STANWOOD – The possibility that Wal-Mart has its eyes on Stanwood is making some local merchants uneasy.
Even before any firm commitment by the giant retailer, an anti-Wal-Mart petition already has gathered 200 signatures.
The news surfaced as Stanwood is updating its land-use plans as required by the state’s Growth Management Act.
Vine Street Investors, an Arlington developer, has requested that Stanwood change the zoning for 23 acres at the northeast corner of Highway 532 and 72nd Avenue NW from residential to general commercial.
“They did submit a letter … saying Wal-Mart was interested in that property,” said Stephanie Cleveland, the city’s planning director.
Vine Street’s management could not be reached for comment.
The City Council has indicated it will put off the request until an economic impact study can be done. No timetable has been set.
Eric Berger, regional spokesman for Wal-Mart, said Monday he would need time to check into whether his company is interested in Stanwood.
“I know that we’re looking for different opportunities in the area,” Berger said.
Wal-Mart has two stores in Snohomish County: one between Lynnwood and Mill Creek and the other in the Tulalip Tribes’ Quil Ceda Village.
The company also has purchased property on Highway 99 in south Everett.
The news that Stanwood might be next alarmed Kristine Kaufman, co-owner of Snow Goose Bookstore.
“Wal-Mart, we don’t feel is a positive corporation,” Kaufman said.
She said the company has substandard wages, no health benefits and a predatory pricing strategy that forces small businesses to close.
“This is a really small town,” she said. “(Wal-Mart) would just completely dwarf anything that would ever come in here.”
With her business partner, Chris Satterlund, Kaufman drafted a petition opposing the zoning change and specifically opposing Wal-Mart, its Sam’s Club affiliates or other big box retailers.
Berger challenged the notion that Wal-Mart pushes out businesses. Overall, local stores benefit, he said.
“We bring those customers to the area and keep those existing shopping dollars in the town,” he said.
The opposition in Stanwood mirrors debates nationwide. Some opponents cite studies such as one done at Mississippi State University a few years ago. Local businesses that don’t directly compete with Wal-Mart, such as furniture stores, can benefit, the study found.
Those that sell similar items, though, lose sales.
David Pelletier, a local architect, worried that Wal-Mart could undermine the efforts he and other business people have made in Design Stanwood, a downtown revitalization program.
“It’s a huge threat,” he said.
A Design Stanwood committee discussed Wal-Mart on Monday but stopped short of taking a position, in part because some members are still open to the idea, he said.
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