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45 °F 5 Day Forecast Sunday, November 30, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend July 25, 2003 Wal-Mart opposition gains edge Medford council considers ways to stop retailer from building Miles Field store By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Sobered by a visit from the world’s largest retailer to the planning department, and heeding pleas from worried citizens, the City Council has decided to try and stop the Wal-Mart Supercenter from coming to Miles Field. During Thursday’s noon study session, the Medford council discussed prohibiting the proposed "big box" store. "The City Council can stop Wal-Mart," City Attorney Ron Doyle told the council. So the council agreed to call an emergency council meeting for noon Monday, in order to direct staff to pursue changing laws and ordinances that would restrict such projects. Advertisement In April, Jackson County officials revealed plans to sell about 30 acres, including the Miles Field site near the South Gateway Center, to Wal-Mart for about $14 million. Wal-Mart officials announced in June that its Talent store will close when the South Gateway Wal-Mart Supercenter opens. Wal-Mart Supercenters are regular Wal-Mart stores combined with a full-service grocery store. Company officials announced three weeks ago that the store on Highway 62 in Medford will close when a Wal-Mart Supercenter opens in Central Point. The supercenter buildings are more than 200,000 square feet, about double the size of the current stores. On July 18, Wal-Mart staff and architects met with the planning department staff in a pre-application meeting to discuss requirements. So it’s a race against the clock. Doyle said state law requires that the council give 45 days notice to the Department of Land Conservation and Development before adopting new regulations. He warned, however, that the date the store’s application is submitted determines which planning rules apply. "So in essence if council were to get started on the process, Wal-Mart may find out and beat you to the punch," he said. "I share everybody’s concern, not just about Wal-Mart, but about big box (stores) as a whole," said Councilman Bob Strosser. "I don’t think we can cut selective rules and go after this in the time frame we’ve got." Councilwoman Claudette Moore said Wal-Mart isn’t a bad thing. "We have big boxes already," she said, adding that even when Kmart pulled out of their big building, it became Winco, which she said is beneficial. Councilman Jim Key disagreed. "I’m unable to accept a defeatist attitude," said Key, explaining that he has recently heard from many Medford residents who do not want the store. "If we do nothing, our citizens will certainly take us to task," he said. He said he’s afraid that in another four years the retailer would just pull out of the supercenter, because the Medford and Central Point stores are only seven miles apart, and they’d have to give up one. "Somebody’s stuck with a huge, huge store," he said. Doyle cautioned the council about the amount of staff work that would be involved in the process to try to rush it when Wal-Mart may move quickly anyway. He said they may just want to think about future policies. But Councilman Skip Knight said he didn’t want to see the project go forward. "This company is a travesty to the local community," he said. Even members who supported the "fast track" policy change admitted this is the 11th hour. "This could have been addressed a lot earlier," said Strosser. "I wish it had been done sooner." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times