WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- Despite stiff resistance from several hundred neighbors, another Wal-Mart store in Westminster is one step closer to becoming a reality.

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Westminster Residents Protest Wal-Mart's Third Store

The Westminster City Council approved the first reading early Tuesday morning and made changes to the zoning regulations that were needed in order for the megastore to be built.

The new superstore would be built on a 32-acre lot at the intersection of 72nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard, where an aging, dilapidated strip mall now sits.

As expected, nearly 500 people packed Monday's public hearing, many of them to speak against the new big box store. They say the 209,000-square-foot Wal-Mart is an ill fit for the area because it will be surrounded by residential communities. They believe the store will lower property values, increase traffic, light pollution, crime and noise, and put small stores out of business.

"I will wager that within a year or so, if in fact Wal-Mart does get built that the majority of these local, smaller businesses would have been effectively run out of business by Wal-Mart," said one woman at the public hearing.

"This proposal is driven purely be the greed of a large corporation," said another person.

"We paid a great deal of money for our homes. We paid a great deal of money to upgrade our homes and Wal-Mart does really bring down the value," said Westminster resident Don Mefford.

Opponents plan to collect enough signatures to put the issue on a ballot.

However, they may have an uphill battle. According to the city council's 6-1 decision, it looks like all the numbers and the votes are with Wal-Mart. Supporters say a new Wal-Mart will revitalize the area and bring new tax dollars into the city.

A second reading and vote are still required before the plan is final. That second reading will take place July 11.

Mike Ciletti, a consultant for Wal-Mart, isn't too worried that the City Council will change its mind.

"We're in pretty good shape for final approval," he said.

Just two weeks ago, the same city council also gave a thumbs up to another Wal-Mart Supercenter, set to be built at 136th Avenue and Interstate 25. A citizen's group in that area is trying to get the council recalled for approving the Wal-Mart despite citizen opposition.

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