Tumwater Wal-Mart clears another hurdle

BY KERI BRENNER | • Published September 30, 2008

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THE OLYMPIAN

TUMWATER -- A Thurston County judge Monday denied a community group and union's appeal of Wal-Mart's plans to build an 187,000-square-foot Supercenter at 5900 Littlerock Road S.W., clearing another hurdle for the retail giant.

Superior Court Judge Christine Pomeroy said the proposed project was in line with city regulations and that its environmental review was adequate. The proposal has been under dispute since 2004.

"We're very pleased," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Jennifer Spall said. "We've had great support from the city and staff all along."

Spall said Wal-Mart had not been surprised by the appeal, but "we expected this outcome."

The appellants, the citizens group Tumwater Liveable Community and United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 367, have 30 days to decide whether to continue to the state Court of Appeals.

Seattle attorney Claudia Newman, representing the appellants, could not be reached for comment.

Wal-Mart has other Thurston County stores in Yelm and Lacey.