Turlock (CA) wins Wal--Mart court right- big box discount grocery stores

[Kadie]

Turlock wins Wal--Mart court right

By MICHAEL MELLO
BEE STAFF WRITER


Last Updated: April 5, 2006, 12:15:33 PM PDT


TURLOCK -- A state appellate court ruled today that an ordinance designed to keep discount "big box" businesses from operating grocery stores in Turlock is legal.

The Turlock City Council passed the ordinance with a 5-0 vote in 2004, arguing a "supercenter" the Wal-Mart corporation wanted to build in the city would cause substantial traffic congestion, and as a result, be detrimental to the environment. The proposed 225,000-square-foot supercenter on Countryside Drive east of Highway 99 would have included a large grocery section.

Wal-Mart sued in Stanislaus County Superior Court, saying it was being singled out as a retailer and that the ordinance violated state law by using zoning powers to regulate business competition.

Judge Roger Beauchesne disagreed, saying officials had "a legitimate concern for blight, traffic congestion and its resulting air pollution."

Wal-Mart appealed, and today's appellate court opinion affirmed Beauchesne's ruling.


http://www.modbee.com/local/pmupdates/v-dp_morning/story/12018729p-12777440c.html

[LSparkle]

1. Interesting ... is the Central Valley turning blue?

Or at least getting hip to the fact that Wal-Mart doesn't have a community's best interests at heart?

[Le Taz Hot]

3. A reminder that

the Central Valley, or at least Fresno County, voted for Clinton in 1996.

[LSparkle]

5. Good -- I wasn't aware of that

My mother lives in Paso Robles and whenever I drive up I5 to visit her, all I hear on the radio is Druggie Limpbag. (But of course those are probably Bakersfield stations, not Fresno, I must remember.)

[AndyA]

2. We have a new Wal-Mart Superstore going in

and it's located near one of the most congested areas of the city. Two miles to the north, and two miles to the south, existing Wal-Mart stores will close when this new one opens, leaving huge empty retail spaces.

In order to build this new Wal-Mart, a strip retail shopping center (which was fairly full with tenants) was torn down, as was a Service Merchandise store and a General Cinema Theatre. The arterial streets in this part of town cannot handle the gridlocked traffic now, much less after this new store opens.

I can't stand Wal-Mart, and I don't shop there. I will drive several more miles and pay more to support stores that sell American products, and treat their employees fairly.

[demosincebirth]

4. Not too may products are home grown except for fruits and vegatables...

I know what you mean. I never shop there either.

[pberq]

6. Kick & Nominated - good to hear about someone standing up to Wal-Mart