'SUPERSTORE' LAW WON'T AFFECT VALLEY WAL-MART, OTHERS BENEFIT ALL, LEADERS SAY.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - The Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. City Council's tentative approval of an ordinance that makes Wal-Mart prove its supercenters will not economically harm neighborhoods will likely have little impact in the north county, some Santa Clarita city leaders said Wednesday. The Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. will soon be home to a Sam's Club Sam's Club is a membership-only warehouse club owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. History The first Sam's Club opened in April 1983 in Midwest City, Oklahoma in the United States.[1] Sam's Club is named after Sam Walton. and a second Wal-Mart, joining Costco, Target, Kohl's and other discount chains already here. ``That has not been an issue here,'' said Larry Mankin, president of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce. ``We have been supportive of free enterprise. I have never heard of the issue even brought up.'' Mankin said competition is a benefit for the overall marketplace. ``If anything, it's caused small businesses to hone their service delivery and to create an inventory the buyers want,'' he said. ``The vast majority of places are pretty supportive of Wal-Mart.'' The Los Angeles City Council's ordinance would apply to large stores that sell general merchandise and groceries. Membership warehouse stores such as Costco or Sam's Club would be exempt, but Wal-Mart would be affected. The valley's first Wal-Mart is already open in Stevenson Ranch Stevenson Ranch, California (in the 91381 ZIP Code) is a Los Angeles County, USA, unincorporated community west of Santa Clarita a few miles south of Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. The Stevenson Ranch fountain was redone in 2007. . The second is being built in the Rye Canyon Business Center, near Newhall Ranch Road. A Sam's Club - Wal-Mart's membership-only store - is planned in Canyon Country, adding yet another big-box chain to the valley's increasingly competitive grocery and retail markets. The Sam's Club will be built near Golden Valley and Soledad Canyon Soledad Canyon is a long narrow canyon / valley located in Los Angeles County, California between the cities of Palmdale and Santa Clarita. Soledad Canyon contains the localities of Vincent, Acton, Ravenna, and Agua Dulce. roads at the Centre Pointe pointe n. In ballet, dancing that is performed on the tips of the toes. [From French pointe (des pieds), point (of the feet), tiptoe; see point.] Business Park. Construction should begin soon, and the new store is expected to open in mid- to late 2005. Wal-Mart officials, who did not return telephone calls on Wednesday, have said Santa Clarita Valley shoppers can support the warehouse chain. Both Wal-Marts and Sam's Club are being built under private development agreements that need not come before the city's Planning Commission Noun 1. planning commission - a commission delegated to propose plans for future activities and developments commission, committee - a special group delegated to consider some matter; "a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours" - Milton Berle . However, some concerns linger. ``I've been more concerned about our infrastructure, the traffic it could bring,'' said planning commissioner Rick Winsman. Winsman said litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. brought against Wal-Marts have had limited success. Placing a cap on the size of a store, however, is one way the Planning Commission could make sure the infrastructure is not overwhelmed. ``I'm sure the marketing departments for these stores such as Wal-Mart have done a lot of research here,'' he said. ``It's not my concern if they are going to make a profit. It's our concern if we have the infrastructure. It's about land use laws versus the best interest of the city.'' Susan Abram, (661) 257-5257 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) A new Wal-Mart is being built in the Rye Canyon Business Center. A new Los Angeles city law covering `superstores' like Wal-Mart won't affect Santa Clarita Valley, city leaders say. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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