Wal-Mart Resolution - South Austin Democrats
Wal-Mart Resolution - South Austin Democrats

Resolution: July 8, 2003 General Meeting

Proposed Wal-Mart in the Barton Springs Recharge Zone of the Edwards Aquifer

Whereas, The proposed site of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter on the Maple Run tract adjacent to South Mopac is located over the recharge zone of the Barton Springs section of the Edwards Aquifer, and

Whereas, The Austin community has recognized the environmental importance of the aquifer as the drinking water reservoir for thousands of people, the source of in stream flows for Barton Creek and the head waters for the springs that feeds Barton Springs pool, and

Whereas, The City of Austin has adopted the SOS ordinance as a means to protect the water quality of the aquifer, the creek and springs and that would limit the impervious cover at this site to 15% while the proposed project would result in 51% impervious cover, and

Whereas, The access to the proposed site is entirely through the adjacent residential neighborhood and will create serious traffic safety problems for the families in the area, and

Whereas, The proposed location will act as a catalysts for additional growth in the area that will acerbate the traffic problems along this portion of South MoPac and result in more traffic congestion in the southwest portion of Travis County, now therefore

Be it resolved that:

The South Austin Democrats recommends that Wal-Mart either 1) Design the project to conform to the SOS Ordinance and address the traffic concerns of the neighborhood or 2) Abandon this site and work with the community to locate an alternative site that will not impact the aquifer, creek and springs and be more compatible with local neighborhoods.

Be it further resolved that the South Austin Democrats urge the Endeavor Corporation (Real Estate Developer) to be a good Austin Corporate Citizen and withdraw this site from consideration, and

Lastly, the South Austin Democrats requests that all local jurisdictions that have any authority over this project deny any site development, environmental and building permit approvals required by this project until the project conforms to the SOS ordinance and resolves the neighborhood traffic safety issues.

South Austin Democrats


Elizabeth Yevich
SAD Vice President