Council approves new Wal-Mart Supercenter
The development will replace the Wal-Mart in the Rock Bridge Shopping Center.
Published Jan. 20, 2006
A new Wal-Mart and park soon will come to Columbia. The Columbia City Council unanimously voted in favor of the proposed new development at Grindstone Plaza.
The council voted on a development agreement Tuesday, which put all the developers' promises made during the initial rezoning of the property into writing.
Sixth Ward Councilman Brian Ash said the agreement concerned him, because it did not include the developers' initial promise to have a tenant in the Wal-Mart it will replace at the Rock Bridge Shopping Center.
"I felt that should have been in the development agreement because that was one of the promises they made," Ash said. "They argued that it was not something they can control because it was market-driven. I'm not that concerned about the empty building, but I do feel if you make a promise you should have to fulfill that promise."
Fourth Ward Councilmen Jim Loveless said after a lot of work with the city developer and lobbying groups, he is happy with the development plan.
"I'm always concerned with a development that large because there can be potential problems with traffic, pedestrian safety and neighborhood integrity," Loveless said. "Also, I don't think we will see the current Wal-Mart expanding, but we may see it remodeled."
Al Norman, founder of Sprawl-Busters, a group opposed to the increase of big-box stores in suburban areas, said Columbia should be wary of empty Wal-Mart stores in town. He said Wal-Mart is continuing to build stores to appease investors on Wall Street instead of servicing the community.
"Currently, there are 350 dead Wal-Marts on the market and one-third of them have been dead for three years," Norman said. "Wal-Mart is a cannibal that chews up smaller businesses and reduces the number of jobs in a town. For about every one Wal-Mart that moves into a community, two grocery stores close, and that is not a good economic strategy."
Ash said he thinks the store would benefit the community by generating additional revenue for the city through taxes and giving consumers more choices. He said he ignored the name on the front of the store and looked at the proposal like any other type of development.
"We are focused on the rules and regulations and whether you're a mom-and-pop store or a big corporation you need to follow the same rules," Ash said. "A lot of people complain about Wal-Mart, but when people stop shopping there, they will stop building them."
Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser said she was happy about the park that will be built at the corner of Rock Quarry Road and Grindstone Parkway.
"The neighborhood association did not want a fountain in the original plan, so they decided on a more natural setting with boulders as historic markers and more native plants," Nauser said. "It is more natural than monumental."