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Sequim approves major retail developments 7/28/03 (Sequim) -- Sequim City Council members Monday night voted unanimously to accept city recommendations for developing a Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Albertson's and a dozen more retail establishments at the west end of town. Mayor Walt Schubert read a list of eight conditions council members voted to approve for the Wal-Mart site, including a revamped storm water treatment system. He also read a list of seven conditions for approving the Sequim Village Marketplace development slatted for construction across Washington Street from the Wal-Mart site. The council, with its vote Monday night, decided to uphold city planner Dennis Lefevre's mitigated determination of non significance for both regional retail center projects. The county department of community development, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and community group Sequim First had appealed Lefevre's findings. Schubert also asked for an independent review of possible traffic impacts on county roads around the projects. Lawyers for both projects pledged 200-thousand dollars for any traffic problems that show up in the study. Sequim First threatened to sue to block both projects if the city council did not ask for a separate Environmental Impact Statement. Its president says it was too early to determine if the community group would follow through on possible court action to try and force the EIS. RELATED STORY: Sequim clears way for big stores 7/29/03 The Sequim city council has voted unanimously to clear the way for construction of new Wal-Mart and Home Depot stores on the city's west side. Monday night, the four members of the council that had listened to hours and hours of testimony on the projects, voted to deny appeals that had been filed against the developments. Clallam County, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and the citizen's group Sequim First had sought to overturn City Planner Dennis LeFevere's recommendations on the two projects. The Wal-Mart store would be located just west of Priest Road on the north side of West Sequim Avenue. The Home Depot would anchor the Sequim Village Marketplace shopping center; a development that will also include a new Albertson's supermarket and other stores. It remains to be seen whether opponents of the project will attempt to block the developments with lawsuits. Sequim First's attorney had implied legal action during the lengthy hearings in June. ------------------------------ Sequim: Developers encouraged by council's vote 2003-07-30
SEQUIM -- Developers for two ``big-box'' retail projects proposed for the city's west side are hopeful that the City Council's endorsement of their plans will mean they can break ground soon. The council voted Monday night to deny appeals filed by three parties seeking further study into the environmental, economic and traffic impacts which they say would result from the construction of two large retail sites near West Washington Street and River Road. They also voted to grant a binding site plan for one of the projects -- a 395,000-square-foot regional shopping center, Sequim Village Marketplace, set to include a Home Depot home improvement warehouse and possibly an Albertsons Food and Drug store. Wal-Mart is seeking to build a ``superstore'' directly across the street from the Marketplace, at virtually the same time. Jack McCullough, attorney for Wal-Mart, said the company is ready to start building this fall if all goes well. But the council's approval of both projects includes conditions which will be monitored by city staff, including each developer's plans to construct stormwater and ground water management systems. |