City of Yakima
News Release
Subject: Contact: Wal-Mart Application CED Director Bill Cook - 575-6113 Supervising Planner Bruce Benson – 575-6042 Release Date: Friday, December 9th, 2005
Wal-Mart Information On City Website
In advance of next week’s public hearing on a proposed Wal-Mart in West Valley, a report prepared by City staff, environmental review information, and an architect’s rendering of what the store will look like have been posted on the City of Yakima website front page. The staff report, environmental information, and rendering can be seen in the “Front and Center” section of the City’s website at www.ci.yakima.wa.us. Next Wednesday (and Thursday, if necessary) City Hearing Examiner Gary Cuillier will accept public input on the proposed Wal-Mart site plan beginning at 7:00 pm at the Harman Center at 101 North 65th Avenue. The hearing is the next step in a land use process that began 2002. Over 3 years ago, property owned by Congdon Orchards, Inc. south of the intersection at 64th Avenue and Nob Hill Boulevard was rezoned allowing a category of land uses including “discount department store.” That rezone was challenged in court but was ultimately upheld by Superior Court Judge Michael Cooper in a decision released in late October of this year. The Wal-Mart proposal underwent a year-and-a-half-long environmental review. That review, completed this fall, resulted in the City requiring Wal-Mart to “mitigate,” or lessen, potential environmental impacts of its project like increased traffic, additional noise, bright lighting, etc. Based on information received during next week’s hearing along with other data, Cuillier will decide whether Wal-Mart can proceed with the building permit application and the full extent of environmental mitigation that Wal-Mart would have to meet. Community members interested in the project are encouraged to take a look at the “Wal-Mart Staff Report,” the “Wal-Mart FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) Documentation,” and the “Wal-Mart Perspective View” on the City’s website at www.ci.yakima.wa.us. Anyone can also contact the City’s Planning Division by phone (575-6183) or by e-mail (bbenson@ci.yakima.wa.us) for more information. Next week’s hearing will be taped and replayed on Y-PAC, channel 22 on Charter Cable. - end -