Westminster residents pummeled their City Council with concerns and complaints about a proposed Wal-Mart on Monday night.
It was the second time in two weeks that hundreds of Westminster residents showed up at a council meeting to protest a Wal-Mart. What remained to be seen, however, was whether this group of residents fared any better than the last.
Two weeks ago, the Westminster City Council voted unanimously to approve a Wal-Mart Supercenter at the interchange of 136th Avenue and Interstate 25, over the concerns of about 300 residents. On Monday night, an even larger group – about 500 residents – came to the council meeting to protest a proposed Supercenter at 72nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard.
The store would go into an aging shopping center that the city hopes to revitalize. To make the project work, the City Council would need to change some of the area’s zoning from residential to commercial.
The meeting stretched late into the night.
Earlier in the evening, Wal-Mart foes, many wearing bright-yellow T-shirts that advertised their opposition, gathered outside Westminster city hall, buoyant with optimism.
“If the city listens to the people and listens to the fact that 3,000 have come out and signed a petition saying this isn’t how we want our city to look and function, then we probably have a chance,” said Dino Valente, whose family owns a deli near the proposed Wal-Mart site. “If they just want to look at sales tax, then we probably don’t have a chance. Either way, we’re going to fight to the very end.”
As the meeting began, Mayor Nancy McNally sternly laid down the ground rules for the public hearing: No applause; no catcalls.
“This isn’t a popularity contest,” she warned.
After a brief presentation from Wal-Mart representatives, residents had their chance to speak. Dozens came forward to complain about the proposal. They had concerns about traffic, safety, crime, pollution, runoff, home values and Wal-Mart business practices, among other issues.
Some worried that the project would harm an affordable-housing project being built just to the south of the proposed site. One person called the store a “planned debacle.” Another referred to the megaretailer as “Osama bin Wal-Mart.”
“This type of development is not harmonious with the surrounding residential (neighborhood), which will be less than 200 feet away,” said resident Gary Wildung.
A handful of people came forward to support the store. Mostly they said they supported bringing more jobs and tax revenue to the city.
“I believe it is in our best interest to welcome Wal-Mart to our community,” said resident Earnest Kennedy, wearing a small yellow button that said, “Say yes to Wal-Mart.”
“Please don’t let a very vocal minority sway your vote. I believe that approving the Wal-Mart Supercenter … is a first step to revitalizing south Westminster,” Kennedy said.
Staff writer John Ingold can be reached at 720-929-0898 or jingold@denverpost.com.
