Walmart Opponents and Supporters Get Their Say

Redlands officials looking for input from residents about a proposed shopping center that will include a Super Walmart got an earful from residents during a public hearing held by the city's Planning Commission.

More than 80 people attended the meeting, held at the Joslyn Senior Center. About 30 stepped up to speak to commissioners and city staff.

Supporters say the retailer will provide affordable goods and bring needed tax revenue and jobs to the city and surrounding area. Opponents say a Super Walmart will worsen traffic congestion and air quality. They also believe it will also force several smaller businesses to leave.

The Walmart would be part of Redlands Crossing commercial center. It will include a grocery section, a garden center, auto center, pharmacy and banking center, according to staff reports. Developers propose to build on 33 acres at the southeast corner of San Bernardino Avenue and Tennessee Street.

The center would replace prime farmland and open space, according to several speakers. Sunny Walick, of Redlands, warned the commission that once it’s gone, the land is lost to future generations.

Others pointed out that the Environmental Impact Report shows the Walmart operation - which would run 24 hours - would violate SCAQMD’s regional emission thresholds and result in a significant impact on a regional level even after mitigation.

“My front door will face this project,” said Paul Lemay, a resident of Karon Street. “They talked about emissions that can’t be mitigated. I have children. There are a lot of children in our neighborhood that might be affected by this.”

“I’m concerned about the undesirables that use Walmart as a place to live,” he said. “I’m also concerned about crime. I already have issues on my street with crime," he said.

Those in favor included Michell Guajardo, store manager for the Redlands Walmart. The retailer is not a villain, but in fact cares about their people, she said.

“I started with this great company 12 years ago,” Guajardo said. “My husband is also a store manager, and he’s been with this great company for 20 years. When we started with Walmart, we had opened up the second Walmart in Yucca Valley. My husband started as an unloader and worked his way up through the company. We were low income. We paid $62 a month for rent. We had food stamps. But as my husband moved his way up into this great company he ended up bringing me to this company and together we moved our way up into the company and are now running stores. I’m very proud of the store in Redlands. I’ve been there since April. I have many associates who have been there for 20 years.”

Many of those associates opened the Redlands store. It’s a part of their history, she said. The associates benefit off of the store’s profits, she added.

“Just this year alone my associates in Redlands took over $200,000 (in) bonuses,” she said. “I am for the super center.”

Planning commissioners did not take questions, only comments. They continued the public hearing to March 27.

“There were valid points that need to be considered,” said Gary Miller, Planning Commission chairman after the meeting. “When a difficult issue comes before me, I always ask myself how would feel if this was my neighborhood. That’s one of my measures.”

“I lose sleep over this,” Miller said. “That’s why I’m grateful for so many people in the community coming out and giving us some insight into their perspectives and how it affects them. I think it’s particularly notable the number of people who came from the Karon Street neighborhood.”