Ruling could pave way for center city Wal-Mart store

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) appears to be in the clear to build a 40,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market store in center city Springfield.

The Southern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals yesterday upheld an earlier decision by Missouri circuit court Judge Gerald McBeth, of Nevada, who in July 2013 ruled a referendum petition seeking to block the rezoning of center city property at the southwest corner of Grand Street and Campbell Avenue would not head to a public vote. That decision paved the way for a fifth Walmart Neighborhood Market in Springfield.

The petition sought to overturn council's February 2013 decision to rezone roughly 6 acres at 444 W. Grand St. and 427–515 W. Normal St. After groups opposed to the Neighborhood Market store near downtown entered the petition, council in May 2013 did not reverse the zoning decision and opted to put the matter on the Aug. 6 ballot. The lawsuit filed in response by Life 360 Church/Calvary Temple and Robert and Jennifer Buchanan - contracted to sell property to Wal-Mart - put the vote on hold, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

In July 2013, petitioners Lynn Myers and Charles Booth requested to intervene in the case because the city conceded the church could be harmed if the issue went before voters.[[In-content Ad]]