Residents in DeSoto, Texas are organizing to beat back a Wal-Mart proposal for their community. Here’s their frontlines report: “Petitions are being circulated this weekend to stop a proposed development in DeSoto. Residents are fed up with city government not listening to what the people want and are asking for a vote by the PEOPLE for the PEOPLE. Starting on Friday August 20, 2004 until
the petitions are turned in at City Hall on Monday morning (August 23rd) residents of DeSoto will be canvassing the city looking for signatures for three petitions to stop the rezoning request of the property North of Beltline between Elerson Road and Westmoreland. Wal-Mart’s proposal is to build one of the largest Super-centers in the Dallas Ft. Worth area in a now zoned residential neighborhood adjacent to a proposed middle school. Anyone interested in signing the petition may call the Chapel Hill Home Owner’s Association President at 972-274-9929 or come by 1101 Lexington Lane, DeSoto, TX. To be effective we must obtain 30% of the total number of people that voted in the last mayor election. That would mean 434 valid registered voters signatures will be needed. The City Secretary will then have 10 days to validate the signatures. The validation process will need to be completed by Sept 6, 2004 the day before the request for the zoning change will go before the City Council of DeSoto. The zoning change will go to city Council on Sept. 7, Tuesday at 7pm at City Hall located at: Town Center, corner of Pleasant Run and Hampton road, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto, TX 75115.”
For local contacts in DeSoto, contact [email protected]