Photo: FLLewis / Media City G — The Great Indoors site 1301 North Victory Place Burbank February 10, 2015
Walmart is making good on its plans to continue the legal fight to open one of its mega-stores in Burbank. Oral arguments for the case are set for next Thursday, February 26, in the Second District Court of Appeals in Downtown Los Angeles. The retail giant is appealing a decision by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge, Allan J. Goodman, back in September of 2013, which ordered the city of Burbank to rescind building permits issued to Walmart for the site of the old Great Indoors at 1301 North Victory Place in the Empire Center.
Judge Goodman ruled the city erred for not completing an environmental study and street improvements before approving those permits. At the Burbank City Council February 3 meeting earlier this month, city attorney, Amy Albano, described the ruling this way: “… the trial court ruled that the Walmart center was subject to some CEQA requirements, some discretionary permits, it wasn’t ministerial and issues around them locating there. And all of the causes of action went against the city as well as Walmart.”
On November 21, 2013, Walmart appealed Judge Goodman’s ruling. “We look forward to presenting our case before the Court of Appeals and demonstrating that the permits initially granted for the Burbank store were done so properly,” Walmart’s Delia Garcia said in a recent email to Media City Groove.
By the way in the fall of 2013, the Burbank City Council voted 3-2 not to join in that appeal. The case to block the construction of that proposed Walmart was filed by Burbank residents Shanna Ingalsbee, Katherine Olson, and Yvette Ziraldo back in spring of 2012.
