Last Tuesday the City Council of Sunset Valley passed a “No Aquifer Big Box” resolution calling on all governmental entities to strictly enforce water-quality standards on such developments, and for the corporate leadership of Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, and other chains with plans to build over the Edwards Aquifer to voluntarily comply with those regulations. In addition to opposing the Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse proposed for Brodie Lane north of William Cannon — on land Sunset Valley released to Austin’s control specifically to thwart the project — the small city’s leaders have joined environmentalists and neighborhood groups fighting the Wal-Mart Supercenter planned for the corner of MoPac and Slaughter Lane in the Barton Springs Recharge Zone. With an impervious cover level of 51% — three times that permitted by the Save Our Springs Ordinance — the Wal-Mart will seriously degrade the aquifer, says Sunset Valley’s resolution. This year Sunset Valley passed its own water-quality ordinance limiting impervious cover in its jurisdiction, joining the city of Austin in protecting the aquifer — which provides drinking water for 80% of Sunset Valley residents.
Meanwhile, two former Austin mayors have taken stands on the Lowe’s: newly retired Gus Garcia is voluntarily lobbying in opposition and Bruce Todd is acting as a paid consultant on behalf of the landowner and Lowe’s. Rumblings have it that the city and Lowe’s have reached a tentative agreement to settle the retailer’s lawsuit over Austin’s rejection of the project (after inheriting it from Sunset Valley). The agreement would allow Lowe’s 40% impervious cover — the same amount the company wanted in the first place — but would require Lowe’s to agree to SOS water-quality controls. On Tuesday, the Travis Co. Commissioners Court delayed action until July 29 on a preliminary plan for the Lowe’s, planned within easy walking distance of competitor Home Depot — which had the luxury of building its big box on grandfathered property, just as Wal-Mart intends to do. The hot potato then goes to the City Council, possibly as early as July 31.
This article appears in July 25 • 2003.
