Washington state is being assaulted by Wal-Mart supercenters, and the residents in many towns are taking up arms. Here’s a report from the front lines of one small town that just hit the alert button: “The town of Chelan (pop 9000), Washington, just found out Monday, February 14th that a Walmart SuperStore is coming. We are a classic small town that has resisted allowing chain food joints in the past. We are a tourist and apple farming community. Tourists come to enjoy our small town feeling and the beautiful Lake Chelan on the edge of the Cascade mountains. WalMart is to be the anchor store in a mixed commercial/industrial area recently annexed to the town. They will take up 20 acres. The limit by the city required that no more than 50% be commercial. It is unclear what if any hoops Walmart needs to step through between now and moving dirt. There may be a water resource issue. A Citizens group is meeting friday to discuss.
For related Washington state stories, search this database by “Washington”. For local contacts in the anti-Wal-Mart effort in Chelan, contact [email protected]
