MONROE — Walmart has a new challenge in its effort to bring a store to town.
A new group has filed an appeal in Snohomish County Superior Court. The appeal seeks to reverse the City Council’s decision to allow Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to build at the N. Kelsey Street territory.
The appeal was filed by people living near or within city limits who call themselves Friends of North Kelsey. Diane Elliott founded the group after the City Council denied her earlier appeal of the Walmart store at the council’s April 26 meeting.
“We filed the appeal as a legal remedy for our concerns,” group spokesman Joel Selling said.
The appeal says the plan accepted by the council is inconsistent with city development code and design guidelines for streets in the area.
“The plan presented by Walmart does not fulfill either objective,” Selling said.
The group of fewer than 10 members has no affiliation with the Monroe Preservation Action Committee, he said. That group, which included Elliott, wanted to limit Walmart’s size.
The group has retained the services of Seattle-based lawyer Claudia Newman from the Bricklin & Newman law firm.
The summons against Monroe was issued May 17. The city does not yet have a court date.
Meanwhile, Walmart stands by its design.
“Walmart is confident that our design concept for the planned store in Monroe is fully compliant with city standards, as well as the North Kelsey Development Plan,” spokeswoman Jennifer Spall said.
The city is reviewing the group’s appeal, public works director Brad Feilberg said.
Wal-Mart has been a hot issue at council meetings since December, after it first proposed opening a store in town. The plan got final approval in April.
Seattle-based real estate company Sabey Corp. paid the city $7.5 million for the site on the north side of the intersection of N. Kelsey Street and Chain Lake Road.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
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