Davie Town Council votes down Wal-Mart plan

Posted on Thursday, July. 20, 2006

DAVIE

Davie Town Council votes down Wal-Mart plan

The Davie Town Council vote 4-0 late Wednesday night to deny plans for Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed for Orange and University drives.

BY NIKKI WALLER
nwaller@MiamiHerald.com

After 6 hours of presentations, public input and discussion late Wednesday night, Davie Town Council members voted 4-0 to deny a controversial project to build a 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed for the intersection of University and Orange Drive in Davie, contending the plans did not fit in with the neighborhood.

Wal-Mart is likely take legal action to appeal the decision, says Susan Motley, an attorney for the retailer. "It's up to my client," whether to challenge the decision, "but we'll certainly be exploring that option."

The company is proposing to build on a 36-acre commercial tract that, under the terms of a 1989 legal settlement, holds builders to looser development rules that require less green space and very little landscaping. The agreement also permits developers to build larger structures than are currently allowed in Davie.

Because of the settlement, the project did not require a zoning change -- only site plan approval.

Tucker Gibbs, an attorney hired by a nearby homeowners' association, argued in a presentation that the settlement was no longer valid, and argued that the big-box retailer's presence would hurt Davie's plans for small-business focused redevelopment along Davie Road.

More than 100 residents attended the meeting, mostly to protest the Wal-Mart development. After the vote was cast, the crowd left Davie Town Hall clapping and cheering.

Davie Mayor Tom Truex could not vote on the project because his brother works for a Palm Beach County engineering firm that has been contracted to do work for the proposed store, according to an opinion issued by Davie's town attorney last year.

Copyright 2006 Miami Herald Media Co.

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