Wal-Mart coming to Sequim, and Poulsbo

Peninsula News Network

8/1/03

It’s a big week for Wal-mart here on the Olympic Peninsula, as the giant retailer goes two-for-two locating new stores in the area.

On Monday, the Sequim city council decided to clear the way for the construction of the new Priest Road Wal-mart store on the city’s west side. That decision came after marathon hearings by the council and protests led by the citizen’s group Sequim First.

Thursday night, the Poulsbo city council approved plans for a Wal-Mart just outside of town. The store would become the largest retailer in Poulsbo, situated on more than 200 acres as part of the massive Olhava development which is being built northwest of the city above Highway 3.

As with the Sequim store, the Poulsbo council found that the opponents didn’t prove their arguments that the developers should be subject to a complete environmental review. Both the Sequim and Poulsbo Wal-Mart stores could still be subject to legal challenges before construction actually begins.