Renewed Push For Walmart In Edmond Neighborhood

The plan to build a Walmart Neighborhood Market at the corner of Covell and Coltrane in Edmond has new life.

More than a year after city planners and Edmond City Council denied the development, the landowner has successfully challenged city laws.

The PUD or Planned Unit Development showed that a 125-foot greenbelt or buffer zone would have to be honored by any developer.

Edmond City planners and council members cited the Planned Urban Development or PUD when they denied Walmart numerous times.

Neighbors in the Ashforde Oaks subdivision complained the project would back up to their home without a buffer zone. Neighbors think the area couldn’t handle a 24-hour business.

However, the landowner just legally challenged the PUD or Planned Unit Development.

A district judge just ruled that the "PUD does not impose a 125-foot green belt" on the land where the grocery store would be built.

Developers can now go through the permitting process with city planners again, but the city has 30 days from November 3 to appeal the decision.

“Going to the court of appeals is the natural next step,” said Ashforde Oak’s neighbor Barry Black.

Black hopes the city continues to fight and thinks it sends the wrong message if it doesn’t appeal the decision.

“On a larger scale what developer won’t sue the city because they don’t get their way?” asked Black.