Salt Lake City Councilmen to Hold Meeting about Wal-Mart
Apr 22, 2008 by Jeff Robinson
(KCPW News) Tonight, two Salt Lake City councilmen will meet with residents and business owners in Sugar House to hear what they have to say about Wal-Mart's petition to re-zone the K-Mart site at the mouth of Parley's Way."We're providing this forum to listen to what our constituents have to say, and they'll actually have an opportunity to talk to some of the experts within the planning department on the realities of the petition," said Sixth District Councilman J.T. Martin.
Martin represents the northeastern part of Sugar House and owns the Emigration Market at 17th East and 13th South. He'll be joined at the meeting by Soren Simonsen, who represents District Seven, where the Wal-Mart will be built.
If approved, the re-zoning would allow Wal-Mart to add a grocery store in the center. But Martin says he is not concerned about how the decision will affect his own business one way or the other.
"We're such different businesses, and someone would really have to be stretched to feel that I had a conflict," he said. "It means nothing to me. We run very different types of businesses. What I do doesn't affect them; what they do does not affect me."
Tonight's meeting is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Dilworth Elementary School. Wal-Mart will still be able to move into K-Mart's existing building if the city council rejects the re-zoning petition, but could not build a new structure. To read Wal-Mart's take on the re-zoning petition, visit www.walmartutah.com.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Ben said:
I feel very sad that Wal*Mart has basically taken the community there hostage. Either "let us do what we want and have a pleasant new store and new site layout..." or "We bought the land already. When K-Mart closes we can either a) leave the property vacant and continue to blight or b) open a 'regular' Wal*Mart discount store in the old shell of a worn out K-Mart. Take your pick!"
Neither is an especially desirable option, but it sure looks like the supercenter option would be the way I'd have to vote. :-( One could hope that the city would somehow prohibit 24-hour operation.
3. Scott Kisling said:
This community was blind-sided when KMart built, and has spent the many years since then getting -- and protecting -- the zoning that's in place now. We don't want a WalMart, or a Target for that matter. The current zoning reflects what we want.Furthermore, the current building is not shaped or oriented anything like any other WalMart. I am not convinced they will simply remodel the current building -- it is just not an efficient layout. For them to say otherwise is simply a threat. WalMart bought the property speculating that they can get the zoning changed. If they don't get it rezoned they'll just sell, and with a new owner we have a chance at getting what we've worked for for many years.Please listen to what those closest to KMart want. We have the patience to wait for something better. Thank you.
2. Jill Burke said:
Wal-Mart markets the proposed supercenter as "better than what is there". While no one would argue that revitalizing the property would be a positive step, however, we have to ask ourselves is Wal-Mart's idea of "it's better than what it there" is BEST for our neighborhood. I believe our city officials must enforce the rules and assure the community that Wal-Mart will abide by the existing zoning ordinances that were in place when they purchased the property. A rezone does not fit within the city's master plan. Let's set a good example and follow the rules as they were intended. NO REZONE, NO SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS!