We reported on July 24, 2004 that a developer in Lincoln, California had shocked local residents by proposing the city’s largest retail development, anchored by a 227,000 s.f. Wal-Mart superstore. The Sacramento Bee reported last week that the developer suddenly, and without explanation, withdrew his proposal for the so-called “South Main Village.” The land chosen for this huge “Village” was partly zoned “Village Commercial”, and the developer would have had a fascinating time trying to show local officials how a store six times the size of a football field could be classified as “Village” in scale. Lincoln Promenade Investors, the developer, hand-delivered a letter to the Lincoln Community Development Department on October 22 saying they were withdrawing plans for the Wal-Mart. The Bee reports that the Wal-Mart project “has been the subject of heated debate and a major issue in the upcoming City Council election.”
For now, residents in Lincoln have won their battle against Wal-Mart, but most residents expect the giant retailer will be back looking for another place to sprawl, or even the same project. When it comes to Wal-Mart, you have to keep on winning every battle that you’ve won. It is hoped that after November 2nd, Lincoln can take a new look at its zoning code and make sure that the size of retail stores gets capped.
