Residents Protest Plans for Wal-Mart

Residents Protest Plans for Wal-Mart


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Sam Penrod reporting Some Cedar Hills residents say a Super Wal-Mart will ruin the small town feel that attracted them to live in the city in northern Utah County.

Wal-Mart has approached city officials in Cedar Hills about building a 158,000 square foot building in an empty lot.

While it would give the city a substantial amount of sales tax revenue, residents argue a Super Wal-Mart would destroy their quiet neighborhood.

A large section of property is the gateway to Cedar Hills-- a quiet community of about 3,000 people. But plans to build a Super Wal-Mart here has many residents trying to fight city hall.

Tamsen Boley/ Against Wal Mart Proposal: "THIS PROPOSAL WOULD NOT ADHERE TO THE GUIDELINES THE CITY HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED AND THE GUIDELINES ON WHICH WE MOVED INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD."

The proposed Super Wal-Mart would occupy 18 acres and its back doors would be within 100 feet of some homes.

It would have more than 700 parking spaces and residents fear the increased traffic could endanger young children.

Tamsen Boley: "IT'S IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE ARE CONCERNED WITH TRUANCY ISSUES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND STRANGER DANGER WTIH THE CHILDREN, AND TRAFFIC DANGER WITH CHILDREN."

Opponents also question the need for another Super Wal-Mart. A 200,000 square foot Wal-Mart is under construction just three and a half miles away in American Fork.

Cedar Hills has no other retail stores and earns almost no revenue from sales tax.

While the Wal-Mart proposal is still in the early stages, city officials say they are considering the possibility of changing the zoning laws to allow Wal-Mart to move into Cedar Hills.

Tonight's hearing begins at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Hills City Hall. Protestors are planning to rally outside beginning at 6:30.

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