ANTELOPE VALLEY, Calif. -- The plot of empty land at the corner of 60th Street West and West Avenue L in Quartz Hill has been the center of controversy for almost decade.
It started after the Lancaster City Council approved plans for a new Walmart to be built across the street from Quartz Hill High School.
"I think it's a dangerous idea. First of all, it's being located next to a high school. This is a super Walmart that's not only going to sell liquor but they're also going to attract a lot more than just shoppers," said Kristen Davis, a Quartz Hill Resident.
In 2006, Walmart revealed plans to build a Supercenter in the empty plot. The Lancaster Planning Commission approved it in 2009. What happened next was a legal battle lasting several years after a group of residents sued Lancaster, claiming the project violated planning and zoning laws. The City stands by its decision.
"We understand that people had various opinions and continue to have them on the project but we went through the proper process in terms of weighing those concerns," said Brian Ludicke, a Planning Director for the City of Lancaster.
Those concerns were raised at Lancaster City Council meetings including one on December 11, 2012.
That's when community members both for and against the project voiced their opinions. The development is still slated to move forward according to WalMart, which expects to bring 300 jobs to the new store. The company issued a statement saying, "as with any multi-million dollar capital project, the development process can be very detailed and we have not yet set a construction start date."
As soon as that date is set, the Quartz Hill Town Council plans to revive its fight to keep Walmart out. The Council is currently on hiatus but member Debbie Schmidt told Time Warner Cable News that, "Residents would love to have the bulk of the area resemble the new library's architecture and careful planning instead of the industrial-looking planning done to our area to date."
But residents like Davis are also worried about increased traffic in the area.
"It's going cost too much money from the taxpayers to widen Avenue L to incorporate that much more traffic on top of our high school," said Davis.
The City says it's completely vetted the project.
"The site is properly zoned, properly designated for this kind of project," said Ludicke. "It's gone through a very lengthy review where the City considered all of the factors of the project."
The Quartz Hill Town Council says when the Walmart project moves forward, members plan to write complaint letters to the LA County Board of Supervisors and any other parties involved.
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