The city of Lompoc might have signed off on the proposed expansion of the Walmart on West Central Avenue, but a number of residents opposed to the project still have a few options.
The grassroots organization Citizens Against Walmart Expansion filed an appeal to the project’s development plan on Feb. 22, and has since retained Santa Barbara-based attorney Marc Chytilo. On April 15, Chytilo delivered a letter to the city laying out reason’s for the organization’s appeal, which will be heard by the council on May 3.
“There are numerous reasons why the Wal-Mart Expansion Project is not in the best interest of the City and its residents,” Chytilo wrote. “… Additionally there is a strong legal basis on which to base a denial including a) that the Project is inconsistent with Lompoc’s General Plan, b) that substantial evidence does not support required findings of approval, and c) that the proposed Conditions of Approval are insufficient to safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare.”
Citizens Against Walmart Expansion cites as a problem inadequate Lompoc fire and police department facilities and personnel to address safety issues that might arise from having a heavily frequented super-store in the city, according to a number of city public safety reports.
The opposition also cites possible parking problems and alleges Walmart uses unfair competitive business practices that will be a detriment to existing grocery stores and retailers.
Chytilo wrote that the Walmart expansion will cause an urban blight issue by forcing other Lompoc businesses to close, and thus create “an excess of vacant and potentially unusable retail space.”
But Walmart is still confident the project will move ahead.
“On behalf of our customers and over 3,200 Lompoc area supporters, we are disappointed to hear that an appeal was filed,” Walmart Senior Spokesperson Amelia Neufield write in an e-mail to the Sun.
“We appreciate the support of the planning commission and city council in certifying the project’s Environmental Impact Report, and look forward to communicating the benefits of an expanded and remodeled Lompoc Walmart store to the city council on May 3, including creating approximately 85 new jobs and generating additional tax revenues for vital city services,” Neufield wrote.
John Hess, who said he’s a longtime Lompoc resident and a vocal supporter of the expansion, called a Sun reporter to talk about the issue after, he said, someone identified as a member of Walmart’s public relations department contacted him upon learning the Sun was reporting on the development and asked him to speak up.
“[CAWE’s] opposition to the project is miniscule, and it’s union-driven. This has been through the process, and the elected officials have already done their job,” Hess said. “Walmart has jumped through hoops for this, and when you meet the terms and conditions, you can’t discriminate against a business—even if you don’t like them.”
After nearly four years of debate on the issue, the city’s Planning Commission voted 3-1 to approve the development plan on Feb. 9. Commissioner Kate Griffith was the sole dissenting vote, and commissioner Frank Hain recused himself from the vote because he has a family member who runs a competing grocery store.
The commission rejected the project’s Environmental Impact Report in 2010, a decision Walmart appealed to the City Council. The council accepted that appeal on Feb. 1.
The plan proposes to add 41,433 square feet to the existing 104,453-square-foot store. Including the garden center—a portion of which will be removed to accommodate the increase in general merchandise area—the store will take up a total area of more than 150,000 square feet.
According to a city staff report, Walmart plans to remodel the front of the store and add on to the rear and western walls of the building. The expanded store will operate 24 hours a day.
Neufield said expansion construction is estimated to take between 12 to 15 months.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 5, 2011.
