said, he did not agree with a Wal-Mart representative who said a new business there would be beneficial to the community.

“Personally, I’d like it if they left it the way it is,” Lyons said. “It’s a little oasis in a sea of blacktop.” Asphalt is hot, and his rationale for casting the only vote against the rezone was on the basis that it made the area cooler. He suggested planting a few trees on the lot instead.

Sean Lake of Pew & Lake PLC, the realty firm representing Wal-Mart, argued that the rezone and sale would be beneficial to Kingman because it would generate sales tax revenue for the city. He noted that the request conformed to the General Plan, the city’s land use map, and is consistent with surrounding property uses.

That was just his opinion, however, and he said he respected other views.

Lyons again made his opinion known, repeating that the vacant lot is an oasis in a sea of blacktop. He argued against Lake’s comment about it being beneficial to the community and said, “It’s not like we’re running out of land to develop.”

Concerns briefly noted about the lot serving as a retention pond were addressed by Lake and the City Engineer Greg Henry, who said it is not needed for current drainage in the area. Any new business will have to bring its own drainage plan, he said, but the current drainage situation there is adequate.

As a condition of the rezone, Wal-Mart and Smith’s agree to work “in good faith” to connect the two stores’ parking lots. The hope was to reduce traffic in the area by giving drivers a connection that wouldn’t require them get out onto Kingman’s busiest thoroughfare, Stockton Hill Road, just to drive from one parking lot to the other.

Newly-elected Councilman Keith Walker abstained from voting, as he does maintenance work for Wal-Mart, he said.

Council also:

• Granted an exception to the city’s subdivision regulations that will allow Hualapai Mountain Medical Center to pour the concrete foundation to the new hospital before gaining final approval of the site’s final plat, which will come before Council July 7;

• Approved a conditional use permit at 3060 Airway Ave. to allow an indoor/outdoor swap meet on the property, which the applicant said should be open July 4;

• Approved a conditional use permit allowing church services to be held at Manzanita Elementary School;

• Granted an exception to the requirement to extend water and connect to the city’s sewer system to a property owner on the outer edge of city limits. The request drew concerns about providing fire protection to the area, as the nearest hydrant is about 1,000 feet away, the fire chief said, but the request passed with a 4-3 vote.

• Approved a rezone request between Calumet Avenue and N. Swing Street to allow the owner to sell the property as C-3 commercial, the zoning intended by the General Plan and which conforms to the majority of surrounding property in the area.

View the full agenda and background information on these items online at CityofKingman.gov.