From Deseret News archives:

Poll finds 73% are opposing Wal-Mart

2nd study says adding store would benefit Centerville

Published: Thursday, July 15, 2004 6:39 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
CENTERVILLE — As the debate over a potential Wal-Mart Super Center here rages on, two unrelated studies were released Wednesday night, one showing positive results, one negative.

A poll found the majority of residents — 73 percent — don't want the store, while an economic study generally predicted the store would be a financial gain for the city.

The proposal is for an approximate 200,000-square-foot, $28 million Wal-Mart Super Center to be built on just over 19 acres at Parrish Lane and 400 West. The surrounding development would also include one restaurant and one small retailer.

The Centerville Citizens First commissioned Insight Research of Salt Lake City to interview 400 heads of households in Centerville to gather their collective opinions on the possible Wal-Mart.

While the group admits its motivations for the study were against the Wal-Mart, it says the poll was done in a scientific and unbiased manner.

"There's no hidden agenda here," said Ray Briscoe of Insight Research. He said he balanced the interviews by asking both negative and positive questions.

However, he said he's never conducted interviews that revealed such intense feelings.

"This is an issue of tremendous citizen concern," he said.

Story continues below
Among other findings, the poll, with an error margin of 4.7 percent, found:

• Among residents, 96 out of 100 feel the Wal-Mart store is an important or very important issue.

• One in 50 residents want the store badly, while one in six believe the city ought to have a Wal-Mart.

• More than three out of four residents are opposed to it, and 48 percent are strongly against it.

At a Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday night at Centerville City Hall, the "Wal-Mart Economic and Fiscal Impact Analysis," by Lewis Young Robertson and Burningham Inc. of Salt Lake City, was released. The study, funded by redevelopment agency money, was commissioned by the city.

Some of its conclusions were:

• While other existing sales tax revenues in the city will drop initially with a new Wal-Mart, the store will still increase total sales tax revenue from $475,000 to $800,000 a year. That's a 25 to 42 percent increase.

• The estimated 15-year value of the store to Centerville would be $9 million to 11 million.

• Centerville would need to spend $80,000 a year out of its general funds to accommodate the store, particularly with extra police protection.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Bin Ladin was within reach of U.S.

Look, these guys are pretty slippery for Bush or Clinton. The fact is that...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

The only thing worse than his stats in the game were his remarks after. Even...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

Maybe because the U doesn't pretend to be christians like the BYU crowd.

Wow. All of you BYU fans that are supporting Max Hall's comments should be...

Cougars beat Utes, 26-23

"Snare | 10:51 p.m. Nov. 28, 2009 I don't know if it has been said yet or...

Couldn't agree more with Hall. Oh yeah........and..... GEORGE IS...

Here's one fan who is thrilled with another amazing finish. Go Cougars...

Field goals, penalties doomed Utes

sorry to hear Max's post-game comments. He needs to be a bigger person given...

They should go back to that color permanently. It suits them better, and...

Comments such as Max's tirade are very troublesome. It will be interesting to...

Advertisements