Walmart expansion back on front burner

Comment period on revised EIR ends June 1

Those interested in Walmart’s controversial proposal to expand its Forest Avenue store into a “supercenter” might like to take a look at the revised draft environmental-impact report on the project. The city of Chico has announced that the document is available on its Web site (www.ci.chico.ca.us) as well as at City Hall (Planning Services Department), the Chico branch of the county library, and at Special Collections in Chico State’s Meriam Library.

The RDEIR contains a revised traffic and circulation analysis from that in the draft EIR presented in December 2006, as well as new energy and climate change sections. The comment period for the RDEIR lasts through June 1. Comments can be e-mailed to zthomas@ci.chico.ca.us.

Though moving forward on the expansion, Walmart has dropped its plan to build a second supercenter in north Chico.