WARRENTON A Walmart store has been approved in Warrenton. Again.

The Warrenton City Commission approved a revised site design review plan Tuesday night after a public hearing. The application had been remanded back to the city by Oregons Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).

The vote was 4-0 with Mark Kujala, Tom Dyer, Dick Hellberg and Mark Baldwin in favor. The fifth commissioner, Henry Balensifer, was absent.

LUBA issued its ruling in April following an approval in November by the Warrenton Planning Commission and a subsequent appeal by Clatsop Residents Against Walmart (CRAW). The appeal which was upheld was based on three key issues:

Walmart did not have its state wetlands fill permit in hand when it submitted its application to the Planning Commission. It has since obtained that permit.

Walmart failed to prove it had a hardship in asking for a lower number of bike stalls. Per the citys code, the store would be required to have one bike stall per 10 parking spaces, equaling 68 for the retail giant. Costco was permitted a variance to reduce its required bike stall number to 10. In the revision, the store has accepted the 68 stalls required at the front of the store. 

Walmarts design was against code by placing loading docks behind the store, visible from U.S. Highway 101. In the revised design, three loading docks have been moved to the east side of the building, expanding the store by 900 square feet and providing nine more parking spaces for customers. It removed the need for the screening wall between the store and the highway.

Walmart made the decision that instead of taking time to appeal that decision to the Court of Appeals, said attorney Greg Hathaway, representing Walmart, it takes too much time and too many resources. And what Walmart wants to do is build a structure. And theyd like to build that project as quickly as they possibly can, once they get final approval from your city.

So Walmart made the decision that instead of appealing the decision that we disagree with at LUBA, we decided that we would comply with LUBAs decision in every respect and thats exactly what weve done and exactly what were presenting to you this evening.

Hathaway later added, The community is going to be proud of this store.

The four members of the City Commission approved the plan unanimously.

But first, they allowed the public to speak to the issue before a vote was taken.

I want to congratulate your responding to the remands and I like the idea that you were considering some of Costcos plan into your original support to your design review, said Sara Meyer of Astoria, a member of CRAW.

Maybe if Walmart did a payment system and a support system for employees as Costco does, we might not be here. PacLand (the developers) resubmitted its plans for Walmart because LUBA agreed with us that they were not following Warrenton requirements. As minimal as they are, it was citizen efforts that made them meet city codes. And I think for that, I thank the CRAW folks. Your resubmitted design has met those requirements. …

The reasons that CRAW formed was for the quality of life that we do enjoy on the coast. We ask that you keep that quality of life. A Walmart comes in, they very strongly compete with businesses. They hold 67 percent of retail sales, so that means you wont have those businesses in business. And thats your decision.

Commissioner Dyer thanked Meyer and CRAW co-founder Lori Durheim for being so respectful in their comments about Walmart. Respect goes a long way with him, he said. And, although the result didnt turn out the way the women had hoped, he said he appreciated their attitude.

But Commissioner Hellberg felt differently, issuing a stern message to those opposing the store, after he made a motion for approval.

We allow businesses to come to Warrenton. Its been a benefit to our community to have these businesses, Hellberg said of the big-box stores.

As long as a business is an honest business, and its something that we would want, or we already have those types of stores in our community, unless there is something illegal about their operation, and I mean illegal, theyre doing something morally wrong, Im not going to vote against a business strictly because I disagree with their business philosophy. Theyre legal!

Hellberg said hes received the information that was distributed by CRAW with the DVD The High Cost of Low Price. He has a family member who worked as a pharmacist in the store. He also doesnt like the notion of denying one business because a person personally favors another.

Thats not what this country is about. Its about competition. And Im not going to vote ever against a business that is legally established, has a good running record. In this case Walmart is one of the largest if not the largest corporation in the United States, Hellberg continued. I know there is a dispute with labor. Thats not for the City Commission to decide. Thats for the people who work for Walmart and Walmart to decide, and not for a lot of people who are sympathetic to this cause and consume time of the city and every public official.

This has gone on too long. And I am very happy. I am going to vote for this motion.

Hellberg added that he was tired of hearing about it from opponents who spend hours and hours at public meetings, picking the language apart. His comments were met with applause from many members of the audience.

Hellberg also noted that few Warrenton community members were in the audience to complain about the issue. Both Durheim and Meyer live in Astoria.

Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion and the resubmission was approved.

Walmart welcomed the decision.

We are pleased with tonights outcome and are one step closer to beginning work on the project, said Rachel Wall, senior manager for community affairs for Walmart. We believe the Warrenton Walmart can be part of the solution for our North Coast customers looking for more affordable shopping options closer to where they live and work, as well as new job opportunities in the community. We are pleased with the updated design and appreciate the guidance from city staff throughout this process.