[Grovenet] More Walmart

[Steven]

The Hercules City Council will consider whether to use eminent domain to
wrest a 17-acre property from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. after the nation's
largest retailer rejected a city offer to buy the site with views of San
Pablo Bay, city officials said Thursday.

The council asked that a "resolution of necessity'' be brought to it for
discussion, City Manager Mike Sakamoto said. The matter has been put on the
council's May 23 agenda. Efforts to reach council members about Thursday's
announcement were unsuccessful.

Wal-Mart bought the property overlooking central Hercules in November after
another developer received city approvals for a neighborhood shopping
center.

In February, city planners recommended denying Wal-Mart's proposal for a
big-box store on its property, saying the plan was not in keeping with what
had been approved for the location, which commands a view of one of the Bay
Area's most vaunted New Urbanist communities, with pedestrian-oriented
streets and large open-space set-asides, as well as sweeping views of the
bay.

The company withdrew its application before it went to the city Planning
Commission. In response, the City Council voted to make an offer for the
land for an undisclosed amount of money.

On March 31, however, Wal-Mart submitted a new application that it said
substantially conforms to city requirements. The same day the company
submitted its revised proposal, Councilwoman Charleen Raines was hardly
welcoming, although she said she had not read it.

"What the council has said is that we want to buy the property,'' she said,
describing the tussle with Wal-Mart as a "David and Goliath'' struggle. "At
this point, we're concerned about moving ahead on this property. It's been
hanging over us for a long time.''

Wal-Mart's new proposal, which is still hotly opposed by some residents,
calls for a general retail and grocery store, as well as a pedestrian plaza,
two outdoor dining areas and other small shops and general merchandise
stores, including a pharmacy.

"We're disappointed that the city is really playing politics with the future
of Hercules rather than looking at the big picture,'' company spokesman
Kevin Loscotoff said.

"Many residents of the city who we've talked to are frustrated and anxious
for this much-needed retail project to move forward.''
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/05/HERCULES.TMP