TehachapiNews.com

Local group sues: Tehachapi First claims Walmart EIR violated CEQA guidelines

Carin Enovijas, News Editor

Tehachapi First, a local, organization which grew out of opposition to a proposed Walmart store, reported on Friday, June 17, that is has filed a lawsuit challenging  the City of Tehachapi’s May 19 approval of a 165,000 square-foot superstore on Tucker Road.

City Council approves Walmart

Tina Forde, Staff Writer

In the span of eight minutes on May 19, the Tehachapi City Council recorded three votes that cleared the way for the Wal-Mart Corp. to build a 165,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter here.

By 5-0 voice votes, the council:
• Denied the appeal of the Tehachapi Planning Commission’s 4-1 approval of the project on Jan. 31;
• Accepted the project’s Environmental Impact Report and adopted the statement of overriding consideration; and
• Upheld the Planning Commission’s approval of the project with an additional requirement that Walmart indemnify the city in case of challenges to the EIR.

City sets Walmart hearing date

Tina Ford

On May 19, the Tehachapi City Council will continue the public hearing it started on March 28 to address an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of a Walmart Supercenter in Tehachapi.

The hearing is set to begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, in the Tehachapi High School Gymnasium, 801 S. Dennison Road.

City sets date for continued Walmart hearing

Tina Ford

On May 19, the Tehachapi City Council will finish the public hearing it started on March 28 on an appeal of the Planning Commission’s vote to approve the construction of a Walmart Supercenter in Tehachapi.

The continued hearing will be May 19, 2011, at 6 p.m. at the Tehachapi High School Gymnasium, 801 South Dennison Road.

Walmart: City, consultants still working on response to EIR challenge

Tina Ford

The Tehachapi Department of Planning and Community Development staff and consultants are compiling responses to an attorney’s challenge to the construction of a Walmart in Tehachapi.

City staff and the Environmental Impact Report consultants carried out a conference call April 14 to discuss their progress, reported Community Development Director David James.

Walmart decision delayed

Tina Ford

A Southern California attorney brought Tehachapi’s up-or-down decision on Walmart to a halt March 28.

Walmart debate continues

Claudia Elliott, Managing Editor

I wrote some weeks ago some of my thoughts about Walmart and Tehachapi’s ever-changing commercial landscape.

Last-minute objections based on greenhouse gases

Tina Ford

The documents from attorney Cory Briggs that appeared at Tehachapi City Hall the day of the March 28 Walmart hearing contained a cover letter and seven pages of attachments consisting of “Reasons for Denying Project” and an index of exhibit items on the accompanying computer disk.

Council delays Walmart decision

Claudia Elliott, Managing Editor

A nearly four-hour meeting of the Tehachapi City Council on Monday night, March 28, ended without a vote on the controversial Walmart project.

Walmart appeal hearing set

Tina Ford

The city of Tehachapi has booked the Tehachapi High School gymnasium for public hearing to be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 28,  concerning an appeal challenging the city Planning Commission’s 4-1 approval of a new Walmart.

Walmart debate continuing online

Claudia Elliott, Managing Editor

The debate over the proposed Walmart Supercenter is continuing in the letters to the editor column and online as opponents wait for news of when their appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of the project will be heard by the Tehachapi City Council.