In Huge Step, Roseville Council Gives Wal-Mart Preliminary Plat Approval

The Roseville Council granted preliminary plat approval for the proposed Twin Lakes Wal-Mart store at its Monday meeting—a major step toward final approval for the 160,000 square foot discounter.

The council approved Wal-Mart’s request by a 3-2 vote, with council members Tammy Pust and Tammy McGehee dissenting.

The cost of cops

Twelve conditions were imposed on Wal-Mart, including the requirement that the store reimburse the city for law enforcement costs related to any calls for service in excess of 300 during the first year of the store’s operation.

Roseville’s Supertarget receives about 175 calls for service per year, and Roseville Police Chief Rick Mathwig has said he expects his department would receive 700 to 900 more calls for service a year if the Twin Lakes Wal-Mart is built.

The vote on an amendment to impose the payment requirement for law enforcement was unanimous though council member Bob Willmus said he was worried the requirement had the “potential to act as a deterrent for calls for service.”

Additional public testimony on the proposed store may be given at next week’s council meeting and a decision on “final plat approval” is expected from the council on July 23, but Monday’s decision to grant preliminary plat approval was a very significant step forward for the store.

“The final plat is a pretty perfunctory decision,” council member Tammy Pust said.

A motion made by Pust to restrict hours of operation of the store to 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends was defeated by a vote of 3-2.

Administrative appeals

The council also contesting the city staff’s determination that the proposed Twin Lakes Wal-Mart store is permitted under the city’s zoning code and forwarded the appeals to the city’s planning commission.

The appeals came from Karen Schaffer, , and from SWARN [Solidarity of West Area Roseville Neighbors], a citizens group representing more than 60 Roseville households that opposes the proposed discount store.

The issue will return to the council next week at its July 16 meeting.