Pullman Wal-Mart to get more scrutiny

A Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed for Pullman is getting another round of judicial reviews.

The Pullman Alliance for Responsible Development has filed a second appeal of the city’s approval of plans for the 223,000-square-foot store.

The case will now go to the state’s 3rd District Court of Appeals, where it is expected to take about nine months to get on the docket.

Christopher Lupke, a Washington State University professor and member of PARD, said the group wouldn’t proceed if they didn’t think there was a possibility of prevailing.

“It’s still about downtown, in our view, and the negative impact that that size of that supercenter would have on that particular location,” Lupke said.

John Sherman, city supervisor for Pullman, admits the supercenter will affect some businesses, but said developers are already expressing interest in locating new stores and restaurants near Wal-Mart.

“I think it would be naïve to say a supercenter won’t have an impact,” Sherman said.

The store, slated to be built on 28 acres of land located near Pullman Regional Hospital and the historic Pullman Cemetery, has been embroiled in controversy for about two years.

Hearing Examiner John Montgomery upheld the city’s decision allowing the project last February. PARD appealed the ruling.

In October, Whitman County Superior Court Judge David Frazier upheld the hearing examiner’s ruling. PARD announced its appeal of the ruling this week.

Local developer Duane Brelsford Jr., who is proposing two retail complexes — with a combined 240,000-square-feet of space — near Wal-Mart, said one project has stalled because it would require working with Wal-Mart on easements, drainage and other issues.

Brelsford said the mega-retailer’s presence will enable the city to attract national retailers and increase the tax base.

“Wal-Mart will take the city to a different level,” he said.

Lupke criticized the project, saying it’s wrong for the area and can create access challenges for the nearby hospital. Also, he said, it doesn’t follow the state’s Environmental Protection Act or fit with the city’s comprehensive plan. PARD thinks approval was based on faulty studies and that further mitigations are necessary to prevent access problems to the hospital and other issues.

He believes they have a shot at winning the appeal at the next level.

“We’re not interested in preventing development. We’re interesting in protecting the town and residents and having a future plan for development,” Lupke said.

Sherman said the city staff reviewed the project thoroughly and that it fits within Pullman’s current zoning for the area, which is dictated by the comprehensive plan.

Because of the store’s size, Sherman said Pullman is requiring more mitigations than it has for past retail developments.

The city attorney estimates that it will take nine months to get the case scheduled in court, Sherman said.

“At this point, it’s one of those things that are out of our hands in terms of the city’s involvement in this.”