Newly Elected Councilman Grosch Resigning from Anti-Walmart Expansion Group

Newly elected City Councilman Dave Grosch, who takes office Dec. 7, is resigning his position as head of the grassroots organization opposed to the expansion of the existing Walmart store.  

Grosch said he was in the process of sending out a resignation letter to 800 subscribers and members of the NO WE organization, which has spearheaded opposition to the project.  

He also said he's looking for someone to take the leadership of the organization now that he was elected to the five-member City Council on Nov. 2.  

"As the unofficial head of No WE (No Walmart Expansion), I am resigning," he said. "Hopefully someone will pick up the leadership, and carry the ball from here."  

And despite his long-time opposition to the proposed expansion, Grosch said he doesn't think his election will change the fact that the three council members are poised to OK the expansion, once the environmental impact report (EIR) has been released and vetted at two three-hour neighborhood meetings set for early next year. 

The EIR is expected to be released in January. according to officials at Poway City Hall. Walmart Stores Inc. is paying for the report, but it is being conducted by a third-party firm approved by the city.  

Walmart is seeking to expand its existing 143,000-square-foot store up to 180,000 square feet, so that it can sell groceries, most likely 24 hours a day, according to the company and media reports.  

The proposed expansion has been debated in this close-knit community of 51,000 for a number of years.  

Grosch said he still opposes expansion because of the possible negative impacts it might have on surrounding small businesses in adjacent shopping malls and because of the added auto congestion that such an expansion would generate.  

He's also concerned about the impact on the nearby Vons and Stater Bros. grocery stores, which are located less than 300 yards from the proposed expansion.  

He said the Poway store site is unusual in that it is located more than five miles away from I-15.

Most Walmart stores of all sizes are located near freeway interchanges and away from central business districts, he said. The existing site is close to existing residential neighborhoods.  

Grosch said he would be sitting down with City Attorney Lisa Foster early next month to discuss the responsibilities of his new position, and he will address his opposition at that time.  

Earlier in the year, she sent out an opinion telling council members and council candidates, including those who ran during the summer recall elections, to refrain from discussing the expansion out of fear of lawsuits.  

Under the admonition, council members have declined to state a position ahead of the release of the EIR and an official vote on the project.  

"If we have the time, I will bring up the Walmart project with the City Attorney," Grosch said. "I have been told that I can't be overly active on the issue. So, I may have to reserve my thoughts."  

But Grosch, 62, a retired project control manager for defense contactor SAIC Inc., said he counted at least three votes in favor and two in opposition, including his own.

Expansion of Walmart stores so that they can sell groceries has been a hotly contested issue up and down California.  

The San Diego City Council is pushing through a change in existing zoning regulations that would greatly limit expansion of existing stores into supercenters or the building of new stores in local neighborhoods. The proposal has the strong backing of labor in the county.  

The council is rushing to pass the changes before a new council takes over in December.  

Expansion opponents fear a new council might favor the Arkansas-based mega-retailer.  

Despite running a low-key campaign, Grosch beat out incumbent Carl Kruse in the general election.  

He took 24.5 percent of the vote to Babich's 23.6 percent, to take a seat along with successful candidate John Mullin. Mullin was elected to the council six months ago during the successful recall of Betty Rexford.