Residents pan proposed Wal-Mart

Surprise residents sounded off this weekend and learned more about the Wal-Mart store planned for the Prasada development.

Several dozen residents attended the community forum Saturday to speak directly with representatives of Westcor and Wal-Mart. The event was organized by District 3 Councilman John Williams.

Critics of the project say Surprise already has enough Wal-Marts within miles of each other and the stores bring down property value. They also say that the project was originally presented as a high-end retail development, with stores such as Nordstrom's, which some residents say is sorely missing in Surprise, and Wal-Mart doesn't fit that plan.

"Residents have to leave to shop elsewhere," said resident Ray Kelley. "And that goes for restaurants as well, high-end restaurants. This goes against everything that residents in Surprise Farms, Sun City Grand and other areas in Surprise were told about Prasada."

Jack Rasor, representing Westcor, explained the history of the Prasada project, which dates back to 2002.

Prasada is designed as a master-planned community where living, working, shopping and entertaining will blend on 3,355 acres. More than 1,200 acres will be dedicated for neighborhood and power centers, an autoplex and other retail and commercial uses. The 303 AutoShow at Prasada, a master-planned autoplex encompassing 180 acres, contains 10 sites.

Wal-Mart will be one of the first retail stores to open - in late 2009 - and is scheduled to go in at the northwest corner of the Loop 303 and Waddell Road, Rasor said. A Target store is also on a similar timeline for completion.

Rasor said that Wal-Mart, Target and some of the auto mall will be part of the first phase opened in the development. After those are established, other higher end retailers are expected to come on board.

Rasor said Westcor frequently receives negative feedback for projects that involve a Wal-Mart store.

"The best test is in two years (after the project is complete)," Rasor said. "That community response is the litmus test."

Delia Garcia of Wal-Mart said she was at the community forum to educate residents and dispel some of the myths and misconceptions about her company.

"I'm here to educate residents about our business practices and to separate myth from fact," Garcia said.

One resident questioned her on the availability of health insurance for workers, and Garcia said that it was available for purchase by part-time employees after one year, and employees who work 32 or more hours each week were eligible as full-time employees.

Resident Laura Bellezza said she wanted to concentrate on opening the planned hospital first, instead of retail, which she said would benefit Surprise because it would draw in new residents who would work at the hospital.

"Why isn't the city working on that to get that in sooner rather than later," Bellezza said.