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ADVERTISEMENT
Lodi seeks $680,000
City will require an investment from Wal-Mart developers
Developers of Lodi's massive Wal-Mart Supercenter project will be asked to pump more than $680,000 into the city's Downtown, or funnel roughly the same amount to city coffers, according to a city report made available Thursday afternoon.
City leaders have indicated for more than 18 months that such a condition would be placed on the project.
Thursday's report was the first to publicly detail the city's requirements.
The "Downtown investment," as it's been called, must be made no later than five years from the issuance of the project's first building permit, wrote Rad Bartlam, Lodi's interim community development director.
An investment would be defined as construction, rehabilitation, acquisition or tenant improvements to properties in the Downtown. The total improvements must exceed $680,000.
Another option is for the developer, Darrl Browman, to pay the city $2 per square foot of commercial space built at the site. Project plans call for a 13-building, 340,000 square-foot center, with the Supercenter anchoring the development.
It would be built on the southwest corner of Kettleman Lane and Lower Sacramento Road.
The Lodi Planning Commission will review Bartlam's report Oct. 8. It's expected to make a recommendation on the many project conditions either at that meeting or a later one.
The City Council will have a final say on the project later this year.
Other conditions placed on the project's developer include:
• Signing a lease with a "bona-fide" tenant for at least 50 percent of the existing Wal-Mart building or selling the building prior to the issuing of the building permit for the Supercenter. The developer could also pay for the demolition of the existing building. Either way, the city will mandate the demolition of the building if it is not adequately leased or sold within 90 days of the Supercenter's opening.
• Obtain a permanent agricultural conservation easement over 40 acres of prime farmland within 15 miles of the project. It must be a single 40-acre parcel and in San Joaquin County, excluding the Delta Primary Zone. It must be in agricultural use or as a result of purchase be put into agricultural use.
Numerous other conditions will be placed on the project, from controls for construction noise and dust to road, intersection, sidewalk and drainage improvements in the area.
Bartlam, the city's development chief, said earlier this week he's never seen so many conditions placed on a project in his 28 years in municipal planning.
Messages left for Browman, the developer, and a Central Valley Wal-Mart spokesman were not returned Thursday afternoon.
Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.
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Lodian wrote on Oct 8, 2008 1:22 PM:
falcon wrote on Oct 7, 2008 9:05 PM:
" City officials this time around have asked project developers to invest more than $680,000 in Lodi's Downtown to offset the possible drain the development will have on commerce in the city's core.
Who is going to pay this $680,000? Again, this potential money grab, by the city, is just going to be passed along to the consumers. Does anyone get this? This is a communists approach to allowing someone to enter a market. A bribe! A payoff.
This "possible drain" is a scam! Citizens that shop at Wal-Mart save money. What are local citizens going to do with that extra money that Wal-Mart saved them? They might just go down town to the movies an grab dinner more often. " "
Robb wrote on Oct 6, 2008 11:09 AM:
Lodian wrote on Oct 6, 2008 8:36 AM:
fawn lebowitz wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:50 AM:
Lodian wrote on Oct 5, 2008 4:55 PM:
fawn lebowitz wrote on Oct 5, 2008 4:26 PM:
Lodian wrote on Oct 5, 2008 3:18 PM:
fawn lebowitz: YES! LOL! Is the decimal light broken on your calculator silly? "
sam wrote on Oct 5, 2008 9:33 AM:
However I still agree with you. I would prefer the $11.93 over giving it to the downtown area. "
sam wrote on Oct 5, 2008 9:30 AM:
I went to a cookware store in downtown Lodi. I needed a spring loaded pan for a cheese cake. I paid $12 for the pan. The next day we saw the SAME pan.. same brand... same size... identical... in Raley's for $2.99.
We will never return to that store again. If we need a specialty item for cooking it is much cheaper to order it online from Sur La Table or Williams-Sonoma. (I know it sounds funny, but even with shipping their prices beat the over priced downtown Lodi store.) "
fawn lebowitz wrote on Oct 5, 2008 9:24 AM:
Lodian wrote on Oct 4, 2008 10:29 PM:
sam: Yes, I sure did try Raley's. I enjoyed it. The employees were very nice and helpful. I really appreciated the nice atmosphere, courteous employees, clean store and all products offered. I especially enjoyed the savings at the gas pump. With all that Raley's has to offer I still don't think I will be lured away from Trader Joe's and a couple of other stops I like to make in town. I am such a hopeless TJ's fan! :-) I do like variety so I will definitely be going to Raley's again though. Thanks a lot for the suggestion. I appreciate it! "
Lodian wrote on Oct 4, 2008 10:13 PM:
fawn lebowitz: If you're talking about splitting that $680,000 I must ask... Exactly what kind of math are you using to come up with that figure? LOL! "
fawn lebowitz wrote on Oct 4, 2008 8:25 PM:
sam wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:06 AM:
sam wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:04 AM:
I am not a Walmart shopper. I do however think if the CC truly believes Walmart will hurt the downtown businesses, instead of extorting money from them, they should not allow the super center to be built. "
edumacation wrote on Oct 3, 2008 11:27 PM:
Cogito wrote on Oct 3, 2008 11:15 PM:
Cogito wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:59 PM:
Cogito wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:57 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Oct 3, 2008 6:43 PM:
sam wrote on Oct 3, 2008 5:24 PM:
I miss Cottage Bakery too, but their bakery is excellent. "
sam wrote on Oct 3, 2008 5:22 PM:
Great blog, Cog. I was just reading this article and getting mad... the perfect mood to blog in... then I read your blog and you said it perfectly.
I have to add that I think a lot of the small stores next to the old Walmart are really going to suffer too.
I do disagree however about Raley's. I am a huge Raley's fan (the new one on Morada and 99) and I do not think Walmart could ever convince a Raley's shopper to jump ship. I love paying extra for their quality produce, deli, meats, and excellent service. "
alumn95 wrote on Oct 3, 2008 4:47 PM:
Lodian wrote on Oct 3, 2008 4:16 PM:
JD wrote on Oct 3, 2008 2:16 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Oct 3, 2008 2:05 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Oct 3, 2008 1:24 PM:
DTBusOwner wrote on Oct 3, 2008 12:56 PM:
Before you make really off base remarks that have zero facts and more of an insult. I truly challenge you stuckinlodi to go talk to some of the downtown business owners. You will find a very different story. I make that challenge to any of you so that can easily make very off base remarks. But then you sit behind your computer with no accountability. I listen to people say that downtown get your taxes. Prove it. Please any of you provide facts with your statements. It is easy to sit at your computer and make baseless facts. I take offence to Stuckinlodi's comments. Stuckinlodi go talk to the two owners of which you slam. You will see you have zero base for your comments. I challenge you to meet me and let me show you the truth by talking to these owners downtown. Or is it easier to just throw stones. "
lodisafeway wrote on Oct 3, 2008 12:34 PM:
The insistence that the developer infuse its own capital into a dying downtown area borders on insanity - and stupidity. This whole mess has gotten to the point where it should be left to the voters (again) to decide exactly how this should play out. Our so-called leaders are anything but - they're impotent and no longer deserving of our trust.
Clearly the City is attempting to create a list of nonsensical rules on Wal-Mart so as to have them bail on the project altogether. That way, it will appear as if Wal-Mart skipped town, much to the chagrin of those supporting the project. "
T&C Attacks wrote on Oct 3, 2008 12:20 PM:
Neo wrote on Oct 3, 2008 12:12 PM:
pgardener wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:46 AM:
GetUrHeadOut wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:33 AM:
stucknlodi wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:12 AM:
NAGOB wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:55 AM:
judy wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:44 AM:
Cogito wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:38 AM:
reality wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:04 AM:
16925 wrote on Oct 3, 2008 7:42 AM:
Observer wrote on Oct 3, 2008 5:19 AM:
Were these same conditions imposed on Target, Safeway, Staples, Lowes, Panera Bread, etc., etc., etc.? If this isn't extortion I don't now what is. Are these same conditions going to be imposed on the retail development at Reynold's Ranch and every new retail store from now on? Unbelievable! "
Comments on this story are now closed.