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INTRODUCTION — So just how does Wal-Mart get into these towns anyway? The following information was taken from Bill Quinn's book - How Wal-Mart is Destroying America (and the World)
THE NICE WAY — 1) Zoning - Any zoning which permits the "box" (regional retail in Avondale) is what they want, but they can also try to get the zoning changed if the area is not suitable for a box. Look in Bill Quinn's book "How Wal-Mart is Destroying America" to see what the Lancaster County, PA Planning Commission says you can do to help small towns Wal-Mart proof themselves. 2) Ballots - Wal-Mart lawyers are very skilled and if the City voting does not go in the way of Wal-Mart they can and will get it put on the ballot. But beware - they will bombard TV, mail, and probably newspapers with feel good ads and they will pay signature gatherers to go door to door for signatures. In Contra Costa County, California they funded a "local" citizen's group called Contra Costa Consumers for Choice and spent $1 million on a "free choice" message for their campaign. THE SNEAKY WAY — 1) Manipulate Existing Zoning I will illustrate with an example from Bill Quinn's book (because it says it all). Wal-Mart wanted to put a store in Warrenton, Virginia. However, Warrenton had a City code which said any retail outlet over 50,000 square feet needs special permission to build. Warrenton told Wal-Mart the store was too big. However, Fauquier County, which surrounds Warrenton had a code that said retail over 75,000 sq ft needed approval. So Wal-Mart strattled it's store on property in both the City and the County in a way that it did not need permission from either. NOW THAT IS SNEAKY! 2) Use of a Front Man Residents of Buckeye, Arizona are very aware of this tactic. A development company goes before the City and says they want to develop the land but to do that they want to change the zoning to make it more marketable. What the developer is doing in reality is changing the zoning to accommodate Wal-Mart - then Wal-Mart will suddenly jump in and say they are interested in the property (after the rezoning). A developer would not go through the expense of preparing site plans needed to address the City WITHOUT having anchors waiting in the wings! 3) Use of a Straw Man Wal-Mart uses election-time mailers which are supposedly from a concerned citizens' group who wants the Wal-Mart. In Contra Costa, California a group called "Contra Costa Consumers for Choice" claimed by denying the Wal-Mart their freedom of choice was being taken away. Let me point out the obvious using an example from the recent Planning and Zoning Meeting in Avondale, Arizona. Of the over 100 citizens that submitted cards to address the Commission, only 3 were in support of the project (which included the Wal-Mart anchor store) and none of those people chose to speak before the Board. Do you think they would suddenly organize themselves to get you to support the Wal-Mart???? |
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