Wal-Mart refuses to chip in for fire truck
Wal-Mart refuses to chip in for fire truck
By Chris Young - TC Palm
Friday, July, 7 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — Wal-Mart has refused to pay for a new ladder truck as one of the conditions it must satisfy to build its SuperCenter at Gatlin Commons, fire officials said.
St. Lucie County Fire District officials said the specialized truck is needed to properly cover all areas of the 207,000-square-foot building in a fire, but Wal-Mart attorney Susan Motley argued in a letter the building has "an abundance" of sprinklers and built-in safety measures that exceed National Fire Protection Association standards.
But if it doesn't get money for a new truck, the district doesn't have to approve the building's certificate of occupancy, Battalion Chief Buddy Emerson wrote in a letter to the city.
The district also asked the city on Monday for help persuading Wal-Mart to follow through on its end of the deal.
The Wal-Mart SuperCenter is the largest business planned for Gatlin Commons, a 400,000-square-foot commercial project on Gatlin and Rosser boulevards, which also will include a 134,000-square-foot Sam's Club and other retailers and restaurants.
As a condition of plan approval, Wal-Mart agreed to provide evidence that the Fire District could provide aerial service to the project, Emerson wrote. But the district didn't specify a ladder truck because Wal-Mart agreed to meet the district's needs at the Site Plan Review meeting, he continued.
Although there is no ordinance requiring developers to pay for ladder trucks, the district's requirement was consistent with the city's planning process, wrote Emerson, who could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Wal-Mart officials maintained their stance.
"We should be able to move forward because we met the (fire) standards," said Eric Brewer, spokesman for Wal-Mart. "Our current position is we don't feel the contribution is needed by law."
He said the requested contribution was $900,000.
Councilman Christopher Cooper, a firefighter in Palm Beach County, said Wal-Mart should pay for at least part of a new ladder truck.
"I think it's a justified fee for a new business which is impacting the level of service from the norm," he said.
Wal-Mart is not the first company to face requirements for new fire equipment. The district has gotten money for half a ladder truck — $350,000 — from The Ginn Co. in March as a precondition for allowing high-rise buildings at Tesoro.
Developer Wayne Huizenga is contributing the other $350,000 for the truck.
THE COST OF FIRE PROTECTION
• Wal-Mart, which is building a SuperCenter at Gatlin and Rosser boulevards, might not get final approval of the project from the St. Lucie County Fire District.
• The district says it can't adequately protect the large building without a new ladder truck and asked Wal-Mart to buy it.
• Wal-Mart has refused, saying it has enough fire protection in the building.
© 2005 United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
This site is in no way connected with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. or any affiliate of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
By Chris Young - TC Palm
Friday, July, 7 2006
PORT ST. LUCIE — Wal-Mart has refused to pay for a new ladder truck as one of the conditions it must satisfy to build its SuperCenter at Gatlin Commons, fire officials said.
St. Lucie County Fire District officials said the specialized truck is needed to properly cover all areas of the 207,000-square-foot building in a fire, but Wal-Mart attorney Susan Motley argued in a letter the building has "an abundance" of sprinklers and built-in safety measures that exceed National Fire Protection Association standards.
But if it doesn't get money for a new truck, the district doesn't have to approve the building's certificate of occupancy, Battalion Chief Buddy Emerson wrote in a letter to the city.
The district also asked the city on Monday for help persuading Wal-Mart to follow through on its end of the deal.
The Wal-Mart SuperCenter is the largest business planned for Gatlin Commons, a 400,000-square-foot commercial project on Gatlin and Rosser boulevards, which also will include a 134,000-square-foot Sam's Club and other retailers and restaurants.
As a condition of plan approval, Wal-Mart agreed to provide evidence that the Fire District could provide aerial service to the project, Emerson wrote. But the district didn't specify a ladder truck because Wal-Mart agreed to meet the district's needs at the Site Plan Review meeting, he continued.
Although there is no ordinance requiring developers to pay for ladder trucks, the district's requirement was consistent with the city's planning process, wrote Emerson, who could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Wal-Mart officials maintained their stance.
"We should be able to move forward because we met the (fire) standards," said Eric Brewer, spokesman for Wal-Mart. "Our current position is we don't feel the contribution is needed by law."
He said the requested contribution was $900,000.
Councilman Christopher Cooper, a firefighter in Palm Beach County, said Wal-Mart should pay for at least part of a new ladder truck.
"I think it's a justified fee for a new business which is impacting the level of service from the norm," he said.
Wal-Mart is not the first company to face requirements for new fire equipment. The district has gotten money for half a ladder truck — $350,000 — from The Ginn Co. in March as a precondition for allowing high-rise buildings at Tesoro.
Developer Wayne Huizenga is contributing the other $350,000 for the truck.
THE COST OF FIRE PROTECTION
• Wal-Mart, which is building a SuperCenter at Gatlin and Rosser boulevards, might not get final approval of the project from the St. Lucie County Fire District.
• The district says it can't adequately protect the large building without a new ladder truck and asked Wal-Mart to buy it.
• Wal-Mart has refused, saying it has enough fire protection in the building.
© 2005 United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
This site is in no way connected with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. or any affiliate of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
posted by Walking Contradiction at 2:48 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home