Walmart cancels store at East Gateway

Published 5:09 pm Friday, December 14, 2007

News that Walmart withdrew its application to build a store in Mill Creek was suspicious to some residents.

“We’re incredibly pleased,” said Citizens for a Better Mill Creek member Karen Lowe. “But we need to keep our eyes open — stay on top of land use notices coming out of the county,” she said. “The rumors are swirling around and we’ll need to mobilize right away if we find anything.”

Citizens for a Better Mill Creek was formed about three years ago in response to an to an application from Walmart to erect a 24-hour super center on 132nd Street SE. The grassroots effort grew quickly, and representatives of the group showed up regularly at community functions, often sharing their concerns about Walmart at city council and planning commission meetings.

The Arkansas-based retailer got initial approval from Snohomish County to build the store but was ordered last year to assess the environmental impacts of building on the site, adjacent to protected wetlands and a number of residential developments. Walmart was in the midst of appealing the order, when the company’s application with Snohomish County was suddenly withdrawn earlier this month.

Mill Creek City Councilwoman Mary Kay Voss credits Walmart’s retreat to Citizens for a Better Mill Creek.

“They should be proud of themselves,” she said. “This shows that a group of people can make a difference if they’re dedicated and persistent enough. I’d see them everywhere I went — at business functions, community gatherings — everywhere.”

The City Council took some heat early on for not doing enough to discourage Walmart.

While Voss sympathized with people’s frustrations, she said the council was obligated to follow the same process with Walmart that it would with any business interested in Mill Creek.

“It’s a slippery slope when you start using zoning to target specific businesses,” Voss said. “Citizens for a Better Mill Creek did what they needed to, Walmart scuttled and the process worked the way it was supposed to.”

The once future site of Walmart is connected to 50 acres on which the city leaders hope to develop a mixed commercial and residential village, featuring community parks, interurban trails and other amenities.

Preliminary design maps of the development include Walmart’s footprint, but Mill Creek Community Development Director Bill Trimm said the retailer’s withdrawal will have little if any impact on the city’s plans.

“How could we be affected by something that never really existed in the first place?” Trimm asked. “This project has never in any way been dependent on Walmart. As for the site, we’re working on that.”

Whatever the city and developer’s decide, Citizens for a Better Mill Creek are keeping a close eye on land use issues near the city’s east entrance.

“I think we had a lot to do with Walmart’s decision not to build,” Lowe said. “We are lucky that Mill Creek’s process is so transparent. The county only notified people within a 500 foot radius of the site that Walmart wanted to build here. That’s pretty bad when you consider traffic and noise from the store would affect anyone living within a five-mile radius.”

Citizens for a Better Mill Creek are meeting at 3:15 on Saturday, Dec. 15 to celebrate the victory and discuss the group’s future. Lowe said there are plenty of land use concerns among community members that need to be addressed by local and state policymakers.

“We will definitely remain active,” she said. “Now that we’ve seen our voices matter, we will continue working with Mill Creek’s Community Development staff to ensure Mill Creek is an attractive and pleasant place to live.”