by Edythe Jensen - Aug. 15, 2008 09:38 AM
The Arizona Republic
Kirk Sibley, a Chandler resident activist with a four-year history of trying to stop Wal-Mart from coming to a parcel of land at Arizona Avenue and Riggs Road, renewed his push at Thursday's Chandler City Council meeting.
He didn't have to do much persuading. With little discussion and no mention of the giant discount retailer by name, the council voted unanimously to send Diversified Partners' latest plans for the Riggs Gateway shopping center back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a Sept. 17 hearing. The commission had earlier voted 5-0 in support of the proposal for a 30-acre center anchored by an unspecified large retailer on the northeastern corner.
David Cisiewski, attorney for the developer, said more delays could hurt the project because prospective tenants demand zoning approval before they commit to a location.
Sibley said Diversified has repeatedly declined to name an anchor tenant. However, neighbors are convinced Wal-Mart is in the plans based on information they obtained from a commercial real estate agent, he said.
The protesting residents declared a temporary victory in 2004 when Diversified canceled a former zoning request that included a Wal-Mart Supercenter on the northeastern corner. As the years went by, the neighbors said they were assured the Supercenter was off the table and they didn't renew objections when Diversified submitted a new zoning request with slightly smaller buildings.
But the residents now fear a smaller Wal-Mart will take the Supercenter's place, and that Diversified hasn't been open with their plans, Sibley said. He called for more neighborhood meetings and better communication.
Delia Garcia, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, said there are no plans to open a store at the Riggs Gateway site.
Residents are prepared to mobilize again and circulate referendum petitions that could force a public vote if Diversified fails to identify an anchor tenant and the council approves zoning that would allow a Wal-Mart, Sibley said.
"I don't think they want that right now, especially since this is an election year," he said.
Under Chandler's big box ordinance, Diversified would have to identify an anchor tenant if they were occupying more than 150,000 square feet. However, the largest building in the latest Riggs Gateway center plan is 131,000 square feet.
Councilman Bob Caccamo said before the meeting that he was disappointed in the proposed design.
"We were assured it was going to be an upscale retail center and it's not," he said. "It looks like the big, bland generic shopping center with tons of parking in the front and buildings set way back that were built here 20 years ago."
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