St. Charles scraps Wal-Mart plan

About 20 St. Charles residents cheered Tuesday after officials scrapped plans for a Wal-Mart Supercenter on the city's east side.

The 7-0 decision by plan commissioners capped more than a year of debate over the development, which was proposed for 30 acres northwest of the Route 64-Smith Road intersection.

Community Development Director Bob Hupp said city attorneys advised officials to abandon the project because the retailer no longer has an option to buy the land.

Wal-Mart representatives did not attend Tuesday's meeting. But Hupp said the company was told weeks ago of the city's plans and "did not respond except to communicate to our attorney that they have no response."

Resident Bert DesRosiers said his neighborhood would be "elated" over the city's decision. He and hundreds of other residents voiced opposition at the project at public hearings over the last year, saying the 24-hour store would have negative effects on their nearby subdivisions.

"I have absolutely no problem with Wal-Mart; they do a good business," DesRosiers said. "That piece of property is just absolutely the worst place to put a store."

The city still is trying to acquire 2.88 acres of the property using eminent domain to construct a street connecting Foxfield Drive and Smith Road. A court hearing over that issue was continued Tuesday without resolution.

A Wal-Mart spokesman has not responded to questions over what steps the company might take next.