West Mesa to receive new Lowe's

 After two years of discussion, the Mesa City Council approved a plan on Monday to allow a Lowe's home improvement store in west Mesa, despite the vocal protest of residents who live nearby.

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The Lowe's would be just down the street from Costco, Home Depot and Wal-Mart on Country Club Drive, south of Baseline Road.

Resident Michael Ginsburg, one of the leaders of the opposition, said the neighbors likely would not seek an appeal in court to overturn the decision.

"It's done," he said.

The City Council voted 5-2 to approve a permit allowing the retail store to be built on a vacant lot currently zoned for industrial use.

Vice Mayor Claudia Walters and District 5 Councilman Darrell Truitt had wanted a continuance on the case and voted against approval.

This is the second time the store has attempted to get approval for a plan on the 23-acre site; the company first applied in 2006 but withdrew its application in the summer of 2007.

Mesa zoning attorney Ralph Pew, who worked on the case, said he was hopeful that Monday's vote would mean an end to the discussions "and allow a very positive, good development on this site."

The vote came after a lengthy discussion Monday night about whether to continue the case for 60 days.

Opposing residents were hoping the council would continue the case, affording them time to file a legal protest and follow an appeal they filed against zoning administrator Gordon Sheffield.

Sheffield had determined thatproperty owners north of the Lowe's site would not meet the requirements for a legal protest, as the property was not within 150 feet of the proposed case.

A 60-day continuance also would have pushed the issue in front of a new mayor and a mostly new council, who will take office in June.

Residents pleaded with the council to give them due process and allow them a continuance.

"The only thing that would make us more upset than having a Lowe's is to be denied due process," said resident Robert Emmelkamp.

After the meeting, Emmelkamp said it would have been simple for the council to grant a continuance.

"The council served to just steamroll over our rights," he said.

Neighbor Laurie Buckles said after the meeting that the experience taught her that city government gives more rights to land attorneys than to residents.

"It's immoral and unethical," she said.

Councilman Kyle Jones, however, said during the meeting that the council was fulfilling due process by considering the case and bristled at the accusations of immorality.

"Let's call a spade a spade. You want to delay this for the new council," Jones said. "To make statements challenging morals is not the right way to get support."

What happened
The Mesa City Council also voted on the following:
• Approval of $8.1 million to renovate the Kino Junior High School pool using quality of life tax funds.

• Approval of the sale of $68.2 million in bonds, $15.4 million in general obligation bonds and $52.8 million in utility systems revenue bonds.

• Approval to refinance $21.1 million in utility systems bonds for a lower interest rate.

• Denial of a liquor license to Tacos y Mariscos La Salsita restaurant — because the business had not paid its fees and lacked the proper licenses — and three other businesses in the city.