Headlines

A Big N-O from Big D

Dallas planners reject Wal-Mart's request for a zoning variance near downtown

Published

22 years ago

June 13, 2002

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Zoning regulators in Dallas have blocked plans by Wal-Mart (Bentonville, Ark.) to build a SuperCenter near the city's downtown. The planned hypermarket was called an “oversized gorilla.”

The Dallas Plan Commission voted unanimously last week to reject a zoning change that Wal-Mart had requested. The re-zoning would have cleared the way for construction of a 220,000-square-foot store on an 11-acre site near Love Field.

According to The Dallas Morning News, many nearby residents argued that the heart of the city is not an appropriate locale for such a store. Residents from five surrounding neighborhoods told the commission that a retail complex the size of four and a half football fields would bring noise, crime and traffic to an already congested area. However, others voiced support for the proposal, saying that convenient shopping would be a boon for the area.

Wal-Mart officials told the Morning News they were unsure whether they would appeal the commission's ruling to Dallas City Council.

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