TEHACHAPI,CA- The Tehachapi City Council will hold a public meeting Monday night to consider an appeal by a group opposed to a Walmart Supercenter approved by the planning commission last month.
Claudia Blodget opened Five Heart Quilts and Fabric in Tehachapi in 1993.
"It's increased from a 500 square foot shop to a 2,000 square foot shop," said Blodget.
She's one of the many small business owners opposed to a new Walmart coming to town.
"They will come in and they'll rape our town and run anybody that's still left in the small business category out."
Last month, the Tehachapi Planning Commission voted three to two, to green light construction of a Walmart Supercenter near Tucker Road and West Tehachapi Boulevard.
Monday evening, a local group is appealing the decision to allow the retail giant into their neighborhood.
"We're appealing it for different reasons. for one thing we still think the environmental impact report is inadequate," said Christopher Zehnder with Tehachapi First.
Zehnder says traffic problems haven't been addressed. Plans for the 165,000 square foot Walmart do include for additional traffic lights to be installed.
"They are very short distances from one another on Tucker and it will lead to traffic snarls. It could very well lead to more accidents and its going to hinder access the new hospital that's going to be on the other side of the city," said Zehnder.
But not everyone opposes the project.
"There's been a massive outpouring of support from local residents. People want Walmart. They want to shop there and for that reason I think its appropriate for it to be here," said Planning Commission Chairman Charles White.
"It's not going to be nice. We're going to lose the small town flavor and we don't want to lose that small town flavor. That's one of the really nice things about this place."
The meeting will take place Monday at 6 p.m. at the Tehachapi High School cafeteria located on 801 Dennison Rd.
Claudia Blodget opened Five Heart Quilts and Fabric in Tehachapi in 1993.
"It's increased from a 500 square foot shop to a 2,000 square foot shop," said Blodget.
She's one of the many small business owners opposed to a new Walmart coming to town.
"They will come in and they'll rape our town and run anybody that's still left in the small business category out."
Last month, the Tehachapi Planning Commission voted three to two, to green light construction of a Walmart Supercenter near Tucker Road and West Tehachapi Boulevard.
Monday evening, a local group is appealing the decision to allow the retail giant into their neighborhood.
"We're appealing it for different reasons. for one thing we still think the environmental impact report is inadequate," said Christopher Zehnder with Tehachapi First.
Zehnder says traffic problems haven't been addressed. Plans for the 165,000 square foot Walmart do include for additional traffic lights to be installed.
"They are very short distances from one another on Tucker and it will lead to traffic snarls. It could very well lead to more accidents and its going to hinder access the new hospital that's going to be on the other side of the city," said Zehnder.
But not everyone opposes the project.
"There's been a massive outpouring of support from local residents. People want Walmart. They want to shop there and for that reason I think its appropriate for it to be here," said Planning Commission Chairman Charles White.
"It's not going to be nice. We're going to lose the small town flavor and we don't want to lose that small town flavor. That's one of the really nice things about this place."
The meeting will take place Monday at 6 p.m. at the Tehachapi High School cafeteria located on 801 Dennison Rd.