WARRENTON Is Walmart on the way to the North Coast?

Permits have been filed with the state Department of Environmental Quality to develop a 17-acre piece of property along U.S. Highway 101.

On-again, off-again rumors have been swirling around the North Coast  for several years that Walmart may be on its way here. Home Depot and Staples have located in Warrenton and Costco has relocated into a larger store, fueling speculation that the worlds largest retailer will be next.

Warrenton City Manager Bob Maxfield and Mayor Mark Kujala both say they have heard the rumors, but no one has been able to confirm.

No one has come to me and said, This is what were doing, but I know that that is where Warrenton Fiber has been seeking to locate a Walmart store for more than a year, Kujala said.

Walmart is controversial, in part, because of the impact it would have on family owned local stores, especially in downtown areas where parking may be an issue. Supporters like Walmart prices and point to the jobs a store brings. But various communities around the United States have sought to fight the company, fearing their downtowns will be devastated.

The latest Warrenton project is the brainchild of David Nygaard and Steve Fulton of Warrenton Fiber Company, whose names appear on the DEQ applications, which are dated Feb. 15. They were unavailable for comment at press time.

The stormwater runoff permit is one of several that prospective developers have to seek; most have public comment periods where residents can offer suggestions and concerns.

Trondheim Acres is listed as the location on Southeast Marlin Avenue, but no other information is available.

Calls to Walmarts corporate office in Arkansas were not returned.

City Planner Carol Parker, who signed a Land Use Compatability Statement  Feb. 9, said she could not confirm if Walmart could be gearing up for a trip to Warrenton.

Rodney Weick, Water Quality Manager for the Northwest Region of Oregon DEQ, said if conditions warrant, DEQ can issue a denial.

The public comments will be evaluated but are not subjective. The DEQ will look at the basic requirements and see if the permits and plans submitted meet DEQs basic requirements.

Those requirements can be found on www.deq.state.or.us/wq/stormwater/construction.htm.

Comments should be sent to Stormwater, DEQ Northwest Region Office, 2020 S.W. Fourth Ave, Suite 400, Portland, OR 97201 or e-mailed to stormwaternwr@deq.state.or.us