Clermont, FL. Town Yields to Residents
Plaza Collina, residents agree to compromise [Orlando Sentinel]
Lake County’s largest proposed shopping center has cleared two major hurdles from state planners and local opponents.
The county Board of Adjustment on Wednesday approved a settlement agreement between Plaza Collina’s lead developer, The Goodman Co., and a group of residents who lobbied against plans for the 988,000-square-foot commercial center planned for 142 acres along State Road 50 on the Lake-Orange county line.
County commissioners also had asked the Florida Department of Community Affairs to determine whether those plans were significantly different from what they approved last year. State planners responded with an e-mail on Tuesday, reporting that “the Department does not have any evidence on which to conclude that the changes would create a substantial deviation.”
That is huge for Plaza Collina, where part of preliminary construction has been held up for weeks pending the decisions.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Thursday, September 20 | 0 comments | Permalink
Galt, CA. Planning Commission Discusses Ordinance
Wal-Mart eyes Galt site [Sacramento Bee (Calif.)]
Wal--Mart Stores Inc. wants to build a 132,000-square-foot superstore, including a garden center and grocery department, in the city of Galt.
Community Development Director Curt Campion told The Bee that the application filed Sept. 6 is for a Wal-Mart project on the south side of Twin Cities Road, east of Fermoy Way. That’s a short drive west of Highway 99.
The city Planning Commission already has been discussing a proposed ordinance to govern the establishment of superstores. The topic will be addressed at its next meeting later this month, Campion said.
Andrew Meredith, Galt’s vice mayor, said Tuesday that he is glad the superstore ordinance is being pursued.
The ordinance would ban superstores over 140,000 square feet that devote more than 10 percent of their floor space to groceries.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Thursday, September 20 | 0 comments | Permalink
Bath, NY. Town Shouldn’t Have to Pay for Wal-Mart
Citizens shouldn’t have to pay for Wal-Mart [Elmira Star-Gazette (NY)]
If a Wal-Mart Supercenter comes to Bath, we may all end up footing the bill.
The financial burden Wal-Mart places on a small community is extensive: increased spending on police and emergency services, fire protection, sewage and water expansion and roadway repair.
Wal-Mart promises a windfall of tax revenues to offset these burdens, but what they fail to mention is that they’ll also demand a lower tax assessment within a year or two of breaking ground. Wal-Mart has done this in communities all across the country—including right next door in Watkins Glen.
In September of 2006, Schuyler County and the village of Watkins Glen had to fight Wal-Mart in state Supreme Court after denying them a $5.4 million property tax reduction. They’re a business and should pay their fair share to support the community—just like local businesses have been doing here in Bath for 200 years.
Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Thursday, September 20 | 0 comments | Permalink
Letter to the Editor: Schnecksville, PA.
Stop the Wal-Mart in Schnecksville [Allentown Morning Call (Pa.)]
I recently received a letter that most people in the community have been dreading—a Wal-Mart in Schnecksville! As a member of this community, I take pride in the local businesses that exist here and do not want them pushed out by this large, inexpensive, overseas purchasing corporation.
As stated on WalMartWatch.com, all these supercenters do is create more traffic, the loss of local businesses and precious farmland and, the scariest of all, increased criminal activity! Who wants that in their backyards? Not me!
In a society that is going ‘’green,’’ Wal-Mart is among the least concerned. But, as a tax-paying citizen of North Whitehall Township, I am most concerned. I have started a petition to stop this virus from growing. I look forward to seeing my neighbors join me in this fight at the local township meetings and community gatherings.
Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Thursday, September 20 | 0 comments | Permalink
Clermont, FL. Developers Rethink Plans
Collina developers strike deal with residents [Orlando Sentinel]
Plaza Collina developers have reached a proposed settlement with opponents, although the controversial shopping center may still have to clear other hurdles with county and state officials.
A group of six residents agreed to dissolve their appeal of Lake County’s July 2 approval for the 988,000-square-foot commercial center planned for 142 acres along State Road 50 on the Lake-Orange county line. In return, the project’s lead developer, The Goodman Co., has agreed to pitch modified plans to the county to possibly preserve more trees, limit some external traffic impacts and reduce development near the South Lake Trail recreation corridor along the north border of the property.
The agreement will have to be approved by the county Board of Adjustment, which is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Minneola City Hall on U.S. Highway 27.
If approved, the settlement could prevent what was scheduled for three days of testimony from the developer and the appellants. But that likely will have no impact on a separate state review of Plaza Collina.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Wednesday, September 19 | 0 comments | Permalink
Bakersfield, CA. Back to the Beginning
This week a new chapter unfolds in the fate of two Walmart-Mart Super-center stores proposed for Bakersfield. The projects have been stalled for years by opposition and court battles.
On Thursday, both projects go to the Bakersfield Planning Commission for a public hearing and a vote on the new Environmental Impact Report. Monday, the commission had a meeting to get ready for the hearing.
One of the Walmart-Mart Super-center projects sits half-finished at Panama Lane, east of Highway 99. The other project never even got started—at Gosford between Pacheco and Harris.
First there were heated public meetings packed with opponents, then a group called Bakersfield Citizens for Local Control challenged the projects in court. In 2004, a judge ordered an entire new Environmental Impact Report.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Wednesday, September 19 | 0 comments | Permalink
Tarpon Springs, FL. Dispute Continues
Wal-Mart dispute simmers [St. Petersburg Times (Fla.)]
With a new Wal-Mart application before it, city staff’s previous decision to classify changes in the site plan as minor is once again a major point of contention.
Those opposing the big-box retailer claim that revisions to the original 2005 site plan are major, which means the project should go back before the city for a series of public hearings.
“They need to start the process all over again,” said Dory Larsen, a member of the anti-Wal-Mart group Friends of the Anclote.
But in the past, city staff hasn’t agreed. In August 2006, staff members determined a revised plan - which was later withdrawn - consisted of minor changes, which require review by only a small committee made up of staff.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Wednesday, September 19 | 0 comments | Permalink
Atascadero, CA. Wal-Mart Plans Advance
Wal-Mart back with new plan [San Luis Obispo Tribune (Calif.)]
Wal-Mart and developer The Rottman Group have taken the first official steps toward building a more than $100 million retail hub on Atascadero’s north side.
A representative for the two firms submitted plans late Monday afternoon for a 195,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter and adjacent Annex shopping center at Del Rio Road and El Camino Real, city and corporate officials told the local Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
The move came more than six months after the Arkansas-based chain filed — then abruptly withdrew — plans for a 236,000- square-foot store at the same site. Company officials said they decided to wait until Santa Barbara-based Rottman finished its plans for development across the street.
Debate over the projects has raged for nearly two years as residents consider how to boost Atascadero’s lagging sales tax revenue.
Critics have turned out in force at public forums and Atascadero City Council meetings to describe what they say are Wal-Mart’s predatory business tactics and substandard working conditions.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Wednesday, September 19 | 0 comments | Permalink
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