Western Regional News Update: March 16, 2007

CALIFORNIA SITE FIGHT: COUNCIL EXPLAINS DECISION
Council explains Wal-Mart decision [Brentwood (Calif.) Discovery Bay Press]
Although the planned expansion of Wal-Mart into a 24-hour supercenter was essentially killed at the Feb. 13 City Council meeting, it was made official last week as the council cited four reasons for its decision.

WASHINGTON SITE FIGHT: WORKING ON SETTLEMENT
City officials working on settlement with Wal-Mart [Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic]
Although a court date looms, Yakima officials are trying to settle their differences with Wal-Mart in closed-door negotiations. “The attorneys for the city are hopeful that we’ll be able to resolve those issues without having to actually go to court,” said Randy Beehler, Yakima’s communication manager.

HAWAII SITE FIGHT: TOPPING THE AGENDA
Big box, county attorney top agenda [Kauai (Hawaii) Garden World]
A representative for Wal-Mart and a government watchdog yesterday offered pros and cons for a bill limiting the size of big box stores as the Kaua‘i County Council scheduled an April 25 public hearing on the issue.

NEVADA SITE FIGHT: CLOSE, OPEN
One Wal-Mart closes as another opens [Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal]
A new Wal-Mart Supercenter scheduled to open in summer 2008 on tribal land along Glendale Avenue east of its junction with U.S. 395 will mark the closure of the Wal-Mart on Northtowne Lane. 

REDDING, CA. SITE FIGHT: SUPERCENTER OK’D
Store might grow on Dana [Redding (Calif.) Record]
Wal-Mart’s bid to bulk its Redding store into a Supercenter goes back before the Planning Commission on Tuesday for final approval.

Wal-Mart’s Supercenter again OK’d [Redding (Calif.) Record Searchlight]
It was deja vu all over again Tuesday in Wal-Mart’s four-year bid to turn its Redding store into a Supercenter.

Wal-Mart debate is about anything but city planning [Redding (Calif.) Record Searchlight]
The outcome of this week’s Redding Planning Commission vote on Wal-Mart’s expansion into the grocery business was a foregone conclusion.

CHICO, CA. SITE FIGHT: SUPERVISORS OBJECT TO SECOND WAL-MART
Supervisors object to second Chico Wal-Mart [Chico (Calif.) Enterprise-Record]
The Butte County Board of Supervisors Tuesday detailed many objections to a plan to build a 210,000-square-foot Wal-Mart in north Chico.

Chico Wal-Mart tops supervisors’ agenda [Chico (Calif.) Enterprise-Record]
Wal-Mart will be on the agenda at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, which begins at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 25 County Center.

Don Brennan: One Wal-Mart is enough [Chico (Calif.) Enterprise-Record]
Is it light at the end of the tunnel? At least in Concord, Antioch and Hercules it is. Where those who care about the image and successful long-term growth of their cities have been enlightened enough to have added their names to the list of hose who stopped or limited the growth of the Wal-Mart colossus in their communities.

SAN DIEGO, CA. SITE FIGHT: URBAN STORES
Wal-Mart plans to expand 2 stores [San Diego (Calif.) Union-Tribune]
Wal-Mart is planning its first two Supercenters – which include groceries – in San Diego County by expanding existing stores in Oceanside and Vista.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Friday, March 16, 2007

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