Posted by: Bethany on 02/15/2008 04:22 PM
Updated by: Bethany on 02/15/2008 05:31 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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Angels Planning Commissioners Hold ‘Big Box’ Workshop ~ By Bethany Monk
Angels Camp, C.A….Wal-Mart has approached the City of Angels with interest in opening a store in the historic city, and the city’s Planning Commissioners are seeking public input on the issue….
Angels Camp Planning Commissioners Roger Neuman and Elaine Morris
The commission held a special workshop, open to the public, on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in the city’s fire house on Highway 4. Three city council members – Paul Raggio, Jack Lynch, and Jack Boeding – were also present. Members of the public, Jerry Ramico, attended the meeting as a proxy for City Council member Lee Seaton, who was unable to make the meeting. About ten people were in attendance.
Wal-Mart has only expressed interest in opening a store in the Angels Camp area, and no further action has been taken yet, according to Bruce Baracco, interim planning director for the City of Angels Camp.
“A lot of times there are conceptions and misconceptions about big box (stores) and other types of retail,” he said, noting one of the reasons for holding a public meeting on the issue. “There are people in the area we can call as we get further down the line with real expertise (on big box issues),” he said.
The State of California defines big box as a store larger than 75,000 sq. ft. “of gross buildable area that will generate sales or use tax,” according to a survey conducted by Hastings College of Law from the spring of 2004. Community impacts resulting from big box developments, according to the survey may include:
Lower employee wages
Increases to municipal costs
Increased urban sprawl
Foreclosure of local competition
Changes to the flavor and character of the neighborhood
Benefits achieved by big box development, according to research from the department of architecture at Columbia University in New York, may include, “Low prices and convenience for time-crunched society,” and “Localities economies from sales tax revenues to finance local services.”
Boracco mentioned the Wal-Mart Supercenter that recently opened in Stockton. “After that one was in they started to think about it (and) the City Council passed an ordinance not to build any more (in the city).” Residents complained to the council about the increase of traffic and congestion the Supercenter brought to the city, he added.
Issues that need to be addressed in Angels Camp regarding the construction of a big box store, include sewer, water, storm drainage, additional law enforcement support, increase of cost to municipality and area for parking.
Having a Wal-Mart in Angels Camp would be a for families who could do one-stop-shopping, according to the commission’s vice chairman, Gary Croletto. “One of the things that (big box stores) bank on is young people,” he said, refereeing to families with small children. Instead of shopping at all these different places, families can put their kids in the car, drive to Wal-Mart and do all of their shopping in one place. “If you put yourselves into young couples’ shoes, it makes sense.”
“You’re going to have a lot of controversy,” Raggio said of the possibility of a big box store in Angels Camp, noting that he’s interested in researching the issue and “looking at all the options.” The guarantee of one percent of the store’s sales tax is not a lot, he added. Raggio also wondered if the presence of a Wal-Mart would detract from local businesses such as Angels Food Market, Save-Mart and Sierra Hills Market in Murphys. And although the issue will be a “controversial issue in my home,” Raggio said the city shouldn’t “chuck it out the window.”
“I’m not pro or con,” Boeding said of building a big box store in Angels Camp, adding that “If we can’t do it right, we shouldn’t do it.”
For more information about upcoming meetings related to this issue, call the City of Angels Camp at (209) 736-2181 or visit www.cityofangels.org.
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