Walmart & community meeting to heat up

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Walmart developers and community members opposing it's construction will get the chance to debate again on Thursday afternoon, this time before the people who'll make the decision on whether it goes up or not. The City of Albuquerque Environmental Planning Commission will hold their meeting at the Convention Center in downtown Albuquerque.

This has been an ongoing debate for the 98,000 square foot big box store being placed on the corner of Coors and Montano in Northwest Albuquerque. One of the concerns to opponents is that it is too close to the Bosque and their could be a lot of potential trash from the store that ends up in that area.

Neighbors were mixed on the proposed development.

”I usually shop at Walmart give them my business,” Joel mathre said.

Others don’t agree.

”I think its going to hurt....in the area,” Kristy Garcia said.

Now the neighboring Bosque School had previously been against the project, but because of an agreement it made with the developer, it withdrew its formal opposition.

The city is expecting this to be a widely attended meeting so it is being held in the San Miguel room of the East complex of the Convention Center beginning at 3 p.m.

A spokesperson for the city's planning commission says a final decision will probably not come out of Thursday's meeting, but when it does it will ultimately be up to them.

For those attending, parking will be free at the East complex parking structure.