HUNTINGTON BEACH

Wal-Mart is having second thoughts about developing a retail complex on Talbert Avenue because the city placed too many restrictions on its plans, a school district official said Wednesday. “We should have a decision on [whether] they’re going to build in Huntington Beach fairly soon,” Ocean View School District Supt. James R. Tarwater said. The district and the city had negotiated with the retailer to build a store at the closed Crest View school site.

Wal-Mart won City Council approval for the project last month, but the retailer had to pay a high price in tough conditions imposed on its operation, company spokeswoman Cynthia Lin said. She would not specify which restrictions are most bothersome, but they include a limit on hours of operation and a requirement that delivery trucks turn west onto Talbert Avenue to ease traffic congestion in Fountain Valley.

“The council was trying to mitigate legitimate concerns of adjacent property owners,” City Administrator Ray Silver said. If Wal-Mart does decide to take its business elsewhere, officials said, they will find another company to take its place.