Littleton – Wal-Mart opponents will reconvene in Littleton tonight to discuss a new strategy after the City Council voted 4-3 early this morning to approve rezoning to allow a Supercenter on Santa Fe Drive.
The group could seek a ballot initiative to repeal the decision, file a lawsuit against the city or start a recall election against Mayor Jim Taylor and the three councilmembers who supported rezoning — Pat Cronenberger, Amy Conklin and John Ostermiller. The meeting is at 7 p.m., tonight, at the Bemis Public Library.
“It’s been an uphill battle and we’ve been fighting every step of the way,” said Debbie Brinkman, a member of Littleton Against Wal-Mart. ”
Opponent Jeff Kimes added, “They’re going against the will of the people … If they don’t represent us, then maybe we need a new city council in here.”
Kal Murib supported Wal-Mart, though the store would represent competition for his Littleton business, Centennial Vac & Sew.
“I don’t think we as Americans can dictate which businesses come to town and which don’t,” he said, “as long as they follow the law and respect our heritage and way of life.”
Wal-Mart officials asked to rezone on 23.5-acre site from “suburban-residential” to “planned commercial.” The site, which is currently a commercial nursery, is immediately north of the Wolhurst Landing neighborhood and the Aspen Grove shopping center on Santa Fe Drive.
More than 400 people jammed city chambers Tuesday night, many watching the hearing on televisions set up in overflow rooms and the City Hall lobby. This was the second hearing on the zoning request, and it continued until the council voted at 2:30 a.m. this morning.
Before Tuesday, the city planning department had received 1,314 public comments in favor of Wal-Mart and 151 against it.
“This is the kind of thing we run into all the time,” said Gray McGinnis, the Denver-based government relations coordinator for Wal-Mart in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming,. “We run into a small, well-intentioned but very loud opposition group that does a good job of pushing its agenda, but probably doesn’t represent the majority of the community.”
The store also would be a neighbor to South Platte Park, hurting water quality and other wildlife habitat, opponents claim.
Opponents have said the proposed 24-hour Supercenter would bring around-the-clock traffic and noise to their community.
McGinnis said the store has worked with the city to eliminate residents’ environmental concerns.
“I think the city staff and council would agree that Wal-Mart has worked with them in every way to ensure this is a good-looking store that will do the citizens of Littleton proud,” he said.
Staff writer Joey Bunch can be reached at 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
