Wal-Mart panned, housing hailed

May 7, 2003

By Sandra Gonzales

San Jose Mercury News

Ah, Fremont's gained a new distinction -- both good and bad.

Not only does it have the best project in Alameda County, according 
to an Oakland-based environmental and social justice group, but it 
could possibly have the worst development in the entire Bay Area.

In a report released Tuesday by the Transportation and Land Use 
Coalition, a proposed 156,000-square-foot Wal-Mart at Osgood Road 
and Skyway Court is called "dumb growth," earning the group's 
dubious award of Worst of the Region.

But the Benton, a trendy 322-unit housing and retail development 
near the Fremont BART station, garnered its Best of Alameda County 
award.

Stuart Cohen, the coalition's executive director, said it's 
important to define smart and dumb growth.

"The way that we grow will have a massive impact on the quality of 
life in our region," he said. "If we want to grow smarter, we've got 
to define what smart growth is and then say that regional 
investments as well as state investments will not go to the area 
that continues to pursue dumb growth policies."

San Jose's planned Vendome Place development on North First Street 
will consist of 400 units, including 80 affordable units, and is 
near a light-rail stop, elements that the group says make it 
a "smart" project.

On the other hand, Cisco Systems' campus sites in San Jose and 
Milpitas along the Tasman West light-rail line are "dumb" growth 
because one site is former agricultural land and the sprawling 
projects would encourage auto use and not boost light-rail ridership.

While Cohen praised Fremont's Benton for its pedestrian-friendly 
design and accessibility to BART, he blasted the proposed Wal-Mart.

"What they are turning around and possibly doing is approving the 
dumbest possible growth adjacent to that BART station -- an auto-
oriented Wal-Mart that would have over 8,000 car trips," Cohen said.

Last month, the Fremont Planning Commission voted 6-0 to reject the 
store. But Wal-Mart is appealing the decision to the city council 
next week.

Fremont Mayor Gus Morrison said the group's awards are of little 
consequence, though he happens to agree with them in this instance.

Morrison said the Warm Springs property is too valuable and could be 
put to better use than for a Wal-Mart store.

Councilman Bob Wasserman said he is leaning toward supporting the 
project.

"I'm still studying it, I've got mounds of material, and there is a 
lot of data that I studied that was basically propaganda," Wasserman 
said.

Cynthia Lin, spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, said the company believes it 
is an excellent location for the store, particularly because there 
are already existing retailers in the area and road improvements are 
planned to lessen any traffic impact.

At Tuesday's press conference at the site of the proposed store, 
opponents differed, carrying signs that read, "It's our World not 
Wally's World," and "Wal-Mart = Dumb Growth."

Other best and worst sites:

San Mateo County: Best -- Metro Center and CityPark housing 
developments in Foster City; worst -- the new Costco in South San 
Francisco.

San Francisco: Best -- planned Curran House retail and housing 
development on Taylor Street; worst -- Hastings College of Law's 
massive parking garage proposal.


Contact Sandra Gonzales at sgonzales@com or (510) 790-
7321.