Media: Suisun City planners to hold hearing on Wal-Mart project

By Carol Bogart | Daily Republic


SUISUN CITY - The Suisun City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday in preparation for making recommendations to the City Council regarding the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter.

The Planning Commission's recommendations will include whether the Suisun City Council should override a November 2007 decision by the Solano County Airport Land Use Commission, which ruled the proposed Wal-Mart site is 'incompatible' with Travis Air Force Base.

The city has contended the project is consistent with the mission of the base. Travis officials have said the base has no public safety concerns related to the proposed supercenter.

With a four-fifths vote, the City Council can override the commission decision.

Also Tuesday, the Planning Commission will decide whether to recommend that the City Council certify the Environmental Impact Report and accompanying Mitigation Reporting and Monitoring Program for the Wal-Mart project.

The mitigation program outlines such things as who will cover the costs of improving intersections around the site to address increased traffic flow.

Projected sales tax revenue from the retail giant would add an estimated $960,000 annually to Suisun City's General Fund and $175,000 each year to the Suisun City Redevelopment Agency. Suisun City leaders have said the city loses potential sales tax revenue when residents shop in Fairfield.

The money would be used for such things as street and other infrastructure repair, and public safety, Community Development Director Heather McCollister said. The parcel has been zoned commercial for 20 years, City Manager Suzanne Bragdon said.

Citizen and expert concerns about the project are outlined in comment cards in the final EIR. The EIR and mitigation program are available at www.suisun.com.

The Planning Commission meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the City Council chamber at Suisun City Hall. The next council meeting is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 12.

Reach Carol Bogart at 427-6955 or at cbogart@dailyrepublic.net.