Big Box Brouhaha
Salinas City Council repeals big box ordinance
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Wal-Mart won—sort of. After a nearly four-hour meeting, the Salinas City Council tonight repealed its big box ordinance and directed staff to negotiate with the giant retailer over how they will offset traffic and environmental impacts for a new store in Harden Ranch.
The lengthy meeting split the council 4-3 and also divided union groups who wanted a new ordinance to require large retailers to complete a full EIR and business representatives who wanted a straight up repeal.
Wal-Mart-funded signature gatherers collected nearly 7,200 signatures to repeal the ordinance, which would have limited the amount groceries it could offer. The council’s move won’t give voters a say but will save the city $230,000 in election expenses.
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