Holding pattern
Wednesday, May 3, 2006 11:20 AM PDT
JESSICA KELLER ARGUS OBSERVER
ONTARIO
Improvements to two intersections on East Idaho Avenue near the Ontario Marketplace will be delayed until the city collects traffic impact fees from some of the nearby businesses.
The two intersections are East Idaho and East Lane, and East Idaho and Goodfellow, and both are scheduled to have traffic improvements to help reduce traffic congestion and ease traffic flow. The city made separate arrangements with Ontario Marketplace, Home Depot and Wal-Mart for each to pay a share of the traffic improvements based on traffic study information, Ontario City Manager Scott Trainor said. A traffic study for the entire retail area was completed in March 2004, and total costs were assessed. The intersection improvement project is estimated to cost about $2.4 million. To date, Trainor said, Wal-Mart owes about $800,000 for its portion. The city made an original agreement with Wal-Mart in 2001 when the corporation was expanding in Ontario to make traffic improvements in the area. Some improvements were made then, Trainor said, but the corporation opted to wait until further development took place in making the rest. He said the corporation agreed to pay its fair share up to $1 million. The city made an agreement with Home Depot developers when the business was being built, and those fees were paid.
Trainor said since the final traffic impact costs were completed, the city has notified Wal-Mart officials of the outstanding fees in more than one communication, but has not heard back from the corporation, Trainor said.
“That's been the modus operandi, so to speak,” he said. Trainor said, however, the delay does not appear to be a reflection of the local Wal-Mart management. He said he has had a few conversations with the local Wal-Mart manager, who has seemed disposed to move forward on the project. The delay appears to be in the corporation process in Arkansas, where the company is based, Trainor said.
Trainor said, to his knowledge, Ontario Marketplace developer Mark Zimmel has paid some of the fees, which are approximately $160,000 to $170,000. He said Zimmel is currently reviewing the numbers of the traffic study and traffic impact costs. Trainor said when the traffic study was implemented, the city based the improvement fees on traffic impacts from businesses projected to go in, including a restaurant. Trainor said while there is a restaurant in the Ontario Marketplace, it's not the type of restaurant that was anticipated. Zimmel approached the city about reviewing the numbers to ensure they accurately reflect the businesses that are drawing customers.
“So they've been kind of more on hold,” he said.
Trainor said Wal-Mart has not had any communications with the city of any sort, even to review the traffic study numbers. Meanwhile, the traffic improvements at those two intersections are on hold.
“We don't have the money to do the improvements,” Trainor said. A building application for a roofing project from Wal-Mart, however, has been denied by the city until the payments are made. Ontario Director of Development Services Steve Gaschler said the city has the right to withhold building permits while outstanding fees are still owed, specific to that particular project. The city has not set a deadline for the money to be paid.
“We've really tried to leave this fairly open with them,” Trainor said.
He said at some point it will be important to get those improvements done.
“It's kind of incumbent upon us to do this sooner rather than later,” Trainor said.
