Planning Commission Recommendation:    The City Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed Wal-Mart project on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 (and continued to Monday, August 24, 2009).  After the conclusion of the public testimony, the Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval to the City Council of the Environmental Impact Report, the General Plan Amendment, and the finding of General Plan consistency for the Abandonment of the Kibby Road right-of-way.  The Planning Commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval of the Site Plan Review Application.  A copy of the Planning Commission resolution can be found at the following link with details of their actions.  Other materials for the Planning Commission meeting can be found by using the following links and scrolling down to the meeting date (see the agenda and staff report , including the staff presentation and letters received on the project).  Copies of the meeting materials can also be found for download in the folder below marked "Planning Commission Hearing Materials," including the minutes and resolution.

Proposed Project:    The Project includes consideration of General Plan Amendment #06-01 and Vacation/Abandonment Application #06-01 for a change in the General Plan Circulation Element and the abandonment of the right-of-way for Kibby Road (a designated collector) between Childs and Gerard Avenues, Site Plan Review Application #260, and the certification of an environmental impact report regarding the Project.  The project involves the construction of a regional distribution center (approximately 1.1 million square feet, operating 24 hours per day, and employing approximately 1,200 employees) and associated facilities on approximately 230 acres, generally located at the northwest corner of Gerard Avenue and Tower Road. 

Final EIR Availability:    EDAW, under contract with the City of Merced, completed a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the proposed Wal-Mart Distribution Center.    The FEIR contains copies of all the written comments received on the Draft EIR during the 60-day public comment period (from February 25, 2009 to April 27, 2009) and the City’s responses to those comments as well as any minor modifications to the text of the Draft EIR.  The Final EIR is available on CD-Rom with the first copy available free of charge to any individual or group (there will be a $5 reproduction cost for each additional CD) .  Printed copies are available on request for a reproduction cost of $145 (in two volumes) for the Final EIR.  Copies of the Draft EIR are still available as described below.  All the documents, including the Draft EIR, Technical Appendices, and Final EIR are available for download below.  The Final EIR can be found under the section below entitled "01-Final EIR for Wal-Mart Project," starting on Thurs. July 30, 2009.  The FEIR may be downloaded in two large files (one for each volume), which may take awhile to download, or in separate smaller files for specific sections of the FEIR.  The FEIR is also available for viewing at at the City Clerk’s office and the Planning Division office at 678 West 18^th Street, Merced during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The Draft EIR is available at the same locations.