Hercules takes on Wal-Mart over shoreline development!

David pursues Goliath

Who will determine the future of the city of Hercules, the community (using participatory planning processes), or Wal-Mart Stores Inc.? Can this small city defend itself from the powerful retail invader?

In February, Wal-Mart surprised Hercules by withdrawing its application to build a Supercenter overlooking the city's waterfront. Apparently Wal-Mart saw the writing on the wall, and realized that its proposal was headed for denial. On March 14, the Hercules City Council instructed city manager Mike Sakamoto to make an offer to buy Wal-Mart's parcel. On March 31, however, Wal-Mart came back with a new application for a slightly smaller store.

The city and the previous land-owner had a development agreement for a "neighborhood store" as part of the new "Bayside Commercial site", an area of 17 acres which was originally planned with a grocery store, a drug store, two restaurants, and other commercial space. The site faces San Pablo Bay and is edged by Refugio Creek. It is close to brand-new private homes and visible from I-80. Last November, Wal-Mart bought the waterfront property.

Wal-Mart's applications to build, however, are inconsistent with the original land-use agreement. According to that agreement, the largest store would have been 64,000 square feet. In its first application, Wal-Mart proposed a 142,000-square-foot Supercenter. The new application calls for a 99,000-square-foot "neighborhood" Wal-Mart.

Hercules also commissioned an economic-impact analysis, which determined that Wal-Mart practices lead to economic blight, traffic, and environmental abuse. Wal-Mart claims that its new application addresses these issues, but that claim is questionable.

Wal-Mart spokesperson Kevin Lostocoff has stated repeatedly that Wal-Mart remains committed to a store in Hercules. Tom Lochner of the Contra Costa Times reported, "Lostocoff said Wal-Mart's proposal enjoyed widespread community support, but no one spoke in favor of it at a Feb. 6 Hercules Planning Commission meeting that drew some 70 opponents."

A Supercenter on the waterfront would undermine years of efforts to achieve environmentally sustainable development in this area. Wal-Mart's resistance to the city's planning could create years of problems and costs for Hercules - but the City Council shows understanding of the long-range importance for the city to be able to control and encourage appropriate development.

WhatYouCanDo

Contact the City Council and city staff. Thank them for their efforts to keep Wal-Mart off the city's waterfront and out of Hercules; urge them to hold firm. Councilmembers can be reached at (510) 245-6518 or:

Mayor Frank Batara
fbatara -at- aol.com

Trevor Evans-Young
TEY94547 -at- yahoo.com

Ed Balico
edbalico2 -at- comcast.net

Charleen Raines
charleenr -at- msn.com

Joanne Ward
JWard -at- ci.hercules.ca.us

City manager Michael A. Sakamoto is at (510)799-8206 or mike.sakamoto -at- ci.hercules.ca.us

All city officials can be reached by regular mail through the City Hall address:

111 Civic Drive
Hercules, CA 94547.

To join in the Sierra Club's efforts for sustainable development in Hercules, contact Mike Daley at the Chapter Office at (510)848-0800, ext. 304, or email mdaley -at- sfbaysc.org

For updates on these issues, see the web site of the Friends of Hercules

Jeffra Cook