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What was the Littleton City Council thinking?

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Contributed by: carla hagood on 2/1/2007

Why, when a group is vocal, the assumption is they are the vocal minority? Is the majority always silent? Is counting e-mails a sound way of assessing public opinion?

A Littleton Council member informed me that e-mails could not legally be considered in the Littleton council voting decision. Wouldn't that statement apply to how many of the e-mails favored one side against another in the voting decision? Yet, a Littleton council member cited the number of e-mails for and against Wal-Mart the night of the vote. How many of the e-mails came from Littleton residents, or is our Littleton community being degraded for the shopping convenience of other communities?

Should Littleton be pursuing low wage jobs or wages that will build the Littleton economy? The city council should have thought harder about its goals and assumptions. But it is hard to understand what the city council is thinking. The city council took care when Aspen Groves was built that the building designs and landscaping fit the character of the community. A few years ago, the city council prevented a housing development being built nearby on an abandoned railroad spur because it was not considered the appropriate development for the surrounding area.

Now it has voted for a Wal-Mart in this same area of town. How does this make sense? The Wal-Mart decision is a complete about face. Not only does it not fit the surrounding community; the area had to be rezoned for them. The west side of Sante Fe surrounding the proposed site is a mixture of a well thought out commercial development, park areas and residential communities. This area of Sante Fe is not a commercial corridor. A mega big box development does not belong here.

Look at the Littleton government meeting minutes. Wal-Mart is not going to make this anything other than suburban blight, and the city planners bowed to them. The city council has sold the community out for tax revenue. Just maybe, the residents of Littleton would have done with less services, raised taxes and older public buildings rather than accepting this development at the targeted location.

However, the Littleton residents don't get to vote on this issue and it is a distinct possibility our elected officials are not representing us. Are the stop Wal-Mart crowd a bunch of crazy pinkos or do they represent the Littleton community?

The mantra of Littleton is not development at any cost. We have already suffered through the parking lot blight brought in by the Light Rail Mineral Station, the problems of light pollution from the Mineral station and Aspen Groves, the continuing traffic gridlock on Sante Fe and Mineral, and the serious traffic accidents on Mineral and South Sante Fe. Wal-Mart exponentially increases the problems. The impacts to nearby residential communities, impacts to parks areas, light pollution, significant traffic increase, asphalt landscaping, ugliness of big box design, and noise from a 24 hour center means Littleton will pay too high a price.

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Submitted By: Susan Eshleman

posted on 5/8/2007 @ 6:21:07 PM

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I have to wonder what this small vocal minority opposed to Wal-Mart is thinking. It appears it is angry about losing the council vote. Even though the Littleton sentiment is clearly and overwhelmingly in favor of Wal-Mart, this angry minority has moved on to plan B, which is forcing a costly election. Why this vocal minority chooses to invest its energy in something that will confirm the wishes of the majority also begs the question, "What is it thinking?" This group has also proposed a plan C and D which is the recall of our fairly elected officials and a lawsuit. Hopefully, forcing an election will allow this group's anger to successfully vent and it will not resort to other tactics. The residents of Littleton can probably forgive an election, but not a recall or a lawsuit.

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Submitted By: carla hagood

posted on 2/11/2007 @ 5:13:16 PM

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to Ronald Crecelius: No - I don't shop Wal-Mart not because of a particular dislike of Wal-Mart, but because I find big box shopping too time consuming and physical wearing. I find it easier to find what I need at a smaller store and have more time for my personal business. However, whether I shop at a Wal-Mart is not the issue; the issue is it is the wrong development for the location. I don't see what Sam Walton's bio has any thing to do with the issue. To John Smith. The Stop Wal-Mart group has not been "my" group, but I believe I will join. Why the categoriztion of people? I find it hard to believe that those wanting a Wal-Mart at this location are the majority. However, that is the fantastic thing about our political system. It should be placed on the ballot and let the people vote. So, sign the petition!

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Submitted By: Ronald Crecelius

posted on 2/10/2007 @ 3:21:40 AM

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I am a Littleton resident and I have two questions. Have you ever shoped at Walmart and do you shop at Walmart now. I suggest you read Sam Walton's bio. you might be impressed R. Crecelius rcreceliusl@aol.com

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Submitted By: john smith

posted on 2/8/2007 @ 9:51:00 AM

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Carla, Your stop WalMart group is not in the majority. Walmart has made a number of concessions to the site and it will be a good addition to Littleton. Every point you made can be countered with the opposite so no need to go through. Relax, enjoy the store. J

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carla hagood

littleton

carla hagood has posted 1 blog entry and 1 comment since joining on 6/16/2006. carla hagood 's average blog rating is 2.75.

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