Mall of Orange Neighbors Oppose Proposed Wal-Mart Store

Merchants at the Mall of Orange can almost hear the feet of new shoppers rushing to their struggling center to patronize the new Wal-Mart they are trying to lure to the vacant Broadway site.

Some nearby residents, however, can only envision more cars driving through their neighborhood and have launched a campaign to keep out the mammoth discount retailer.

“It will take my child’s or another child’s death to make you understand that traffic is congested enough in our neighborhood,” resident Lyssa Alatoree told City Council members Tuesday.

Alatoree wore a big green button picturing Wal-Mart under the international circle and slash for “No” and said she is joined by at least 30 other residents in her protest.

“We need standards just like downtown Orange,” she said, referring to an often-voiced complaint that officials shelter Old Towne while letting the rest of the city fend for itself. “Downtown wouldn’t want a Wal-Mart next to the traffic circle or across from Chapman University.”

Council members postponed a vote on a minor change in lot lines at the empty Broadway site and said they would not consider the issue until the Planning Commission ruled on the Wal-Mart proposal Monday night. The commission had already delayed approval once because of traffic concerns.

Barbara Toth, vice president of Newman Properties, which is negotiating with Wal-Mart, said the new store would save the mall.

“We have assessed our future plans for the mall, we have researched all other potential anchor retailers, and . . . we have determined that the addition of Wal-Mart is a very positive and exciting opportunity for the mall and the City of Orange,” she said.

Toth agreed traffic would increase if Wal-Mart signs the lease, but she said the mall has the parking to handle it and those drivers represent good customers for all of the stores.

“We are hoping we can resolve these concerns,” she said.