Westminster – Come the beginning of 2007, residents in north Westminster will have a new neighbor, and one that many are none too happy with: a 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter.
After a three-hour hearing, the City Council voted unanimously late Monday to approve the controversial store.
Nearly 300 people showed up to protest the store, and about three dozen testified against it at the public hearing.
But many didn’t stick around to watch the final vote. As council member after council member explained why they support the mega-retailer’s proposal, dozens of residents wheezed out of the crowded council chambers, like helium exiting a punctured party balloon.
“See you in November,” one man shouted as he left just after the council made it official. One woman cried.
“I’m really disappointed,” said Tonya Pohlman, blotting away tears. “I think it was a vote for money – tax revenue – and not a vote for the citizens of Westminster.”
Wal-Mart representatives, however, saw it differently.
“I have to say we’re pleased with the result, given the amount of time we’ve spent planning this development,” said Wal-Mart spokesman Keith Morris.
The vote ended an effort of more than a year by Wal-Mart to put a store at the Interstate 25 interchange at 136th Avenue. Wal-Mart initially tried to locate on the Thornton side, but was rebuffed by waves of angry residents who convinced city leaders to nix the plan. Wal-Mart then looked across the highway for a site.
At Monday night’s council meeting, one man presented the council with a 2,360-signature petition urging council members to reject the store. Resident after resident argued that the store is not right for the area.
They had concerns about increased traffic, about light pollution, about truck deliveries at all hours, about polluted runoff and poor drainage, and about Wal-Mart’s reputation as being a corporate bully.
“The people who are here tonight, we’re just saying the plan could be better,” said resident Megan Lindemann. “If there’s any doubt in your mind, just vote no. Because it’s so much easier to vote no now and vote yes later on something better.”
About six residents at the hearing expressed support for Wal-Mart. Most said they appreciated the store’s low prices and wanted to bring more shopping and jobs into the community.
When the hearing ended, each council member thanked the residents for their input, then explained why they thought Wal-Mart was a good fit.
“You’ve certainly been listened to,” Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally said.
“But being listened to doesn’t always mean you’ll get what you asked for.”
Staff writer John Ingold can be reached at 720-929-0898 or jingold@denverpost.com.
