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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (688039)	6/28/2005 4:24:18 PM
From: JBTFD	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

I don't know specifically. My guess would be the same old issues of being bad for the locally owned businesses. I haven't been following that one.

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (688039)	6/28/2005 4:31:08 PM
From: Neeka	Respond to of 769670

Walmart dropped out......for now. Considering the SC decision on June 23, I guess the government of Stanwood will now have the opportunity to decide the best use of that land. The prospect of collecting more revenue must by very alluring, and be damned the people. As is, the city of Stanwood is depressed. M Published: Friday, June 3, 2005 Stanwood store storm over Developer pulls out, and City Council cancels Wal-Mart vote By Scott Morris Herald Writer STANWOOD - In a surprise anticlimax, the Wal-Mart controversy in Stanwood died on the vine. At the beginning of a much-anticipated City Council meeting Thursday night for a vote on a controversial Wal-Mart-inspired rezone, a late-arriving letter from developer Brent McKinley of Vine Street Group in Arlington cut off the debate. Councilman Gil Powell read from McKinley's letter, which arrived at City Hall on Wednesday: "Please accept this letter as my formal withdrawal." The council then pulled the issue off the agenda, thereby avoiding a vote on the matter. By pulling out, McKinley cut short a rezone process initiated in November 2002 for a project first presumed to be a grocery store and strip mall on 23 acres at the northeast corner of Highway 532 and 72nd Avenue NW. The proposal drew strong opposition - including a petition with more than 3,000 signatures - after McKinley revealed in a letter last fall that Wal-Mart was interested in the property. Opponents feared the world's largest retailer would drive out local businesses. After Powell read McKinley's recent letter, Councilwoman Dianne White had a question. "I'd just like to know what this does for the status of this project," White said. "Can they come back tomorrow" with a new request? Stephanie Cleveland, the city's planning director, said McKinley would have to wait until October to revive his rezone request for next year. Rezones are considered on an annual basis. If so, it wouldn't be the first time the rezone issue has resurfaced. The City Council turned down a similar request for the property in 2001. The current request languished through several meetings and public hearings until May, when the planning commission voted unanimously against the rezone. The commission found that it would harm local businesses, cause dangerous traffic snarls near the high school, and was widely unpopular. After the council meeting on Thursday, Powell would not say how he planned to vote. The city's attorney advised the council not to reveal their opinions because the proposal could come back later, Powell said. Some presumed McKinley realized that a majority on the council would vote against his request. "There's no question that he's seen how riled up this community has been," said Rosanne Cohn, a Camano Island resident who has opposed the rezone. McKinley was not at the meeting and could not be reached for comment Thursday night. The political atmosphere could be very different if the issue comes up again in the fall, said David Pelletier, a local architect who joined the opposition. Terms expire for three council members, Shelley Klasse, Cheryl Baker and White. Mayor Herb Kuhnly's term is also up. "I think this (opposition) group is going to raise its opinion, too, at that time, in terms of campaigning," Pelletier said. The controversy in Stanwood came during a major expansion by Wal-Mart into Snohomish County. Two existing stores in Tulalip and near Lynnwood will soon be joined by a new Wal-Mart in south Everett and another in Arlington at Smokey Point. In addition, the company is considering a site north of Mill Creek that would require a rezone. A potential sixth Wal-Mart could be in the works in Marysville along Highway 9, based on permit applications that fit the size and uses typically associated with the company's stores. Wal-Mart has not confirmed its interest in that site. In Stanwood, the 23-acre site's residential zoning could accommodate about 75 homes, said Cleveland the planning director. Powell said McKinley might end up reconsidering plans for a large retail store there. McKinley "commented to me that he was really amazed at how strong our community was," Powell said. Reporter Scott Morris: 425-339-3292 or smorris@ heraldnet.com. heraldnet.com