Letter: Walmart-related traffic EIR is online for Burbank residents
Work has begun to turn the vacant building formerly occupied by the Great Indoors at the Empire Center in Burbank into a Walmart Supercenter.
Burbank residents have until Feb. 4 to comment on a draft supplemental environmental impact report analyzing the need for and feasibility of traffic mitigation measures for Buena Vista Street at Victory Boulevard, and Buena Vista Street at Empire Avenue.
Long before a Walmart was ever contemplated for the Empire Center, the city decided not to fully implement measures that would reduce traffic at these intersections, as called for by the original environmental impact report from 2001.
A recent court decision directed that the city either fully complete the traffic measures, or conduct a supplemental report. They chose the report.
The report isn’t pretty: reducing traffic at those intersections as originally intended is now much more expensive and disruptive, and the measures conflict with the city’s recently updated General Plan policies regarding land use.
The alternatives offered either aren’t feasible or don’t fully address the traffic load. Adding Walmart (as opposed to a lower impact retailer) adds Walmart-level cars and trucks to the problem.
These intersections don’t exist in a vacuum. With all the new development going on in the city, it’s important for residents to comment on this report. It was prepared by Meridian Consultants, who were also hired by the city to conduct environmental analysis for the new IKEA, the proposed replacement terminal at the airport, and the proposed development known as “Premier on First.”
You can view the report on the city’s website by clicking this link.
Comments should be addressed to dkriske@burbankca.gov.
Julie D’Angelo
Burbank