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62 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, October 14, 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 October 1, 2003 More than 200 attend meeting in Central Point to look at issues with proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — As community members packed the Expo’s Padgham Pavilion Tuesday night to get further details about a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter, the retail giant itself expressed anger at not being able to present its point of view. "It seems to me if the city is interested in having a format where citizens’ questions about a project can be answered that you would, at the very least, invite the applicant," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amy Hill said in a statement issued earlier in the day. City Planning Director Tom Humphrey, however, said Wal-Mart officials on a mailing list obtained earlier in the planning process had been invited, but had obviously chosen not to attend. More than 200 residents were in attendance — including nearly 40 government class students from Crater High School, who helped summarize comments collected throughout the meeting. Advertisement Participants moved between tables marked with balloons to indicate four issues — traffic, environmental, neighborhood compatibility and economic impact. While most participants questioned said they believed the issues were addressed in an unbiased fashion, Hill expressed her disappointment with what she called the city’s "one-sided approach." "We just wanted to make sure that the community knew that this forum was premature, since the city has not even deemed our application complete," Hill wrote. "We feel that community members may be disappointed to learn tonight that the people who could answer the pertinent questions were not invited to do so." Humphrey emphasized the intent of the open forum was to address individual issues associated with the project, and not to collect votes for or against the project. Yet, at most tables, residents who felt one way or another made their opinions known. At the economic table, former city councilwoman Carol Fisher and her husband Willy put in their two cents. "We need something out here," said Carol Fisher. "And it really would be great to have everything under one roof and to not have to go to Medford to shop. We need the taxes they’d pay, too." Traffic was another matter. While a handful of residents felt traffic would bring more business to town, more often than not the comments cited the negative impact of added congestion to an already failed intersection. "There are no pros with traffic," said Central Point resident Larry Lucy, pointing to five store entrances between Hamrick and Pine streets on a preliminary plan. "This is a definite cons table. The traffic can’t get any worse out there. It’s going to be just ridiculous." Lucy said he was not just "anti-Wal-Mart" due to traffic, but also due to rumors of the store paying low wages and selling sub-standard merchandise. "Wal-Mart doesn’t support communities or schools," added Gebhard Road resident Velma Meiners. "We’ll support Wal-Mart, when they support us." Meiner said her biggest of many concerns was traffic. "Getting to the freeway (from Gebhard) takes 20 minutes. It used to take me five before they closed the bridge. When they put a Wal-Mart out there it’s gonna take me an hour." Robert Boggess, manager of Naumes Properties, said he was glad residents got the chance to air their concerns, but was disappointed at repeated late notices for meetings throughout the process. Boggess said he only learned of the Tuesday meeting on Saturday and that Wal-Mart officials were also unaware of the scheduled event. Boggess also felt the format of the meeting was geared at collecting negative feedback rather than positive. He said while the community of Central Point seemed to support Wal-Mart coming to town, that the city had had reservations from the beginning. "I think if you look at the questions, most were very much focused on negative impacts. This was a bad combination of lack of proper notice for the meeting and negative nature of questions being asked," he said. "After hearing the responses summarized, I’m encouraged that the applicant has provided response to those issues," he said. "I think once Wal-Mart is given a proper forum to address those issues then most of those concerns will be resolved. They very much want to work with the community and make a positive contribution." Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford.E-mail her at [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