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Wal-Mart restraints sought in Ventura
Opponents of big-box store seek ordinance
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Wal-Mart by the numbers
27 Supercenters in California as of June 2007.
144 Discount stores in California as of June 2007.
37 Sam's Clubs in California as of June 2007.
9 Distribution centers in California as of June 2007.
Average store size nationally
Supercenter: 185,000 square feet; 142,000 items.
Discount store: 101,000 square feet; 120,000 items.
Sam's Club: 130,000 square feet; 5,500 items.
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More from County NewsWal-Mart's desire to build a store in Ventura faces stiffening opposition as a grass-roots group is urging city leaders to pass an ordinance controlling big-box development and vowing to press the issue during this fall's city election.
A recent poll found many Ventura residents — 62 percent — opposed Wal-Mart opening a store along the busy Victoria Avenue corridor. Nearly 75 percent supported strengthening the rules on where big-big retailers could locate in the city, according to Livable Ventura, a group that includes members of the former Stop Ventura Wal-Mart Coalition.
The margin of error on the telephone poll of 300 voters, conducted by the Coastal Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy, was about 6 percent.
Wal-Mart opponents worry about increased traffic, an influx of low-paying jobs but no affordable housing, and negative effects on independent business owners in town.
They say a California Supreme Court decision last year bolsters cities' rights to control big-box stores.
Three Ventura City Council seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 6 election, and Livable Ventura members say they plan to meet with each candidate.
"We want to make clear their position on this issue," spokeswoman Nan Waltman said.
The debate over a Wal-Mart store in Ventura has raged since the world's largest retailer first talked to city planners two years ago about demolishing the Kmart store on Victoria Avenue and replacing it with one of its discount stores.
In May, Wal-Mart officials and their design team met with city leaders and have shown a willingness to comply with new city development guidelines for the busy corridor.
Those guidelines, still in draft form, would force Wal-Mart to dramatically reduce the size of its traditional big-box model, which averages 185,000 square feet for a supercenter and 101,000 square feet for a discount store.
Buildings would have to be two stories and no larger than 60,000 square feet, or a single story no larger than 90,000 square feet, said Nelson Hernandez, Ventura's community development director.
'Absolute wrong message'
Wal-Mart's latest concept, however, calls for demolishing Kmart and replacing it with an eco-friendly building closer to 150,000 square feet over submerged parking, city planner Patsy Stadelman said.
A large area of asphalt currently in front of Kmart would be replaced with grass and a fountain. Wal-Mart told the city it was interested in designing a store with a sustainable-building design.
"They are definitely going in the right direction," Hernandez said. "The front facade was a whole lot better, but it's still very large, larger than what our guidelines would permit."
The store would be Wal-Mart's third in Ventura County, joining discount centers in Oxnard and Simi Valley.
Greg Martin of Mideb Properties, which owns the shopping center on Victoria where Kmart is located, has criticized the city's meddling in the free market.
Some other local business leaders agree, saying the city should not be forcing a potential major source of tax revenue like Wal-Mart through such hoops at a time when the city cannot afford adequate police and fire service.
"This suggested big-box ordinance would send the absolute wrong message," Councilman Jim Monahan said.
Opponents have not officially proposed such an ordinance or specified the type of regulations it should contain.
No matter what Wal-Mart's building design might look like, however, local activists say they plan to press city leaders to force megaretailers to pay living wages and possibly provide housing.
"If the city encourages Wal-Mart to build in Ventura, our supporters are ready to propose a big-box ordinance," Waltman said.
City can decide for itself
Such ordinances got a boost from the state Supreme Court last year. The court rejected Wal-Mart's appeal of a ruling that allows cities and counties to outlaw big-box superstores.
The court made it clear that elected officials are entitled to decide what kind of commercial development they want, even if it restricts competition.
The decision allows a city to "make its own land-use plans and decide for itself what's good for the community," said Rick Jarvis, a lawyer for the city of Turlock, whose rejection of a proposed supercenter sparked Wal-Mart's lawsuit.
The ruling, he added, will make it much more difficult for Wal-Mart to file expensive legal challenges against other jurisdictions that decide to adopt similar ordinances.
New design guidelines
After the Wal-Mart store was proposed in Ventura, the city approved a year-long moratorium preventing new large businesses along Victoria.
The moratorium expired in January, but officials expect to have the new design guidelines finalized by the time any Wal-Mart store is considered.
It could be a test case on how willing Wal-Mart is to change its standard model as it moves into suburbs trying to revive existing commercial areas.
"Having a retailer (at the Kmart site) to replace one that has been struggling is to our benefit," the city's Hernandez said.
"We have tried to make it perfectly clear that Wal-Mart is welcome if they comply with our guidelines."
Posted by Jacksprat on July 15, 2007 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wal-mart is the worst thing that can happen to a city.
Posted by luv2sail on July 15, 2007 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not being a great supporter of Walmart, work near the one in Oxnard and have visited it maybe 5 times in as many years. That being said, I am even less of a supporter of groups that feel they speak for the free market. If the public does not want to shop at Walmart, the store would close soon after opening. I am uncertain what the pay scale is at a Walmart, but as far as I know, no one is forced to accept a positon there. At the Oxnard Walmart I have seen a lot of Seniors that work there, possibly to supplement their income.
To ask Walmart to provide housing is absurd. Where would that stop and with which employer. Do all the jobs in this County pay enough to afford housing? The answer is likely not.
Let the public decide, not a group of people who are trying to force their opinion on the rest of us.
Before the rants begin, I would likely not shop at the Walmart in Ventura, rarely get up that way unless I go Trader Joes.
Posted by surfmedic91 on July 15, 2007 at 3:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep the only Wal-Mart in Oxnard where a majority of the shoppers are. Since the Esplanade was torn down, all the shoppers from Oxnard come to Ventura. Don't give them another reason to create traffic and over crowding. Ventura needs more open land. Bring back the orange and lemon groves.
Posted by ssakoian on July 15, 2007 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Victoria is too busy already for an influx of Walmart shoppers. Keep the Walmarts in Oxnard and Simi, and allow the city of Ventura to keep some charm. Big box stores destroy small businesses, leading to the "mallification" of a local area.
Right now, travelling across country, this chain-store and chain-food is a real blight along the freeway. Nothing different, nothing unique. Just billboards for Arby, Burger King, Walmart, McDonald's, etc. Yawn, yawn, yawn. A
I don't shop at Walmart, and do not want one anywhere near where I live.
Posted by Ventura_fan on July 15, 2007 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where were all these people when we tried to pass the Public Safety Initiative? If we don't increase sales tax revenues in this town, we can't afford public services without increasing taxes. A beautifed Wal-mart with a grassy area and fountain is better than the downtrodden K-mart we have now.
What can we do in this town to raise revenues? There is somebody protesting almost everything: We can't raise sales taxes a quarter percent, we can't build on farmland or on the hills, we can't put in big-box stores, we can't build anything over a certain height in Midtown. There are even people complaining over raising the water/sewer rates -- and the measly little lighting district measure was voted down a few years ago.
Yet you all want a full complement of city services. Better libraries! Fix our beaches! Fix our streets! More police and fire!
Somebody needs to figure out a way to grow money on the trees here. But no, somebody would protest that, too,
Posted by thsomerville on July 15, 2007 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Get rid of the dreadful K-Mart, too.
Posted by smithjc on July 15, 2007 at 7:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
guess i'll keep spending my ventura resident money in oxnard and let them have the tax revenues.
Posted by kljinusa on July 15, 2007 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why another Walmart when there is one right off the freeway on Rose? The traffic on Victoria is very congested as it is and a Walmart could add thousands of more cars each day. And fountains won't make Walmart beautiful.
We've seen the "big box" stores like Target (slated to go into Pacific View Mall), Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Linens & Things, build stores within a few miles of each other. Same stores, same stuff.
I wouldn't mind a big box store ultimately, but what about a retail business that doesn't have a presence in Ventura County. Like IKEA..
The citizens and the City Council of Ventura need to think outside the (big) box.
Posted by Ventura_fan on July 15, 2007 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While Ventura citizens are jumping up and down protesting retailers, RiverPark in Oxnard is working on trying to lure away the retailers we do have. So we can all drive a little further down the freeway and give Oxnard our tax dollars.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on July 16, 2007 at 12:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well...I object to Wal-Mart for all the usual "liberal" reasons...like the pay impossible to live on wages, they don't do squat for the health care needs of their employees, they indulge in predatory marketing practices that adversely impact local merchants, they have sweetheart deals with the Peoples Liberation Army of China......well, could go on and on...
Bottom line is...I won't ever shop there...don't feel a need to shop at the one in Oxnard..which is admittedly convieniently close by...don't need that one either. For that matter...I don't shop at K-Mart either...or the "Big Lots....ex Pic N'Save"......these places...well, I just don't need that caliber of merchandis...or shoddy service....and if I did need it, I'd buy it somewhere else (and do).
Victoria Avenue is already a mess....a street to avoid if at all possible...and I DON'T think our City Council's proposed plans are going to be any help at all...who is going to walk from the mongo Ralph's with and arm and a half of groceries over to Green Thumb to buy a flat of strawberries??
I don't know what should go there...but another generic Wal-Mart just dumbs this town down even more....we need it less than the Wal-Mart company does in it's quest for total market dominance.
Posted by luv2sail on July 16, 2007 at 2:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
After reading a lot of these notes, several things seem to run consistent: wages and health care.
With that thought in mind, we should all rally against our banks, all Gas stations and most retailers, yes Tom, even the upscale ones you may shop at.
Reality is no one is forced to work or shop there. If people refuse to take the jobs, wages will go up. If no one shops there, they will close.
Once again, let the market decide.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 16, 2007 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think they should build it ! Geez when are people just too darn high class to shop there ! Heck I love Big lots too !!!! As the above comment says if you dont like the wages dont work there !
Otherwise it would bring in alot of work for those in need. I guess if you shopped at discount places you wouldn't need such a large income huh..... just waste your money at Macys ! Who cares !
Posted by sue805 on July 16, 2007 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want a Walmart closer to me (Casitas Springs) too. Put the thing on the Avenue. Jobs for poor people , living in the area. Cheaper prices for people who arent into named brands.
Posted by BeaHappi on July 16, 2007 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The 'big-box' K-MART is such an eyesore. At least the new Wal-Mart plan sounds more appealing in regards to appearance, parking, and being a better steward to the environment.
If they build it, people will come. People will flock to that center by the thousands.
Posted by sog55 on July 17, 2007 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
although tom johnston sounds like one of those yuppie invaders i'm always warning everybody about i have to admit i agree with him on this.have you seen the parking lot at wal-mart? or the inside of the store? just gross. we do need to preserve ventura's charm and character. we are overcrowded enough as it is..walmart is the last thing we need. i agree with kliinjusa , instead of walmart how about something that ventura county doesn't already have. let's keep ventura unique and original. i've had enough of the cookie cutter track home developements with no backyards,starbucks and subways on every corner and the "renisannce" of downtown.this isn't santa monica or malibu. this town is for the everyday joe who loves the coast and doesn't care for the big city trash. let's keep ventura true to itself and a great place for our kids.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 17, 2007 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I dont know Sog which Walmart you go to but the one I go to is always clean and kept up?
Posted by sog55 on July 17, 2007 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the only walmart i've been to is the oxnard store. i used to work for a beverage company and i would regularly stock that store and it was always a mess. but thats not uncommon for oxnard.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 17, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I usually go to the valencia one and its nice!
Posted by trek_queen on July 19, 2007 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
having a wal-mart I think wouldn't hurt in ventura, certainly would help out with jobs for the teen youth and college students. However, despite how much I hate the look of that K-Mart, that intersection and surrounding vicinity of Victoria Ave is TERRIBLE. Has been that way for at least 5-6 yrs now and grew worse when the new complex across the street opened up with Ralphs, Longs, the fitness gym, etc... it is almost impossible to get out of either complex let alone drive down victoria at a decent pace.
Posted by venturapagan on July 19, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Um, about living wages; I have an education and a good paying job, as does my fiance, and we STILL can't afford to by a house here, so there's no way Walmart's gonna be able to pay "living" wages in this town. Ventura's trying to hard to be Santa Barbara South. Take for example chasing out the antique/thrift stores and remodeling the facades, putting in over-priced restaurants and shops. Walmart needs to stay in Oxnard, but I agree we need some different kind of retailers and merchandise available at affordable prices. I still really want to see a Trader Joes at the Pacific View Mall area.
Posted by VenturaNative on January 18, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A new Wal-Mart destroys jobs by putting local Ventura merchants out of business. There is a Wal-Mart a few miles away in Oxnard. That's enough!
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