Wal Mart Neighborhood Market to Open in Central

    The Central City Council met on Tuesday night to discuss and vote on the zoning case granting a conditional use permit to Wal Mart Neighborhood Market. The proposed development is a grocery store and service station on the north side of Hooper near the northwest corner of Hooper and Joor.  The ordinance was recommended for denial by the Central Planning and Zoning Commission with a 4-3 vote.  The council, after many questions for Wal Mart representatives and a lengthy discussion, voted 3-2 to approve the ordinance and allow Wal Mart Neighborhood Market to build at that location.
    In the presentation to the council, the Wal Mart representative described the proposed development, stating that this will be a grocery store, so it will be smaller than the Wal Mart Supercenter currently in Central.  He said that the proposed development complies with building codes and meets current zoning requirements.  Wal Mart has also reached an agreement to leave a 2 acre tract of property between the store and the nearby neighborhood as a “buffer zone” of wooded area.
    When the time came for public comment, those in opposition stated concern for traffic impact, crime, and competition with existing businesses.  Those in favor emphasized their support of free enterprise and bringing commerce to Central, and one speaker stated that, if the proposed development meets all of the legal criteria, he felt that the council is obligated to approve the development.
    During council discussion, council members had many questions for the Wal Mart representative, the city lawyer, and representatives from city staff.  The city staff had recommended approval of the ordinance, and Council Member Ellis pointed out that, if the proposed development meets all of the legal criteria for the B-5 zoned property, he felt that the development needed to be approved.
    An amendment, requiring Wal Mart to have the buffer in effect before a building permit could be issued, was made to the ordinance as a condition of approval.  The final vote on the ordinance was a 3-2 vote to approve, with council members Ellis, Messina, and Vance voting for, and council members Evans and Fralick voting against.