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Council approves Quartz Hill Walmart project

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Several Walmart employees attended Tuesday’s council meeting and flashed signs in support of developing a Walmart Supercenter on 40 acres of property on 60th Street West and Avenue L.

LANCASTER – After more than four hours of citizens’ comments Tuesday night (Dec. 11), the Lancaster City Council unanimously approved plans for a Walmart Supercenter across the street from Quartz Hill High School.

“There isn’t any doubt in my mind that for the overall well-being of this city this project has to be in Lancaster,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex.

The council voted after more than 50 residents testified both for and against the development of a 344,752 square-foot commercial shopping center, that would a include Walmart Supercenter, at 60th Street West and Avenue L.

Several Walmart employees came to the council meeting with signs expressing support for the project. Many of them stressed the new jobs the project would provide and touted the benefits of working at Walmart.

“They have medical, dental, vision, 401(k) and stock [options],” testified Isabel Allen, who said she had worked at Walmart for more than 12 years. “I don’t have to commute to make the kind of money I’m making.”

Local business leaders also voiced support for the project.

“I represent the Antelope Valley Black Chamber of Commerce and we are in support of the Walmart project because we’re looking at the bigger picture,” said Perry Watkins. “The increase in sales tax to the city, the increase in jobs for the city; because even though they’re not good paying jobs, they are jobs for people that don’t have one now.”

“We’re here to advocate for job growth in the Antelope Valley,” said Antelope Valley Board of Trade President Drew Mercy.

Opponents outnumbered the supporters at the council meeting.

But opponents outnumbered the supporters Tuesday night. Many said they objected to the project because it was across the street from Quartz Hill High School.

“I am not opposed to the project, I’m opposed to the location of the project  and the reason is safety,” said Palmdale Communications Manager John Mylnar, who said he was speaking as a resident of Quartz Hill and as a parent of a Quartz Hill High School student. Mylnar said traffic congestion in the area posed a danger to students, and said he even witnessed a girl struck by a car last year.

“I do know that bringing more traffic to the area will increase the risk of those dangers to our students,” Mylnar said. “That’s just going to be a consequence of the project being at that location.”

Other Quartz Hill residents said they opposed the project because it would negatively impact their quality of life, it would bankrupt local small businesses, and it could cause crime to increase in the area.

Several speakers who opposed the project were from Quartz Hill Cares (QHC), a grassroots community group formed in opposition to the Walmart project when it first went before the council three years ago. (Read more here.)

In 2009, the Lancaster City Council voted to certify a final environmental impact report (EIR) and approved all related actions to move to project forward.

About 30 days later, QHC challenged the adequacy of the EIR in court. The group lost in Los Angeles Superior Court, but scored a victory this year when California’s 2nd District Court of Appeals overturned the Superior Court’s decision.

Walmart officials said the appellate court’s decision was based on one correctable aspect of the massive EIR.

“What the court specifically decided is that the city failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its conclusion that the reduced commercial density alternative was not economically viable,” Walmart representative Jennifer Guenther said Tuesday night. “Essentially what that means is that the court found that they just wanted more evidence to make the finding that that particular alternative wasn’t feasible.”

City officials set up a viewing room in the lobby to accommodate the overflow of residents that crammed the council chambers Tuesday.

City officials presented that evidence in the form of an addendum to the EIR Tuesday night. They said no other changes had been made since the project was first approved in 2009; and since all other aspects of the project had already been approved by both the council and the courts, the council needed only to consider the addendum to the EIR.

QHC co-founder, Loretta Berry, presented a letter from the group’s attorney opposing the addendum to the EIR.

City attorney, Allison Burns, said the letter contained “a great deal of hyperbole and name calling” but lacked substance.

“There is nothing in this letter that would stop the city council from proceeding tonight on the matter,” Burns said.

Just before midnight, the council voted 4-0, with Ron Smith absent, to certify the final EIR with the addendum, to approve a conditional use permit, to approve a tentative parcel map to create eight parcels on the project site ranging in size from 0.68 acres to 19.99 acres in the commercial planned development zone.

After the vote, Berry said QHC will continue its efforts to block the Quartz Hill Walmart project.

“We’re going to challenge them [in court] on a couple of issues concerning what’s actually in the addendum and on whether certain procedures were followed,” Berry said. “It is safe to say we are not giving up.”

UPDATED 1/9/2013: The Lancaster City Council gave final approval to the Quartz Hill Walmart project at a council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. The council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 984, an ordinance amending the City Zoning Plan for 40± acres located at the northwest corner of Avenue L and 60th Street West, known as Zone Change No. 06-04. Read the ordinance here.

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211 comments for "Council approves Quartz Hill Walmart project"

  1. http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com

    It’s all about Agenda 21. If you don’t know what that is, you should. It’s not a joke, conspiracy theory or paranoia, it’s an Agenda and explains just about everything going on in Lancaster and soon Palmdale. You’ve been shown the truth. Open your eyes and pull your head out of the sand. You can no longer claim ignorance…

    If you want to know what’s happening at QH, look at http://www.santarosaneighborhoodcoalition.com/

    “Have you wondered where these terms ‘sustainability’ and ‘smart growth’ and ‘high density urban mixed use development’ came from? Doesn’t it seem like about 10 years ago you’d never heard of them and now everything seems to include these concepts? Is that just a coincidence? That every town and county and state and nation in the world would be changing their land use/planning codes and government policies to align themselves with…what?”

    Peace.

    • Ok, I took a bite –

      ” … While many people support the United Nations for its ‘peacemaking’ efforts, hardly anyone knows that they have very specific land use policies that they would like to see implemented in every city, county, state and nation. The specific plan is called United Nations Agenda 21 Sustainable Development, which has its basis in Communitarianism. By now, most Americans have heard of sustainable development but are largely unaware of Agenda 21″ .

      I do not believe that this primarily a UN Agenda, I believe, from words spoken by Dick Cheney in the past, Mr. NeoCon personified to the highest level of half-dead-and should be-dead Tsar of Privatization that HE is the leader of this particular pack – and thank god they lost the election.

      Cheney’s plan is to privatize the entire globe, like this website claims, so that no individual person OWNS any property, it is all owned by Corporations – and we would be their slaves. Privatizing our minerals, our wealth in this country is already happening. Corporations are buying up large swaths of land, mostly the tops of mountains where our resources are, which in turn denies private citizens access to their own property. This is why Romney wanted to SELL OFF our National Parks, in the guise of granting more permits for private corporations to mine, drill and steal our precious national treasure – our minerals.

      China has no such resources, and are foaming at the mouth to get access to these resources as pure profit for their ‘economy’.

      Like you say, American’s BETTER WAKE UP – or these Corporates will steal every resource we have, and leave America as barren as a crone.

  2. At the council meeting,I thought I heard Parris say that Lancaster gets a little more sales tax revenue than Palmdale.

    Can someone explain why Lancaster then wants to do sales tax revenue sharing with both cities or even merge the two cities? Ugh!

    I wouldn’t trust Parris to tell the correct time of day.

    • Merging cities and/or sharing sales taxes has been going back and forth for the last 40 years. It isn’t new.

      • Yes, and merging cities is always proposed by Lancaster and never by Palmdale. Ever wonder why?

        • Actually, neither city actually proposes this. It would be a devastation for either city. It will never happen. It would just be nice if both cities could work together more, and not always be at each other throats, and that blame goes to both sides!

    • How can that be true when Palmdale appears to have soooo much more retail?

      AV Mall (this alone should make a huge difference in tax revenue)
      2 Targets
      2 Walmarts
      90% of the national chain sit-down restaurants in the AV
      Best Buy big-box center
      Trader Joe’s big-box center
      Kohl’s
      Sam’s Club

      Lancaster has:
      Lancaster Marketplace former outlets, seem like 50% vacant
      Valley Central Way
      1 Target
      2 Walmarts
      1 seedy Kmart
      Costco

      • According to the 2012 Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance Round Table Report Lancaster had 1.3% higher tax revenues in 2010 than Palmdale.
        Over the last 5 years here is the break down:

        YEAR__2006____________2007____________2008____________2009____________2010
        Lanc__$2,049,927,000__$1,894,160,000__$1,663,012,000__$1,291,569,000__$1,308,968,000
        Palm__$1,726,326,200__$1,585,602,500__$1,412,692,700__$1,265,627,500__$1,291,750,500
        Diff__________-18.7%__________-19.5%__________-17.7%___________-2.0%___________-1.3%

        I think it’s the Other Outlets category that puts Lancaster above Palmdale in each year other than that they are basically neck and neck for revenues. There will be a little more shift with Auto dealers as Saturn and Chevrolet went out of business in Palmdale and a new Chevrolet dealership opened in Lancaster. Lancaster has always had higher revenues in that category because they have had more “bigs” in that center, but even in 2010 the margin between the two had reduced to 0.31% still favoring Lancaster ($154.35M vs $153.88M)

        Statistically Lancaster does not need another big box retailer, they just need the economy to be as good as it was in 2006.

        An interesting note (at least to me) is that total retail sales in apparel is a 65% difference in favor of Palmdale for these same 5 years (which accounts for the AV Mall), but even that does not equate to big enough numbers in revenues to sway in favor of Palmdale. I observe this a couple of ways; 1) Lancaster is extremely under realized in retail apparel segment. 2) The total revenues of Retail Apparel in Palmdale (more than just the AV Mall) is just over $100M annually with both Lancaster and Palmdale totaling just over $135M. During the worst of the economy this category only saw a drop of 3% across the AV and is higher now than it was in 2006.
        Even in bad times people need 3 things; Food, Shelter and Clothing. Just a little insight into my business motivation, it’s a matter of finding an under realized market that is recession proof and letting it grow with the economy.

        • Not bad for Palmdale considering it came from way behind. It’s likely that major retailers will locate in Palmdale in the future rather than Lancaster. If a BMW or other high end car dealer comes to the Valley, it will likely locate in the Palmdale Auto Mall.

          What IS the problem in Lancaster? Whatever it is, it’s been going on a long, long time not just the last few years.

          COSTCO and 2-3 Walmarts and little else for a town of 150,000+. There are small towns all over California with more varied shopping than Lancaster.

          It’s been said many times that the leaders in Lancaster are in it for themselves rather than the city as a whole. And it shows.

  3. Great job QH on helping with jobs and providing an avenue for more business to arrive. Fully support this Wal amrt opening and everything that comes with it.

    Please keep in mind” our public transit system sucks so we will not be having the typical “homeless hangout” a wal mart has the capacity to come. They have no ability to stay in QH due to all shelters and food banks being in Lancaster/Palmdale.

    Secoundly, the individuals shopping there will be QH residents. The same residents that have been living in your beloved QH community for years. Just becuase there is a wal mart opening does not mean they (we) are going to start increasing our crime related activities and hand in the parking lot drinking forties.

    Get a grip and get ready for a wave of QH improvement.

    • It’s not the wal mart that’s the issue. What brainiac would think its a good idea to have a wal mart and what comes with it, directly across the street from a high school? The traffic on that corner is already horrendous. Not bad, awful. Add a shopping center and it’s hell.
      It’s just an idiotic idea. There is plenty of empty space out in that area, move a couple of miles north and you are perfect for it.
      But quit trying to shove it down QH’s throat. We don’t want it. The bad part is, that corner is Lancasster and they don’t give a crap.
      Will Wal Mart hire the QH teens? Nope. They will hire the people who are on public assistance, they get tax dollars for that. And most employees will be part time with no benefits.
      Don’t expect Parris to tell the truth, his cronies will be making the money. And it will put the small businesses out of business that make up QH.
      Put it across the street from your kids high school and see what happens.
      Use common sense, and put it somewhere else if this low class valley needs ANOTHER Wal Mart. Rediculous, and just plain assinine.
      Only an idiot would think it is a good idea.

      • I think its sick to have a Walmart built on qh,we have too many on AV allready!
        How much did the politician in QH get payed under the table

      • Yes, cause it is much better to have a high school in the middle of a neighborhood. Actually if the district were smart they would contact wal mart and work out a partnership for quartz hill students to be hired there, or have wal mart give to the school. If fone right I bet walmart would be a good neighbor and support the school. Walmart gives millions to charity every year.

        • WOW, Another citizen that caves in to a project that is so ridiculous, already looking for a job. Idiot

          • I hope you fellow QH citizens understand that the corporation doesn’t make the corporation, the patron does. Boycott it, band together, and revolt against it, if you really have concerns. Like with any business, if the revenue is not outweighing the operating costs, then it will shutter itself. Continue to shop local and do not cave to shop there, even for cheap liquor. If you can’t refrain yourselves, which I estimate at leats 50%+ won’t be able to, your only putting out the fire with gasoline. Good luck and hope your strength shows.

      • Great post…There will be a vigil for the end of Quartz hill, and the Westside Residents of Lancaster. It is planned immediately at the gates of Westfield Estates…IE The King’s residence….Please be sure to bring trash, crime, truckers, beer, any gun that Wally world sells along with ammo, a couple of the associates that bleed Walmart, oh yes all the young adults from QHHS…so his majesty can see all within his kingdom as he enters….and then just maybe…he will see the real truth of his almighty dollar. Hey Rex, you cant take it with you, respond to the cities that this affects Lancaster, QH,Where the heck is the real leader Antonovich??

    • Your post is so pocket rich George why don’t you come out if the closet & face up to what was created? Your another educated lecturer that can’t think outside the Box? Thank you for your profound idiotic, plain misinformed life…or should I say STYLE…remember Image is Everything..hope you enjoy the view!!

      • Thank you for the laughs. It is interesting to read your speculation. I understand why the Wal-Mart opposition lost and will continue to lose the their argument. With leaders such as yourself making unfounded assumuptions and pointing towards outdated research(if you have done any but you most likely relied on the other oppenents).

        I am going to get home from work tonight ( yes, in the educational field) and enjoy my QH home and look forward to the new business oppurtunites headed my way.

        You continue to sulk and be angered.

        • Your home’s value will not increase as much as it would have without the Walmart in the coming years.

          Enjoy your meager home appreciation.

          • Myopic view, educated George. Why dont you look online at QHCares, and see what value Walmarts bring to existing real estate values. Your so plain ignorant, you are a joke, better yet ask your beloved Mayor for the copy he requested from Walmarts Director of Public Policy, stating that Walmarts increase home value. Then after reading the copy, come back to me and lets see who the educated on is!

        • No, if you were an educator you would realize that education is freedom, freedom from an occurrence which just happened in Lancaster. Believe me…Im not sulking but I am frustrated that people like yourself are so blind to the real truth. Look George, you have an opinion so DO I, Enjoy the ride. Im college educated, degree, with many certifications George, Im not the leader Im an American feed up with local government, who works with a secret agenda…Wake up fool

    • Sympathize with what? avenue N & 50th: 2 retail shopping ctrs, albertsons, mc donalds, panda, walgreens, carls jr. aveneu L & 40th: vons, cvs,chevron, burger king, autozone, b of a. all big busniess
      50th west btw L-8 & M-2, dominoes,laungromat, dominoes, mexican resturant, 3 boutiqes, hay and feed, dairy, pharmacy, and 4 liquor stores, a couple of resturants, theres no threat from walmart, everybody in Quartz hill already shops in Lancaster/palmdale so theres no worry

      • Marcus & George. We like Quartz Hill just the way it is. Unpaved roads, zoned for horses, large lots, neighbors that know each other and waive, small stores for our daily needs and a safe place for our children to go to school. Take your “Big Box” and shove it.

  5. On a high definition TV, under the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” in the council chambers, the fine print says “But, you can’t trust us”.

    Look carefully. Whenever politicians USE faith and religion the way Parris and the council does, bend over and prepare yourself for your ‘blessings’.

    “Do unto others……” Rex, before they can do unto you.

    • So I read in the av press that the planning commissioner became “ill” and had to leave the meeting.My question.is this- how is it that he can actively be in real estate(av press) and be the planning commish, isn’t that a conflict of interest? Anyone know?

      • Goes on all the time, look at how much power GAVAR has in this area.

        Since the Cons are against Union’s requiring people who benefit from their arbitration efforts to pay dues, the same thing should apply to the Chamber of Commerce, GAVAR, AV Board of Trade, and all the other secret “non-profit” societies across this country that benefit their ‘members’ who PAY DUES.

        Americans for Prosperity, League of Conservation Voters, NRA, NARAL Pro Choice America and ALEC all claim to be “Non-Profits” – but REQUIRE donations to belong. I think they should all be free, just like the Unions are being forced to do in MI and all these other so-called Right To Work states.

        Fair is fair.

      • Conflict of interest thrives in Lancaster. It’s been like that from the day Jim Gilley became City manager. Lets face it, Lancaster is one of the most corrupt cities in the county.

  6. The “Antelope Valley Black Chamber of Commerce” (what a joke!) only supported the Wal-Mart because Wal-Mart has given them money and is a member.

  8. Lancaster is like a little fiefdom. Parris and other folks run the place for their own benefit.

    They need lots of low income residents to work and shop at the Walmarts (which it has, BTW), which in turn pays the sales taxes for Parris’s pet projects.

    If Lancaster had a more prosperous and politically engaged middle class, it would take away a lot of their power. They, the middle class, would expect and demand better services and amenities than a couple blocks of the BLVD. Once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it.

    Does Palmdale have a few rich folks running the place for their own benefit? I’ve lived in Palmdale over 20 years and if it does, I haven’t seen it.

    But, I sure do enjoy the benefits of living here. I can’t keep up with all the new places to eat and shop. Every time I turn around, there is a new place. I faxed Code Enforcement yesterday regarding weed abatement on some vacant lots and received a follow up call the same day. They are very good at taking care of such issues. Mayor Ledford has personally called me in response to an email I sent him. All the city staff is cordial and eager to assist with any issues. And, it shows. In my neighborhood, I rarely, if ever, hear my neighbors and friends complain about living in Palmdale like I read here from many Antelope Valley residents.

    Macy’s and the YardHouse located in Palmdale during the dark days of the Bush Recession. I doubt if any similar type businesses will ever locate in Lancaster in the future. Apparently, it’s Walmarts and mom and pop little places on the BLVD and elsewhere in town and nothing in between. Is there any store in Lancaster to buy a necktie other than thrift stores?

    I don’t know what the people who post here defending Parris are defending.

    • No, haven’t you heard, Lancaster’s getting a Nordstrom in the vacant land across from the auto mall (and just south of King Rex’s $1 Furniture Store — I mean, law office building). Sometime between the Kaiser hospital getting built and hell freezing over.

      • Nordstrom’s??? Are you sure?

        I thought it was going to be a Neiman Marcus or was it Newman Markus?

        Ol’Rex will be moving outta here when he’s done ‘fixin’ Lancaster.

        He said he was thinking of moving to a new condo off the BLVD.

        Does anyone in their right mind believe that? Please speak up Parris defenders.

        He also said that the BLVD would be the ‘safest place in the universe’

        He said that people from all over California will come to buy cars at the auto mall.

        He said that the BLVD is the ‘heart of the Valley’. Which valley would that be? Valley of the Dolls??? Death Valley?? Valley of the Damned???

        They should raze all the foreclosed homes in Lancaster and make it farmland, rich farmland spread with all the BS that Parris produces.

        • I heard a Nordstrom Rack and Trader Joes will be going in the empty lot eventually off of 20th street West and Avenue j-8 where the Marriot Hotel is going to be built this coming year. Theyre calling it “Lancaster Spectrum”

      • Remember Nordstrom Rack is the outlet to the real Nordstroms’s. Yes it is coming within the next few years

        • Haaaaaaa! So soon you forget —

          Porter Ranch in the Val, right off the 118 thought THEY would get a Norstrum’s too! But all they got was 50lbs of Dogfood & a WAL*MART!!!

          dream on……

    • It is good to hear your positive experience in Palmdale. I live in West Lancaster, and too love living here. I also never hear anything negative from my neighbors regarding living in Lancaster. The city is great in responding to phone calls regarding yards. We are getting a lot more restaurants, like Yoshinoya, Chipotle is coming, etc. I am not defensive of Rex, it is just that this full on attack is rather one-sided.

      Palmdale has a lot of retail,but Lancaster has the majority of everything else. The college, the fairgrounds, the “real” hospital, the courthouse,the county library, Costco, a real downtown etc. I love Palmdale as well, but Palmdale has nothing I need. I literally never have to travel there for anything. All my shopping needs are met in Lancaster, as are my restaurant needs. I don’t mean to bring up old wounds. But Lancaster used to have the JC Penney, Sears, Mervyns, Harris, etc, before Palmdale in a “business move” essentially stole them all.

      I see the Antelope Valley as a whole, and it would bring about a lot of good change if people were not so incredibly divisive.

      • Sorry, but Parris is the divisive one whether with Quartz Hill or his petty jealousy of Mayor Ledford. He can’t keep his big mouth shut and he deserves the criticism he gets from around the entire Valley. And, he keeps begging for more.

        Where can you shop in Lancaster comparable to a Macy’s, Dillard’s or any of the many shops in the Mall for clothing, or Best Buy, Trader Joe’s, etc.? Even if I don’t shop at all those places frequently, they are nice to have around because the draw other business and create a synergy. Everything is scattered in Lancaster.

        And, just how often do you need to go to the courthouse or the fairgrounds? A ‘real’ hospital??? Really?

        I don’t feel like looking in the yellow pages, but where can a guy buy a suit in Lancaster? Are there clothing stores there besides Walmart or Target?

        What’s nice about he Mall is the dining and shopping that it has attracted around it on Rancho Vista Boulevard and 10th Street West.

        What isn’t so nice about the proposed Walmart in Quartz Hill is that it’s surrounded by the school and homes and can’t really attract the businesses surrounding it as does the one on 10th West in Palmdale.

        You’re getting a Yoshinoya and a Chipotle and Palmdale is getting a convention center and a high-speed rail station.

        The Walmart and Sam’s Club are next to each other on 10th West but I never hear of ongoing problems there because it’s a good location for big box stores. Lancaster is burdened by strange planning. The Cinemark is in the middle of nowhere. At least the one by the Mall is next to a hotel and Restaurant Row and the Mall.

        As for the ‘downtown’. It isn’t the ‘safest place in the universe’ as Parris brags.

        • I agree with a lot of what you say! For clothes I shop at Marshalls, Ross, Boot Barn, Target, Levi’s Outlet, Vans, costco, K-Mart, K-Swiss, Pharmacy. I am just not a mall person.

          I agree that Wal-Mart should not be located right there, it is not preferred. You are right Lancaster has some strange planning because it has always grown so much faster than Palmdale until recently. Palmdale also has some very strange development patterns as well. It is called urban sprawl.

          • Sadly for us Palmdale is planned much better than Lancaster. We lack synergy in Lancaster. We are a sporadic mess. We have so many good things to offer people but we don’t connect them very well. There’s no rhyme nor reason to where things are in town. I don’t know what happened to us. I hope we can get back to what we were when I was growing up.

  9. 3 Wally Worlds all within 5 miles of each other. WTF? Then add the two in Palmdale, WTF? And a Sam’s Club,

    How many F**king Wally Worlds do we need? There isn’t any place on Earth that has this many Wally Worlds in such close proximity. Most places fight Wally World.

    Then add to this crooked decision that Planning Chair Jim Vose actually worked for Wally World and inked the deal with Former City Manager Jim Gilley. Throw the Lane family in and look what you got?

    Vose doesn’t even have the decency to recuse himself.

    This was a done deal even before the public got a chance to voice their opinions in violation of the Brown Act.

    I guess it’s true what they say about Lancaster, “democracy comes to Lancaster to die.”)

      • Because people who shop there. I know people who are outspoken against this Walmart but continue to shop at Sam’s Club and other Walmarts in the valley. As long as people continue to shop there they will build stores. They have Walmarts in towns with 20,000 people. Lancaster has 156,000 people and there is close to 400,000 people in the valley as a whole.

  10. … my last trip to Solvang, I had a conversation with a number of their local proprietors regarding Walmart’s pervasive effort, to impose upon their village, with Walmart superstore. In Solvang’s effort to keep big box retailers from performing a takeover on their village, what had happened a number of years before, the Home Depot having built a home center directly across the street, destroyed approximately 30% of the Madonna Inn’s nonsalvagable capital, is what prompted the village of Solvang to immediately approve a simple local ordinance, precluding any retailer with over 5 stores from opening a location, within 5 miles from the heart of old town Solvang. Though, by the time they’d passed the ordinance, a Subway sandwich shop had successfully impeded the village, they’ve been largely successful, in keeping big box retailers, from driving their local business bankrupt — QED, asj.

    • Good post, however getting a local ordiance for such actions would require a leader in the city council…UPDATE Non available at the present time…..So no such luck, its called Corporate Greed, great legacy city council F the people, line your pockets and dont give a S.. about the citizens quality of life, safety and welfare of the young adults in this hazardous high impact, area called L and 60th West

      • Quartz Hill would have to incorporate first to have any say on what is built. As it is, the county controls that for Quartz Hill and guess what? They get 1% plus an extra half cent of per sales dollar from the new Walmart as well.

        • Wayne
          That’s not true. The new Wally World is in Lancaster. it’s on the border of QH. Even if QH incorporated, they wouldn’t have a say.

          For the record, Mike Antonovich is against he Wally World.

          The only reason why they want another Wally World is plain and simple greed. The CC just lines their pockets with Wally World money.

          • You’re right. However Quartz Hill should have incorporated in the mid-80s when Palmdale and Lancaster were gobbling up their land. County didn’t step in because they didn’t want to continue paying for services and the fast growing cities were willing to do so. Unfortunately, the people of Quartz Hill didn’t want to pay for it and still don’t. And don’t say they did’t have the tax base for it. They had more shopping and services in the 80s than they do now and there are smaller cities with fewer resources.

          • Wayne is right! The people of QH did this to themselves, to a certain extent, by throwing a tantrum about paying taxes to become a city of their own. This is where the “anti-tax” whining eventually leads. Now your surrounded by two fast growing cities and land locked just because you didn’t want any taxes. You’re only hope at this point would be to petition the state and county to make you an independent city and cut some of Lancaster and Palmdale out to do so.

            You guys are still throwing tantrums about taxes. When I called the Mosquito Abatement District about West Nile Virus on the westside, I was told that Quartz Hill residents don’t want to pay a $0.06 (six cents) to have the District come spray for mosquitos out there, so we can thank you all if there are West Nile carrying bugs that catch the west to east breeze and bite us!

            I think I’m done feeling sorry for you guys now.

  11. True to form, the Lancaster City Council continues to make ill-considered and conceived decisions that go completely against the will of their constituents. The City Council does not care! But you can bet somebody will pocket some cash over this bogus deal. This valley does NOT need a 5th WalMart. Especially across the street from Quartz Hill high school in an already too highly trafficked area. But the Council doesn’t care, just like they didn’t care about the prison, the Fairgrounds, the Boulevard, theSection 8 housing ‘industry’ they’ve created by overbuilding houses, and currently the stupid idea of sacrificing busy traffic lanes in high traffic areas in order to give bicycle riders a bigger bike lane. These people will continue to put the screws to the consituency and then retire and leave the area because they can’t stand to live with the consequences of the decisions they make.

    • With voting turnouts, the city council is probably voting with the voting constituents in mind. They don’t care or the good old boys wouldn’t remain in office. Quartz Hill doesn’t want this and some people in Lancaster don’t want it. Unfortunately if you live in Quartz Hill, you’re not a Lancaster Constituent.

  12. This good old boy mentality, I’ll scratch your butt you scratch mine has ruined the a.v. I cannot elaborate due to needing my job, But if someone with excellent research abilities and knowing people in the right industry looks in to investment portfolios and financial info of a city council member, RX the Crook, and FAMILY MEMBERS, it all falls into place. Including that waste of money aircraft. So pathetic and probably illegal but my hands are tied. Super Target next. Thanks Mr. Lane. F U

  13. This good old boy mentality, I’ll scratch your butt you scratch mine has ruined the a.v. I cannot elaborate due to needing my job, But if someone with excellent research abilities and knowing people in the right industry looks in to investment portfolios and financial info of a city council member, RX the Crook, and FAMILY MEMBERS, it all falls into place. Including that waste of money aircraft. So pathetic and probably illegal but my hands are tied. Super Target next. Thanks Mr. Lane. F U

  14. How stupid is stupid? I am not against Walmart, I am against such a huge store going in across the street from the high school. All schools can be driving nightmares, however, a high school is where all the brand new drivers are. These wonderful kids are inexperienced. Add in the foot traffic and bicycles and it is as if the council is planning for accidents to happen. Someones child is going to be hurt or killed, due to this poor location selection. A few blocks away would have saved lives.

  15. I love that people are so upset by this. I bet you big money the same people upset by this will shop at this wal mart. Ive always thought that the more stores the better. It helps people stay in their own area to shop. And if you hate wal mart because trash shops there than you should be happy too. The turds should migrate to wal mart and make your go to shopping place a little nicer. I hate wal mart because the people who work there are idiots for the most part. I laugh when they talk about unionizing and pay increases. From my observation these people have attained their highest level of employment.

  16. Well great, TRAFFIC. Now I can stay at school longer…….
    great job….more kids will be living at risk, whether walking home or driving home.

  17. One thing that I think is important to point out is that you see a picture of the wal-mart workers holding up signs. When it’s against the rules to have signs in the council chamber. But the officers who were there were told about that and could care less about it. I went there to speak. I knew no matter what I said they were going to approve it. But I didn’t worry about it much because I knew already that it will get struck down in court.

    • You’d think that the Ron Smith loss would have been a shot over the bow letting the mayor and council know they aren’t permanent fixtures.

      • Zacklies! And I hope the rest of them are NEXT! I’m sick of these ignorant people getting on the council and wanting to be hotshots so they make bad deals. ENOUGH! They’ve ruined our once beautiful valley.

        • You can’t get rid of them because of voter turn out! That’s why they keep their little city election off from the general election, less voter turn out and only their friends will vote for them (Lancaster Baptist Church!)

      • Lancaster City Council votes are in April to feed off the apathetic and tired residents who are more worried about what to eat for dinner than the City Council. Results would be different if they were combined with the State and National elections but it is done this way on purpose. Of course the people of Lancaster voted to change it but they said the vote was flawed and advisory only.

  18. Forward, In response to your statement, “As a Faux News zoner, you would also know that that video was filmed in 2010. It’s been 3 years. Union workers are immediately taken off the job and required to go through drug/alcohol rehab. Only when they go thru rehab and pass the piss tests are they allowed to work on any union job again.”
    I sounds to me that you are under the impression that rehab is what these guys needed instead of losing their jobs. You must be a Union worker. Only someone who is a Union member would think that type of behavior is okay during work hours. It’s that attitude and mentality that has been the “ruin of many a poor boy”.

    • Do you know how long it takes to get Marijuana out of your system? It is like months from what I recall, it is stored in the fatty tissue, a positive test does not mean someone is high at work and what one does when not at work, is really none of anyone’s business so long as no harm is being done.

      • so Leslie, am I understanding that you think it’s okay for a group of auto workers, working on assembly line for jeep cherokee, to spend their lunch hour chugging 40’s and smoking dope?
        What has this world come to. Oh wait, I’m in the AV now.

        • Ummm…I didn’t get that impression. What she said was, if somebody wants to have a drink or a toke in their off time, what business is it of anyone else? This country is becoming more Nazi like every year.

  19. Let’s face it Quartz Hill is no Mayberry, just hang out on 50th st west thugs and loser’s everywhere pick a street any street off of 50th most homes are dumps and yes sec 8 with 5 or 6 apartments its the Hood,let’s see for 1 a man shot and killed at the car wash in QH ,two girls kidnapped at QH mountain both almost killed ,av bank and most liquor stores have been robbed,and most recently a man barricaded in an apartment for 8 hours with 50th st closed down SWAT Team had to be called in to take care of this guy,so whats the big deal of a new Walmart you are all living in the hood lets face it this is the AV ,And as soon as i can i am moving out of this DUMP……………….

    • You are talking about the neighborhood between the park and 50th, aside from the trashy condo/apartment type places, the homes for the most part aren’t trashy, it is an older neighborhood yes, not really kept up to date but trashy, I wouldn’t call it that.

      • Judging from a few of your other recent comments, I’m not sure you’re the best judge on what’s what in America. :)

        • Quartz hill is ran by Los Angeles county, Quartz Hill high school, Target/walmart projects all reside in lancaster, its the countys fault q.h. got drunks,drug dealers, robbers and liquor stores every 20 feet down 50th w and old homes and apts.

  20. Those against this proposed Walmart on L & 60th West, you should have fought this hard when there was a proposal to build a state prison on the westside? Walmart lights will be nothing compared to the glow of the prison lights. One thing I hate about my daily commute to Edwards is passing by a damn prison – and people are worried about a damn Walmart.

    • The prison is in Lancaster, you dolt. Miles away from us. It was rammed down the throats of the residents just like this stupid project was. We tried and will continue to fight Rex on this. I think it would be a good project to put next to Westfield Estates, don’t you think? Booha! Booha! Boo hahahahahaha!

        • Actually looking at the City Limit map on their website, Quartz Hill High School is technically within the Lancaster City Limits as well.

    • Dont tie the Prison into the current Occurrence of city councils approval. QH CARES Fought hard, and will continue to fight hard. Instead of commenting, we welcome you to the continual fight if you really care about Westside Lancaster/Lancaster and QH future. You see its quite simple, their is a major controlling interest in the city of Lancaster, that does non compliant things to get their personal MASTER PLAN approved. Wake up and get involved. Dont lie down, it is not over YET

      • Near the prison is exactly where this Wal Mart needs to be. Plenty of land for it, and lots of houses. Plus all of the people coming to visit have somewhere to shop and eat.

    • While you were sleeping the Slipper People took over this entire valley! Thank you Cities of Lancaster and Palmdale for keeping our best interests at heart when you make these life altering decisions.

      • Please don’t include Palmdale. The 2 cities are in stark contrast to each other.

        I don’t think Palmdale is ‘owned’ by a few people like Lancaster is.

        Palmdale will continue being the premier city in the Valley while Lancaster will continue to be used by the ‘good ol’ boys’ and be a Walmart city.

        You can thank the Rex for that.

        ‘World class city’ my butt.

  22. This is truly a sad day in Quartz Hill. It will forever be changed…and not for the best I’m afraid. RIP Quartz Hill. :(

  24. Maybe we should get newly elected Steve Fox involved and help put a stop to it. Would like to hear what King Rex would say if that happened. Also it has been said that Carol Parris owned part of the property that is involved. So if that is true then wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest for King Rex to vote on it?

  25. Riddle me this. If unions keep prices high, how come Walmart drives out small businesses in the area.

    Are those small businesses unionized?

    How come athletic shoes are so expensive. Are the workers in China who make them unionized?

    Walmart drives down everyone’s wages, not just their employees. So, then everyone has to shop at Walmart for the low prices that their low wages can afford. It’s a self-fulfilling kinda thing.

    • What small businesses are going to be wiped out in QH? Far as I know there are only a few Liquor stores, Cig stores and what Von’s over on L and 40th?

      The West side of Lancaster, parts of Rosamond, and way out west part of the valley past 120th will love not having to come into town and not paying the big prices at Von’s or go into the main part of Lancaster.

      • You’re forgetting the businesses on L and 50th as well. All those will go out. But then again, Rex doesn’t care since those businesses don’t sit in Lancaster at all.

        And really? the very small population that lives beyond 120th need a giant super walmart?

    • @William

      Small businesses are not Unionized ether. The only Union in retail is the UFCW, which is the fools that had a strike a few years back to preserve 100% employer paid health care, they lost by the way. I happily crossed their picket lines and would do so again.

      While being a grocery store clerk is indeed hard work, it’s not rocket science and paying Union scale pay to 20+ year checkers is killing all the major grocery stores. That’s why UFCW is the hidden money behind most of the groups opposing Wally’s World, and they are loosing that one too.

      • PalmdaleSteve: “…I happily crossed their picket lines and would do so again”.

        WHAT HAPPENED to the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan???

        Ronald Reagan support, heralded Wałęsa in Poland for fighting the COMMUNIST in Russia from overthrowing their Unions!

        Is this what you’re supporting?

        ” … Wałęsa was instrumental in organizing the Solidarity union that helped mobilize to overthrow the Soviet Union’s control over Poland. In 1983 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. None other than President RONALD REAGAN — no left-wing, anti-capitalist activist — responded by praising Wałęsa’s leadership, saying he was “one of the world’s greatest labor leaders”:

        ” … REAGAN: I’d like to take a moment this afternoon to send a moment of congratulation to one of the world’s greatest LABOR leaders, Lech Wałęsa. […]

        This award demonstrates that the world will always remember and will honor the commitment to FREEDOM and the committement to FREE TRADE UNIONS that Lech Wałęsa and millions of brave Polish people share”.

        Lech Wałęsa went on to become President of Poland, after being jailed by his oppressors. Wałęsa, in 2011:

        Solidarity hero Lech Walesa [sic] is flying to New York to show his support for the Occupy Wall Street protesters.

        “How could I not respond,” Walesa told a Polish newspaper Wednesday. “The thousands of people gathered near Wall Street are worried about the fate of their future, the fate of their country. This is something I understand.”

        • Try PATCO for researching what Ronnie would do to Unions that were stupid and did stupid things.

          • Right, so Ronnie was a liar, a poser – why should we be surprised? Nothing’s changed.

            He does a mass-firing of Air Traffic Controllers in ’81 – then comes back with a “change of heart”?? in ’83 and lauds Wałęsa as a hero for saving the workers in Poland. He also arranged and sent (our) $$ to Austria, advocating for housing the millions of Polish Union workers who fled the country when Wałęsa was jailed.

            Is this what you want to happen in America? Is this where your Tea Party freaks are going with this? Build some Hooverville quansent huts?

            You couldn’t even find your way through Katrina…

        • And a bunch of historical irrelevancies from 10, 20, and 30 years relates to the Wal-Mart in QH in what way?

          BTW, the Democrats ran Louisiana and New Orleans during Katrina, and their failures were much larger than that of the Federal government, it just wasn’t reported that way for political gain.

          Just like the lack of reporting on the victims of Sandy who are still suffering and without power. But the media is so pro-Democrat that they do not report it. Look it up.

      • Another slanted view and take, wake up this did not happen by UFCW, there prohibited from this. Local jobs and the communities of both Lancaster and QH are at risk, so to mitigate the hazards support local stores, dont shop at Wallys…and by the way loser whats wrong with UFCW…I too was a retail clerk, started when I was 15 and did it for 9 years, supporting myself while I received my higher education. What they say, work union live better, yes there are some bad apples. Wake up

    • Who wants to make more money? Everyone does. Unions contracts steadily increase wages and that requires businesses to pay higher wages and more $$ towards benefits, or the UNION workers go on strike. In order to pay more to union workers, they have to charge higher prices. That’s how UNIONS put stores like Von’s out of business. It sometimes seems they would rather their loyal UNION workers don’t have a job than be reasonable about pay, benefits and arbitration.
      Where does all that money go that Union members are paying monthly in union dues?
      Oh yeah, to some big union leader or to lawyers and arbitrators whose twist every firing and issue they can to keep lazy, drunk, thiefs on the job.
      By thiefs, I am referring to “time stealers”, someone who is either manipulating timecards or sitting at home on their A$$ while on the time clock. For example, a (union) City employee, driving home in a city vehicle daily and spending the DAY at home. Even though they had been reported numerous times, they spent their days at home for almost a year. Not every day, but, quite a few.

    • Which talls me that the Cities of Lancaster and Palmdale do not suppor small businesses…so why aren’t the Chambers of Commerce coming down hard on these ignorant City Cohncil members?!

      • Chambers of Commerce support growth, and testified at the council meeting for approval of the project…just another special interest group…thats called Greed for the good of the communities of Palmdale, Lancaster

      • All these big box stores? They are members of the Chamber of Commerce. Just another annual fee they pay. Walmart buys a membership for each store plus makes donations.

        A Chamber of Commerce is not a champion of small business. They are a champion of business, large and small.

  26. Wait, the tax revenue from Wally-Land is $1.2 million? isn’t that what we are paying Visco for that used plane he sold to the city of Lncaster? Man these people have no shame!!! they gotta be laughing their head off, we are such suckers…..

    • Isn’t it great? With more Walmarts, Lancaster will probably need a second plane. These are so smart.

  27. Can they sell liquor in a school zone? I have heard that its a law that they cant sell liquor that close to schools?

    I am against this move. I hope the QHC movement continues to fight on. Would do whatever I could to help.

    Rex is a crook and only out for himself.

    • Yes there will be liquor sold at the Walmart at QHCOMMONS, another reason that Walmart likes this…more profits, more addictions, future ROInvestment….F off Wally, put a Walmart on every corner, look at their marketing plan, the behind the scenes money spent for the coucil to be in their pocket, the stud developer who put this together, the originator of this project George Runner, off at his Cabo retreat just laughing at his constituents again…Wake up Voters, get this nightmare called REX out…Recall the coucil vote, you have rights, if you get involved.

      • Ummm! If anyone drives around Lancaster, Palmdale and Quartz Hill theres liquor/grocery stores that sell alcohol at these locations next to the schools already, so whats the complaint now. heres an example:

        Q.H. elementry-50th st dairy, Palmdale H.S.-superior grocers
        New vista/jack northrop school- on the go market, Q.h. high-ampm

  28. Just to add to this article…after over two hours of stall tactics by mayor Parris, we recorded that approximately 53 people spoke on this subject, 31 opposed it, 19 were in favor, of which only about 5 of those speakers were NOT paid-for-being -there-and-speaking Wal-mart employees and the only thing the others (bought and paid for by Parris) had to say was, “We are in favor of more jobs” taking their cues from the mayor who has been spinning lies about more jobs and tax dollars in order to gain favor in this greed fueled project. It is indeed a sad day for Lancaster and the entire Antelope Valley.

    The true colors of this mayor, who is supposed to be working for the residents of Lancaster, were shown last night. He showed time and time again his lack of integrity, his low moral character and his greed and personal agendas. he , as always, was condescending, rude, arrogant and yes, he even pontificated numerous times. For the life of me, I do not know why this man gets re-elected…but that another story.

    Thank you to the hundreds of residents who showed up last night to have their voices heard or just to show their support. Even though Parris blamed the current (bad) state that Lancaster is in on those residents who go to council meetings (yes, he said that…it’s on tape), we do appreciate your commitment to bettering your community and for speaking up for what you believe in.

    Loretta Berry
    Quartz Hill Cares

    • Typical double talk out of Paris. This is what happens when Repbulicans are given reign over this valley. Constituents need to revolt.

    • The communities of both Lancaster and QH should recognize the countless hours and commitment that Loretta has committed to fighting this establishment called the Lancaster City Council, even being ticketed, they will stop at nothing. Wake residents, Its not over in any means, stop the negative, and get on board if you really dont want to put your undervalued house up for sale that will be next to a Community 350,000 sq ft shopping center, let alone the Target Center(yes across the street on Current Lane Ranch…great stuff, go from residential to commercial) support QH Cares. This project has not been built…..Fight On

  29. Get a clue genius, its so apparent that your myopic that this reply doesnt deserve a reply..RIP Westside Lancaster or should I say QHCOMMONS.

  30. Isn’t this area Zoned Residential? And doesn’t the County have a say in that change? ANd if I remember correctly, Antonivich is Against the store and the zone change.

    • It was zoned residential. Lancaster City Council voted to change it to commercial. And yes, you are correct LA County Supervisor publicly declared that he opposes this project and I spoke with someone in his office two days ago that he STILL opposes it, but to no avail. Mayor Parris, Planning Commissioner Chairman Jim Vose and others have already been paid to make sure this super center is built. Amid the hundreds of voices from those that they are elected to serve, who oppose this project, they are fueled by personal greed and have admitted, on the record, they have to…
      that they will build this super center.

    • So you’re finally catching on. Don’t forget to send your area Supervisor and Thank You card as well.

  31. Get over it quick. Because R. Rex Parris is the boss here in Lancaster, Ca. This will help with the costs of updating Lancaster Blvd. THE BLVD is not doing as well as had been expected.
    I believe in time those that opposed will be shopping happily at their new WalMart. The A.V. High School District will have to deal with their student’s at Quartz Hill High.

    Enough said.

    • Wow a R. Rex Fan, didn’t know they still had any of you around. Remember, he used to be an ambulance chaser!

    • Sandrita, I am usually a fan of your comments. I am disappointed in this pro Rex, pro Blvd. After reading it again, I hope you were joking.

    • Only about $20M of redevelopment money was spent on the BLVD the rest of the BLVD money was from a private investor. The City’s debt is around $400M so I’m fairly sure that this 5% BLVD debt is not really a deciding factor in the Quartz Hill WalMart decision.
      If he wanted to do something to directly help the BLVD he would have given land on the BLVD to WalMart and got them to build a smaller WalMart Market store there. People have been asking for a downtown market in that area for a long time and with the low income housing around the BLVD it’s a no-brainier location.
      WalMart in Quartz Hill pays for debt that is much larger than the BLVD, but in their narrow perspective they fail to see that ANOTHER WalMart does no good for the city’s image or trying to portray the BLVD as some destination worth visiting.

  32. another piece of the puzzle. Rex and friends have worked for years putting the plan in motion. Move everyone out of the projects and run down neighborhoods in LA (buying up those properties for future gain). Relocate those citizens to Lancaster and Palmdale with promises of cheap housing, permissive social service offices, lots of Walmarts, naive long time residents, camacho motors (easy financing). Pretend like they give a $hit about the crime and impending doom as long as they are in office, then move to the safety of another state or location so they are not affected and do not have to live in the mess they created.

    • Right on Megan, your take on this is correct. These crooks call civic leaders own all the properties, this is their master plan….Homes in Cabo, Tahoe, Tahiti, and a rental in Lancaster….well its Westfield. The kingdom called Lancaster, CA

    • Ummm! who ever wrote this comment is dead wrong, The city of Los angeles housing athority. and L.A. county housing athority, and city of Santa clarita moved all section 8 recipents of of south L.A. county and city of L.A. to the Antelope Valley, why do you think there was a lawsuit against Lancaster/Palmdale, because the count forced section 8 on us the two mayors were and still trying to get rid of it

  33. It’s not that Walmart=ghetto.
    I think it’s a matter of what happens to the neighborhood around the Walmart. For example, the neighborhood to the west of the Valley Central Walmart. Drive around in there for a while. Abandoned houses, kids hanging around all times of days and night. Tagging on mailboxes,vacant houses that have been for sale for years. Kids skipping school and breaking into the vacant houses or taking shortcuts through the neighborhood to get to the Walmart. Once at Walmart, they hang around outside and inside the store until school is out and they have to hike back to the school so their moms can pick them up. It’s pathetic.
    Shoplifting will become the new game for some of these kids. I hope someone keeps track of how many kids are busted for shoplifting, during school hours.
    I don’t live in QH, however I do shop at Von’s. I hope they don’t go out of business like the Von’s on 20th W and J, due to lack of business as a result of Walmart prices.

    • For the record, a few Vons employees from the Lancaster store on L attended….wonder why? Figure it out, or better out it goes. Its a shame that the almighty $ can ruin, change a beautiful place.
      It aint over, till its over. Fight on QHCares

        • No there union didnt pay them to be there, by the way they are concerned residents of the community that work at Vons…a community shopping center. Whats the problem with union…As they say work union, live better. Something wrong with living better>except here in the AV? Truly sad

          • I’d vote for a Prop to make CA a Right to Work state, so that pretty much summaries my views on Unions in general.

          • I am not pro union or anti union. I am pro employment of the money making kind. Fair days pay for a day of work. I do feel that in some cases union jobs have driven the prices up so high that people do have to find other places to shop than union houses. If all employers were interested in long term profit, they would keep their employees happy with wages and benefits and we wouldn’t need that secret office collecting union dues to do “whatever” with. We also would NOT have guys fired for drinking and smoking dope on their lunch hours getting their jobs back, with back pay after 2 years.
            Ok maybe I am anti union, that does NOT make me anti Von’s and pro Walmart! Walmart isn’t for everyone. It definetly IS NOT for me.

          • One thing that is truly sad is the comment, “As they say, work union, live better.” I see that statement on bumper stickers all the time. Funny thing, though, is that the bumper is almost always on a beat-up work truck or a POS car. I have never seen any “pro union” bumper stickers on a Benz, BMW, Porsche, etc.
            Just saying…

          • ” … We also would NOT have guys fired for drinking and smoking dope on their lunch hours getting their jobs back,…”

            As a Faux News zoner, you would also know that that video was filmed in 2010. It’s been 3 years. Union workers are immediately taken off the job and required to go through drug/alcohol rehab. Only when they go thru rehab and pass the piss tests are they allowed to work on any union job again.

        • No, they did not. Sorry to disappoint the anti-u ion folks out there, but this is very much a union issue…it’s a community issue!!

          • So how much funding of your group is coming from the Food workers Union?

            Your QH Cares Web site parrots and recycles the Union Anti-Walmart clap trap, so you must be getting a great deal of your funding from these groups.

          • Auto Workers in Detroit who were fired 2 years ago are back on the job inspite of the video expose that got them fired. Look it up. It was on the news yesterday.

    • umm kids dont skip school and say, “hey lets go to walmart”, completly wrong, my kid goes to Lancaster High school, trust me, noone ditches to walmart

  34. QH hill just lost this law abiding and tax paying citizen. I shall be looking to relocate this spring.

    • I would do the same if only I could actually sell my home for anything close to what I paid for it!

    • I wanted my kids to go to Quartz Hill. Not with a Walmart! They have crime there daily. I know because I work in the system. Way to go Rex. You are dumping on kids but then you didn’t take too kindly to HS when you were young so you probably don’t “get” what HS should be about.

  36. Well of course the supporters outnumbered the residents…Why, because Walmart directed their employees to be at the meeting, and paid for their support, and of course they get all the seats in the chambers for the press photos to create a image that this is what happened last night…whats new with this?? Corporate Greed, city greed with lined pockets…Long live the Box. Hey bye the way, remember this…The blood that will be spilled at L and 60th West will be on the hands of the city council that voted for this just plain wrong project…it will be there legacy–for approving the project…justa short term fix. Another words, we really dont care to listen to facts of the people, just show us the money, we riggged to push this amendeum, were not in compliance with CEQA for a EIR not has not been certified. No 45 day waiting period, non compliant. No matter how they SPIN it, its Madness. Great Job Rex and crew, way to listen to the community that flat out says no…[personal attack removed] you see Walmart stops at nothing and there HERE..(like really another Starbucks and McDonalds as co anchors) guns, ammuniation, and liquor and crime. People that have invested their life savings, hard working citizens that moved to West Lancaster and QH that have paid city taxes, have no VOICE….Are being slammed. Yes that right, our elected leaders are looking for quick tax dollar revenues. Leave you with this…what is the price of the life of the person who will lose their life at this intersection….Answer $1.2MM of estimated tax revenue from this project. Good bye to Vons, Albertsons, and QH village. Yea the new Supercenter CALLED QHCOMMONS, surely does live up to its name(Lancaster council lets it be called QHCOMMONS when its in Lancaster) the new……Ghetto center West…..Boycott the store and show them that if you new Walmart you can drive 2.5 miles radius to existing Walmarts if you really want to wait in line. Big box, saturate the market, vertically integrated with all the stuff, low prices, crime, trash, air pollution, theft(how ironic that Mayor hot point is crime, and states crime is down in the city watch the new numbers once this goes up) what about Keith Reed– Mr. Mayor did you already forget, or just practicing your usual WHY ARE WE EVEN HAVING THIS MEETING, PEOPLE….Its my world. Good input from the opponents set up a regional Development program for both Palmdale and Lancaster, stop the Mayors from each city from fighting for the tax dollars, even you Mr. Mayor as exec of city, create legislation for tax increase, and spare us Homeowners that call this place home the Nightmare that is coming….we will consider paying more just to keep it AWAY…Walmart, wally world..big corporation that WILL DO ANYTHING to come into your neighborhood. Great job Mr. Developer be sure to followup with Rex on his key topic OBESITY,another hot point Lancaster leads all CA cities with Obesity, and what McDonalds offers as your followup, and Mr. Director of Public affairs, from Bentonville, be sure to give us homeowners a slanted copy…of your statement that shows WALMART INCREASES HOMEOWNERS VALUE…Im sure will really get to see a copy of that…Whats next? These are civic leaders of the city…Another outstanding effort

    • I think you read it wrong. The article says the supporters were outnumbered. Either way, you sound really fed up and sick and tired. I sympathize with you bro.

      I didn’t have to be at this meeting to know this project was going to sail through. That’s the way things go in Lancaster, so why waste your time yapping at the council meeting?

      The only way to tank the project now would be to boycott the shopping center and the Wal-mart when they open. If you can’t do that, well then I guess you really did need that shopping center and that Wal-mart didn’t you?

      • No I read it right, the point I WAS making is that there was more opposition stated at the meeting, than those pro. However the picture paints a picture that everyone was happy about this scam. We been fighting this project for 6 years, were just like any other decent law abiding, tax paying resident that expects civic leaders to listen to their constituents…Dont blame a person for fighting for what they feel is right, I know your sick and tired of this circus also…Just the facts! RIP Lancaster, Im packing as soon as I can get out, this was a beautiful place to call HOME.

        • Me either and I just about had my husband convinced to quit shopping there too but I am afraid he will be a sucker for convenience, I guess I’ll have to complain louder :)

    • So you heart-less bastards are waiting for a poor child to geet killed to make your point, you people disgust me

  37. Part of the project would be to widen and improve the intersection. It has needed it for many years. Ever since I went to High School locally over 20 years ago. Quartz Hill residents are against any improvement to their community. Look at how long it took to get the storm drain systems installed to prevent flooding. The county isn’t going to spend any money on them without a sizeable tax base increase. Unforutnately, the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster have to provide the improvements on the outskirts to help their citizens.

    Now, I am not really thrilled about another Wal-mart. It would be more beneficial to diversify our shopping. However let’s face the majority of shoppers at this new shopping center will be Quartz Hill residents so they don’t have to drive to Valley Central Way. Hopefully some good will come out of it and the people who support their local shopping in Quartz Hill continue to support it. Nothing in Quartz Hill proper really competes with Walmart so it shouldn’t be a big issue overall.

    • Get a clue, this project is NOT IN QH, its in Lancaster. It does compete with local business’ ready…Vons,Garden Center, automotive stores, dry cleaners, pool stores, pharmacies, tire stores, if they put a gas station in well….gas stations locally, I could go on and on. Residents in both Lancaster and QH will lose. Bye the way optimist, ready for the traffic, or I forgot you dont even live close to a CA Distingusihed school. Great post idiot

      • Doesn’t really compete with those. Walmart carries products that support the majority of a user’s needs. They don’t carry specialty items. The Von’s you’re referring to isn’t in Quartz Hill either. It is technically Lancaster and I’ve been shopping there for years. If Walmart could compete with Von’s on the quality of food it carries, I’d go to Valley Central Way. It can’t. If you’re looking for cheap food then yeah, Walmart is for you. Walmart doesn’t have a dry cleaner service. So unless people are going to buy new clothes every time their existing ones get dirty then dry cleaners are safe. Leslie Pools has operated for years across the street from the Walmart on Valley Central Way? Why because Walmart doesn’t carry a large variety of pool supplies needed for in-ground pools.

        My kids have gone through the school system. My daughter is getting letters from Colleges around the country asking her to apply. She expects to get over 1750 on her SAT. And no she didn’t go to Quartz Hill. Having stores near Quartz Hill should not affect its ranking. Not sure why that is even in question. Unless you’re student aged children are so misbehaved that they break into drugs and alcohol due to the stress of having to wait at a cross walk.

        Traffic won’t affect me. I don’t shop at Wal-mart and will continue to shop at small locally owned businesses like I have for the last 20 years. Many of the shoppers will still be Quartz Hill mothers and fathers though. They simply won’t make the drive to 10th Street West in Palmdale or Valley Central Way in Lancaster. People make the choice on where they shop. If you’re too shallow to pay a few cents more to shop at your local stores and they go out of business, that is your fault.

        • And when you no longer have the shopping options because they were run out of business from the new Walmart?

          • Really if people really care about the local stores in Quartz Hill, continue shopping there. They will stay in business. If you shop at Wal-mart because it is cheaper than you are contributing to the local store’s demise. It really is as simple as that. Wal-mart won’t be 300,000 square feet. There will be additional shops, restaurants and businesses in that shopping center as well. Some of those will be owned by local mom and pop proprietors.

            You vote with your wallet, not a sign on the side of the road.

          • Hey concerned, if you really are why didnt you get personally involved? You see if you were, you would have been there in the beginning…education is freedom, freedom from occurrences…and CONCERNED we just had a occurence. Standing on the road holding a sign, WHAT…is that how you myopic person thinks, alot more than holding sign was happening. Hey, bye the way how did you find out CONCERNED, Another IDIOT thats says there concerned, stand up and voice your opinion as an American would do, not a wimp that lives in the AV. Open your eyes and see whats going on, if your concerned.

        • People like yourself dont even know the real truth, your tying one subject to another. OK, you know it all your daughter is smart and thats great. Stay to the facts, and reality there are outstanding HS in the AV…Not just QHHS, however QHHS is known as the best…fact! Im referring to all the co anchors in the QH Town Center on AVE L, in Lancaster…those shops and stores are in jeopardy. Hey one last thing,,,,Im not Shallow, and I always support local. Sounds to me your missing the point…Its about a lifestyle–There rezoning residential to commercial WAKE UP Genius. People do have their individual rights to voice their opinion, so hopefully you respect a son of the American revolution opinion,as well as son of the greatest generation. Im American, and Walmart is Greed. Its a simple marketing plan, check it out do your research, look at what they do, and then get back to me on your SAT score. Listen, its pretty easy, Im fighting for a few things here as any other resident homeowner that has intellect would do….The future of our country is our children, the health, welfare and safety of our children and young adults is the greatest responsiblity as a parent, one has. There are the future of this country…There are major hazards to the safety of the school, when this project goes up…FACT, So get a clue.

          • It isn’t just one issue though… It is many different issues.

            Traffic – Would traffic be less if it remained Residential? Not if it was built up. Traffic would probably be worse since it would be hundreds of houses instead of shopping centers.

            Education – Not sure why this is an issue. Having a shopping center across the street isn’t going to make the teacher teach any differently.

            Alcohol – There are rules on how many stores can sell alcohol and how far away from the school they have to be before they can do so. Already stores in Lancaster that can’t sell alcohol due to this, even though they traditionally do.

            Light and Noise Pollution – Issues that need to be dealt with.

            Many issues that cross-pollinate. Not sure how the rural lifestyle in Quartz Hill is being maintained with new housing all the way out to 80th street and 7-10 houses per acres.

            If Quartz Hill Cares really cares, they would work with the City to make sure this project has as many benefits as possible and reduces each of the issues above. It should be obvious that it is going through regardless of what people want. Maybe get the town council involved. Maybe Quartz Hill should have incorporated back in the late 80s to prevent to Palmdale and Lancaster land grabs that encroach on the area. Citizens didn’t want to pay for it though.

            As for getting involved, I do my part with voting, taking my business where I think it should go and writing letters to my representatives on all levels. However since you asked, I can’t simply take time off work to attend a council meeting. Part of the reason they are at that time. So I right letters and make phone calls instead.

            Not a fan of Wal-mart but can’t seem to convince people to stop shopping there. As long as people do, they will keep building them because it is the only way they can increase profits in the US.

          • The busniess on 50th street west are mad that there busniess is slumping and they might have to close because of the water pipe line project “20 years in the making” being completed by the county, becasue the project has made it hard on busniesses, a project they wanted, so how is a walmart gonna ruin busniesses. a bunch of liquor stores, and hay & feed stores, smh

    • A fifth Wall-mart super center in the Antelope Valley will “diversify shopping”? Seriously? Say that again and provide us with whatever intelligent information you have to back that statement up with. Thank you.

      • You need to learn reading comprehension. Maybe you went to Quartz Hill High School. There are two sentences..

        First I said, – Now, I am not really thrilled about another Wal-mart.

        Then I said – It would be more beneficial to diversify our shopping.

        I understand that English isn’t an easy language to learn though.

    • Even with a plan to widen the intersection, Ave L between 45th-55th is still a one lane street in LA county. And LA county has said that they have no intention to widen that part of the street.

  38. OH yeah FYI agenda 21 is here, it is everywhere, don’t know what it is? Better learn quick, if you own a home or ever hope to, you ain’t gonna like it. Internet search is your friend.

    • This news sucks! Less than 1 mile away and I still won’t be a Chinamart shopper! They treat their employees like dirt, they are killing all the mom and pop shops and shopping at Walmart you might as well send all your $ direct to China, not to mention I am sure this one will end up looking Ghetto like the rest of them, just what Quartz Hill needs. Don’t go to the Ghetto to shop, let’s make one of our own to shop in!

      • But the employees choose to work there. It’s an entry level job, just like Mcdonalds, etc…which is good. Why worry about the employees anyway. I wouldn’t care if they were paid 10 cents an hour…anything for low-cost ammo, and beer.

      • How does WalMart equal Ghetto? I’ve been to WalMarts all over this great country of ours, so I know that to be false. The shoppers will reflect the people in your communitte.

        • #1 parking lot is always a mess with trash and carts.

          #2 People are allowed to set up camp there overnight.

          #3 People coming and going 24/7

          #4 Those harsh glaring lights all night long.

          They always end up looking like hell, we don’t want that kind of industrialized look out here.

        • Please educate yourself. Watch the film “the High Cost of Low Prices” for starters and then look up crime and Wal-mart and other similar websites. All the statistics are there!

          • I am so disappointed…just bought a house in the neighborhood behind QH High less than a year ago when we fell in love with the quieter, family friendly atmosphere. It made me sick to watch citizen after citizen make their case and plead w/ city leaders to listen to the people, knowing full well that the project is driven by $$ and that the mayor could care less about those residents who will actually be affected by the project. Yes, jobs will be created, but at the expense of all others. Read the book Nickel & Dimed and then get back to me on how great you think Walmart really is.

      • Ummm! Were was Q.H. cares when they built the two shopping centers on 50th west and Avenue N? those two projects caused so much water run off, down 50th west. All people do is complain theres not enough busniesses on this part of town, then they want to build , then no one wants it. Look at the far westside theres thousands of tract homes, were was Q.H. cares then? no where, stop picking and choosing at least Lancaster is doing what the county is not doing for Q.H.