On June 3, the Galt City Council discussed amending the big-box ordinance to limit the hours of operation of a big-box store to less than 24 hours a day.
The city attorney is researching that amendment for the council and is expected to make a solid recommendation when his work is complete. His recommendation will apply to all big-box stores in the future, not just the proposed Wal-Mart in the draft environmental impact report process.
I support a recommendation limiting the hours of big-box stores to less than 24 hours per day because Galt is not a 24-hour community. The residents of Galt work hard at their jobs and deserve a good night's rest.
But there is an even broader issue that the council must think about. Sometime in the next six to nine months, the City Council will have to decide if Wal-Mart will be allowed to build at Fermoy Way and Twin Cities Road. You will have to decide if Fermoy Way is a proper location for a 133,279-square-foot Wal-Mart with only one exit on Twin Cities Road and two exits on Fermoy Way.
Fermoy Way is a two-lane residential street. The proposed store is too big for the lot and conflicts with the nearby residential neighborhoods of Rancho San Jon, Emerald Park and Emerald Village.
A big-box store that draws customers regionally will harm people who live in nearby homes. The project will bring regional traffic, noise, additional pollution from diesel and gasoline engines and crime to these existing Galt neighborhoods.
The proposed project belongs in a commercial location where there is good access, plenty of room for parking, and where a 24-hour-a-day operation does not affect the life of adjacent property owners. A good example is the new Super Wal-Mart being built in south Sacramento. The new store will have adequate parking, good access from three major streets – all with multiple lanes – and the lights and noise will not have a negative impact on a residential neighborhood.
The proposed store in Galt is surrounded by residential properties on both the south and east.
The Rancho San Jon neighborhood to the east and the Emerald Park neighborhood to the south are generally occupied by families with children. Emerald Village is a planned development occupied by seniors age 55 and older. A significant number of people in these neighborhoods are concerned about the noise, traffic, crime and negative environmental effects a Wal-Mart will bring.
If Galt is really concerned about safe routes for our schoolchildren, why construct a big-box store at Fermoy Way and Twin Cities Road? Traffic is sure to increase in front of Lake Canyon Elementary School. This works against the council's stated goal for safer streets for schoolchildren. Additional automobiles and delivery trucks will make their own routes around the increased congestion caused by Wal-Mart. The danger to children walking to and from school will increase, not decrease.
If Galt is concerned about the traffic congestion at the Twin Cities exit, why bring Wal-Mart to Twin Cities Road? Traffic already backs up onto the freeway during the evening commute hours. A new redesigned freeway interchange is already needed. Accidents will certainly not decrease if Wal-Mart is allowed to build. A once peaceful, pleasant community will quickly become another Elk Grove.
If Galt is concerned about gang activity, why bring Wal-Mart to Twin Cities Road? Galt Connections stated that "gangs are the leading cause of violent crime in Galt." Wal-Mart will become a gathering spot for those with criminal intent. The large parking lot with nearby freeway access will be an easy place to meet. It is well-documented that wherever Wal-Mart has located, crime has increased in the immediate area.
I know that the city of Galt needs the sales tax dollars that a Wal-Mart would bring. I understand the economics. I am not against a Wal-Mart in Galt. I am just against a Wal-Mart at Fermoy Way and Twin Cities Road. There has to be a more central location somewhere in Galt that is better suited for a big-box store. The proposed store is not even well-located for citizens of Galt. It is on the extreme north end of the city. People from south and west Galt will have to travel across the city to shop at Wal-Mart, which will also increase traffic and pollution.
If Wal-Mart wanted to be a good corporate citizen, it would withdraw its application for the location on Fermoy and find a more suitable location in Galt.
Wal-Mart withdrew its application to build on Sheldon Road in Elk Grove. Opponents said problems included an outdated freeway interchange, traffic congestion on Sheldon Road and the severe negative impact a big-box store would have on existing neighborhoods.
The situation in Galt is exactly the same.
We have an outdated freeway interchange (1958), an already impossible traffic situation on Twin Cities Road and three neighborhoods that will be greatly impacted if Wal-Mart builds there.
Rich Vaira is a resident of Emerald Village in Galt.
