Big Box Battle in Heber

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) David and Goliath are headed for a showdown in Heber next Tuesday. Citizens group "Put Heber Valley First" is hoping its yard signs and door-to-door campaigning will convince residents to "say no" to Wal-Mart and other big box stores:

"We believe we have a city and a community and valley that has more to gain from keeping that uniqueness than from compromising it," says Matt Heimburger, an organizer of Put Heber Valley First. "Wal-Mart is capable of building smaller stores - they've done it. Frankly if Wal-Mart says 'We'll come into your community and build a 50-thousand square-foot store,' we'll say 'Okay.'"

Put Heber Valley First is campaigning against a zoning change that would allow big box stores larger than 60-thousand square-feet in Heber. The Boyer Company wants to build a 149-thousand square-foot Wal-Mart as one anchor in a development of shops and restaurants on Heber's Main Street.

Boyer Company Retail Director Wade Williams says surveys commissioned by his company show 90-percent of Heber residents have shopped in a Wal-Mart in the last 60 days.

"It doesn't make sense to have a community leaving to go buy daily needs and have that sales tax go help another community," says Williams.

With a Wal-Mart in Heber, Williams says the town will reap sales taxes to pay for trails, parks and other improvements. The Heber City Council changed the zoning laws to accommodate the Boyer Development, but Heimburger and others managed to challenge it with a referendum.

A "no" vote by Heber residents on Tuesday would undo the zoning change.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Election Coverage, and Election 2007. Copyright 2008 KCPW