Wal-Mart wants to put the store on Twin Cities Road off of Highway 99. Angie Stoner is a spokeswoman for the retail giant. She says it would be a lot more convenient for Galt’s 24,000 residents, rather than making the drive to Wal-Marts in Lodi or Elk Grove which is what they’re doing now.

 

“We’ve heard loud and clear that they want to shop closer to home and have more employment opportunities in Galt and keep their sales tax dollars local.”

 

Stoner says the store would create 300 new jobs. But even supporters of the plan say it’s not perfect. Marylou Powers is chairperson of the city’s Planning Commission which approved the project.  

 

“Unfortunately, the only store that will come to our town because we’re so small is a Wal-Mart. There’s some major concerns about where it is being located in the town.”

 

Nearby residents of the store site who oppose the project say it’ll ruin their quality of life with too much traffic and noise. The residents referred our request for comment to their lawyer…Davis-based attorney William Kopper. Kopper who has represented Wal-Mart opponents in at least six other California cities. He didn’t reply to our request for an interview in time for broadcast.

 

The city council is expected to make a final decision tonight.