Wal-Mart Town Hall Meeting

Former Mayor Frank Cooksey presiding.



"This place is one of the most sensitive in Austin. And anyone who would come here must consider the special ecological conditions and sensitivities that exist."
-- Dr. Robert Breunig, Director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center


"We are also looking at several other Super Centers and our objective is to have approximately a 3-mile trade area for each of these stores."
-- Daphne Moore, Wal-Mart Representative


"The key question to ask the developer is this: will you guarantee the system will not pollute the aquifer? Will you backup the guarantee with bonding and penalties for non-compliance? We have a group of eager developers that are temporary players with this property, and they will do or say things about systems like this to make many opponents pause and contemplate how maybe everything will work out with AquaLogic. Once the developer is asked for a guarantee, they begin to equivocate. When we push them, expect them to say things like: "Nobody else has to do that", "That is not necessary", "It is not possible to write a contract that way." In other words, they don't have enough faith to put their money where their mouth is.
-- Jon Beall, Save Barton Creek Association


"The responsible thing, Endeavor as a local company and Wal-Mart as a responsible corporate citizen, is to comply with the will of the people, which is 15% impervious cover."
-- Colin Clark, Save Our Springs Alliance

Wal-Mart Town Hall Meeting

Bowie High School
July 2, 2003

Moved from the Ladybird Wildflower Center due to strong community support and unanticipated demand, the Town Hall meeting could be considered a success on that point alone. Overflowing capacity at Bowie High School with over 575 people signing in before the meeting it was a powerful show of concern and unity in opposition to this proposed development.

At the request of Save Barton Creek Association and nearby neighborhoods, the Wildflower Center hosted the event. The meeting opened with Dr. Robert Breunig describing the Wildflower Centerís response to designing in an environmentally sensitive area. There were additional environmental and community responsive developments sited during the presentations, in particular the HEB at Brodie and Slaughter was lauded for its responsive design and commitment to the communityís values and concerns.

Council Member Daryl Slusher urged those in attendance and throughout the community to understand the battle lies in the communityís wallets and pocketbooks. Stating we must unite in boycotting stores that donít comply with water quality regulations.

Informative presentations from retired US Geological Survey (USGS) expert Raymond Slade and Joseph Beery from the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer District were provided to help neighbors in the community better understand the environmental concerns and impacts that developments at this impervious level (51%) have on the water supply and Barton Springs. It was also meant to provide Walmart representatives with this knowledge in hopes of moving them to realize the extreme sensitivity of this particular tract and bring them to understand the wisdom of moving 2-3 miles further east out of the recharge zone.

Trey Salinas of Martin & Salinas, (the Public Relations firm for Longhorn Pipeline), is also representing Walmart and Endeavor. The firm was in attendance but declined to be available during the Q & A portion of the meeting despite having a seat provided on the dias for Salinas. Attorney for Walmart, Richard Suttle, occupied the seat instead. Though Walmart representative Daphne Moore was provided 10 minutes for a presentation of their proposed project, she used only 4 minutes. There was no new information or adjustments to their planned development from what had been presented to neighborhoods weeks before- despite neighborhoods expressing what they found objectionable about the development and offering suggestions as to what would be acceptable.

The neighborhoods unmitigated concerns were reiterated by Sendera neighbor, Lori Erickson, whose presentation was interrupted several times by overwhelming, standing applause from those in attendance. The neighborhoods concerns of increased traffic through neighborhood parks and play areas, light, noise, and pollution from a 24 HOUR business, and Big Box retail in the aquifer recharge zone all remained unanswered.

From the Town Hall meeting we are asking our city wide community to become involved in this battle for neighborhood rights and water quality protection rights in the face of large corporate interests.

We are sounding the call to speak the only language they seem to understand- MONEY.

  • Boycott Walmart and Sam'­s Stores
  • Educate ourselves on the hidden costs to our community for Wal-Martís cheap prices
  • Write letters expressing concern, disappointment, outrage to our local newspapers, to Walmart, to Endeavor
  • Register to participate in actions
  • Donate to Save Barton Creek Associationís NO WALMART FUND
  • Talk to your neighbors, coworkers, and organizations you're affiliated with and ask them to become a coalition member
  • Stay tuned, informed, and participate to have a voice in how your community is to develop. Because, after all, apathy sucks - and you can make a difference.