Wal-Mart has missed all its construction deadlines in Iowa City, Iowa, thanks to the effort of local residents who have tied the retailer up in court. Richard Byers and Gary Sanders, of the group Iowa City Stop Wal-Mart, charge in their lawsuit that the city’s Board of Adjustment approved a special exception to rezone 54 acres of land for a supercenter without waiting for the City Council to approve the rezoning. A citizen from Iowa City filed the following report with Sprawl-Busters: “A group is trying to block construction of a Wal-Mart supercenter in Iowa City. The supercenter would be built on land near an existing Wal-Mart, which would be abandoned. There already is a supercenter about four miles away in the neighboring town, Coralville. Two members of Iowa City Stop Wal-Mart have filed lawsuits against the Iowa City Council and Iowa City Board of Adjustment. Both trials are scheduled for Feb. 23, 2006. 1,000 Friends of Iowa is as an “intervener” (supporter, not plaintiff) in the lawsuits. The case against the City Council relates to the council ignoring the detrimental effect a supercenter would have on the city and violating the city’s zoning ordinance. The case against the Board of Adjustment relates to the fact that the board approved a special exception to rezone 54 acres for the store before the City Council approved rezoning for the project and to the negative impact a supercenter would have on small businesses and the local economy. The special exception allows for a drive-through pharmacy and a gas station as part of the supercenter plus the purchase agreement would limit the types of business and uses on the land around the supercenter.”
According to the Iowa City Press-Citizen newspaper, the court has allowed an amicus brief from a second group, 1,000 Friends of Iowa. The court date will take place February 23rd. For local contacts in Iowa City, contact [email protected]
