Wal-Mart Coming to Livingston?

Editors at the Weekly learned today that a recent public hearing resolution discussed at the April 21, 2008 City Commission meeting may be a change in the yet-to-be-committed city/county growth policy to allow a Wal-Mart to be built within city limits:

Resolution No. 3936 — A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Livingston, Montana, amending its growth policy's future zoning map by including portions of sections 21 and 22, township 2 south, range 9 east lying northerly of Interstate 90 as light industrial/commercial.

The area noted above is located near the current offices of Printingforless.com at the Interstate 90 exit less than five miles west of the City of Livingston.

Although this information has yet to be confirmed, the staff of the Weekly encourages all citizens of Livingston to attend upcoming annexation meetings that may be held to discuss this Resolution 3936. Concerned citizens may contact the city offices at (406) 222-2005 or visit the city website at http://www.ci.livingston.mt.us/citycommissioners.shtml where phone numbers of each City Commissioner are listed.

As Livingston is a town of less than 10,000 year-round residents who rely much on local trade for subsistence, the addition of Wal-Mart in the community could cause a loss of jobs, the demise of many local small businesses and the desolation of Livingston's vibrant and historic downtown shopping district.

Wal-Mart is a large billion-dollar corporation, and it is often difficult for communities to prevent the encroachment of the superstore culture into their town. According to the Idaho Observer, the New York Times, and countless media outlets, Wal-Mart often works behind the scenes with planning and zoning fronts and real estate corporations in order to pass through enough local legislation to allow for proper zoning prior to actual building and construction approval.

By the time building approval is sought, it is frequently too late for the citizens of a community to do anything about the store opening. Wal-Mart has deep pockets for legal battles and even dedicated citizens' groups are sometimes outplayed and outlasted by the corporate giant's legal defense team.

Livingston's economy, after decades of slow to negative growth in the late 1980s through the 1990s, has rebounded and is poised to become a healthy and prosperous community. With three locally-owned hardware stores; a number of unique clothing boutiques for men, women and children; three local grocery stores, two of which are locally-owned; a new light department store, the Livingston Mercantile, which turned out to be a successful community-funded effort; many specialty stores with rich Livingston histories, including saddle and tack stores and stationary and book shops; a large discount store "Pamida" and scores of downtown shoppers there seems to be little need for a giant superstore to replace or supplement these options.

Citizens of Livingston, if they wish to retain the unique balance of economy in the town, will need to invest considerable time and effort into preventing the supposed arrival of Wal-Mart. For more information about preparations for preventing the building of Wal-Marts in small locally-based economies across America, visit http://www.sprawl-busters.com/.

Look for expanded reporting and follow-up of this story in the next issue of the Livingston Weekly due to hit the stands Saturday, April 26, 2008. We encourage residents to post comments here to voice their opinions regarding the addition of a Wal-Mart to the local economy.

—Reilly Neill

Comments

[Thomas Alva]

If you're interested, take a look at how Walmart Corp. has torn apart the small town of Atascadero, Ca. I live nearby and also visit Livingston frequently. You do not want this in your town.

It's just so tempting to be able to buy lots of light bulbs cheap.

http://www.atascadero.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=367&Itemid=1

http://www.opposewalmart.com/

http://www.sprawl-busters.com/search.php?readstory=2426

[Ensley Ellis]

Everyone around town is talking about this and I hope some facts come to the surface soon so we can take action.

I don't think anyone in Livingston wants to see a Walmart here.

[scooter]

I personally don't like walmarts. but it could have at least some positive effects on our town. thousands of people every month go from gardner, clyde park, big timber, etc, pass right through livingston, and head to boze. they buy low-priced staples at walmart or costco. then they catch a meal, hit a movie, or otherwise spend money in boze. if we had a walmart, at least some of that extra spending that is currently going to boze would happen here. we would also have a shot at more of the tourists who stop at walmart -- some of them would wander through town and maybe buy some art or have a meal. as with every change, there would be winners and losers, but don't believe that everyone would lose.

[Thomas Alva]

The effects of Walmart on a community like Livingston have been repeated across the country. Walmart comes to a small town, existing local businesses cannot compete and close. Remaining businesses are limited to bars, cars, and if the economy permits, high-end furniture, clothes, specialty 'art'.

Visions of sugar-plums are soon forgotten.