If Springfield voters want to block a Walmart Neighborhood Market from coming to the southwest corner of Grand Street and Campbell Avenue, they will have the chance to do so at the ballot box this summer.
In April, the city clerk’s office certified 1,808 signatures submitted from a diverse group of opponents calling for a repeal of council’s Feb. 25 decision to rezone property at the intersection to make way for Wal-Mart’s plans. In February, council voted 5-4 to rezone roughly 6 acres at 444 W. Grand St. and 427–515 W. Normal St. to general retail from a residential district. Last night, Springfield City Council members voted 6-2 against a repeal of its February decision, placing the issue on the Aug. 6 ballot.
Councilman Jerry Compton, who previously supported the zoning change, said he hadn’t changed his position.
“With respect to the bill, I think we voted correctly the last time. I think retail zoning is appropriate for that area,” Compton said. “Because some of the folks in our area thought retail zoning was appropriate, I will vote to support that, but not to reverse our earlier vote.”
In August, voters will be asked to affirm a repeal of the retail designation that would pave the way for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) to build its fifth Neighborhood Market in town. The Bentonville, Ark.-based megaretailer currently operates four of its grocery-focused Neighborhood Markets, five Supercenters and two Sam's Club stores in Springfield.
Councilmen Doug Burlison and Craig Hosmer were the only council members who voted to repeal the zoning change. Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky was absent from the meeting.
“I am still under the firm belief that the proposed project is of too high an intensity for this particular parcel,” Burlison said. “It’s going to be problematic with traffic.”
The petitioners are a coalition comprising members of Stand up to Wal-Mart, Citizens Advocating for Responsible Development, Stop the Neighborhood Market Project, Save Calvary, area residents and university students. At last night’s meeting, City Attorney Dan Wichmer said the city charter requires council repeal the rezoning in accordance with the initiative petition or send the issue to voters. After the vote to repeal failed, council members unanimously voted to put the matter on the Aug. 6 ballot.
Calvary Temple/Life 360 church and several nearby residents have agreed to sell their properties to Wal-Mart, but the sales are contingent upon the developers securing the zoning change to a general retail district. With petitioners gathering enough signatures for a repeal, the zoning will remain in limbo until the Aug. 6 vote, according to a March city news release. The estimated cost of the election is $80,000 to $100,000.
In a February public hearing on the zoning change, several business owners, including Erick Taylor of Price Cutter, said they felt a center-city Walmart store would be detrimental to downtown. Taylor has said publicly the company could move to close its downtown Bistro Market should Wal-Mart be permitted to build at Grand and Campbell.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
