Saratoga Springs panel votes to OK Wal-Mart
Only a handful of residents attended Tuesday's public hearing the first and only to take place so far to raise concerns about the development.
One resident, Brett Houghton, who co-owns American Car Care Centers in a nearby location, said he was not opposed to Wal-Mart but accused the planning commission of having a double standard.
Houghton said his car establishment was not allowed in the "gateway" area, because its primary purpose is to repair cars. Wal-Mart also has an auto center as a part its store.
"I don't think big box retail is the same as a tire center," said Clark Labrum, city planning director. "I can't honestly say the tire store was thought about when this was listed, but I think the intent was that there would be multiple components, variable components, of a big box retail."
Several other residents expressed concerns about increased traffic caused by the store or what will happen if Wal-Mart decides to vacate the premises in the future.
"There's no guarantee they will stay there," said planning commissioner Butch Johnson. "If you put them in there, you know it's the newest, biggest, greatest store and you hope it will be popular, but if it's not, they'll vacate it and move on. It's just that simple."
Robert Arrington, from CLC Associates Inc., who presented the site plan for the development said Wal-Mart will conduct an independent traffic study of the area and most likely will work with UDOT to help with traffic flow.
In addition to providing awnings for shade, a brick exterior, and benches with planters in the parking lot, Wal-Mart agreed to add more pedestrian walkways to and from the location.
A public hearing on the location is tentatively set for the next City Council meeting on July 25 at City Hall.
E-mail: achoate@desnews.com
Comments
- Germans win men's beach volleyball 12:13 p.m.
- Inmate stabbed in head during brawl 11:56 a.m.
- Cards' Pujols leads All-Star voting 11:52 a.m.
- Federer beats Roddick 11:51 a.m.
- Military ordered to turn back jet 11:44 a.m.
- US not stand in Israel's way on Iran 11:39 a.m.
- G-8 greeted skeptically by some 11:38 a.m.
- Deal on arms control expected 11:36 a.m.
- Yankees' Wang goes on DL 11:36 a.m.
- Swimmer Lezak skips Worlds 11:35 a.m.
- Stadium of Fire lights up the 4th
- Millsap not franchise player
- Utahn reunites with officer
- Can Jazz escape luxury-tax mess?
- The BCS sure won't fix itself
- Interest in Millsap dwindling?
- Jazz talked Kirilenko for McGrady
- Obama deprives Iran of scapegoat
- NKorea fires 7 missiles defying U.S.
- 'Tea party' protesters unhappy
- Boozer not opting out of contract
180 - Palin resigning as governor
101 - Lack of Obama photos concerning
99 - Don't listen to marriage cynics
93 - Utah leaner in too-fat country
91 - Editorial: A sad day for Utah
86 - Palin's and Romney's roles in 2012?
86 - Jazz plan to re-sign Millsap
81 - Jazz talked Kirilenko for McGrady
73 - Y. gets verbal from cornerback
69
The night was balmy though buggy at SPOC, the Stansbury Park Observatory...
the title could use some sense review. Instead of "beat people up", why not...
I'd like to ask a general question to any of you that might know. Have you...
“Cap and trade is free market oriented. When an efficient company sells...
THis is the first sensible comment I have read. My hope is that a trade like...
Anonymous | 9:34 p.m I endured the Nixon recession that carried over into...
We've got plenty of options available to us. I still think some sort of trade...
I filled up my watter several times. Drinking fountain was on at my end.
Actually, the Spurs signed Richard Jefferson, not Al Jefferson.
Those who forget Teddy Roosevelt's words about walking softly and carrying a...
Don't forget that in an article last week Sloan (I think) said that they like...



You can be the first to comment on this story.