Last week, the Hamilton City Council unanimously approved the following proclamation. This statement was made in response to the possibility of a ‘big box’ store, purported to be a Walmart, locating just south of Hamilton.
Whereas, the Trade Area is defined in the existing conditions report of the City of Hamilton Downtown Master Plan; and
Whereas, the Hamilton Trade Area includes the valley floor and foothills east and west of the Highway 93 corridor, basically from Florence to just south of Sula, and in 2013 had a population of 33,479 residents; and
Whereas, a large-scale retail facility is defined as having equal to or greater than 60,000 square feet; and
Whereas, unemployment and low wages are a chronic problem in Ravalli County; and
Whereas, large-scale retail facilities often result in reduced employment, lower wages, and increased poverty; and
Whereas, the City of Hamilton may expect to see decreased property tax valuations as a result of commercial vacancies due to a large-scale retail facility; and
Whereas, Hamilton’s unique character is largely defined by a network of locally-owned independent businesses ad local non-profits; and
Whereas, areas dominated by large-scale retail facilities tend to lose their unique qualities, and see diminished charitable contributions, social capital, and civic participation; and
Whereas, large-scale retail facilities cause sprawl, light pollution, noise pollution, increased traffic, and increased demands on emergency services; and
Whereas, prices at chain stores are not always better than at local independent retailers; and
Whereas the City of Hamilton wishes to preserve opportunities for entrepreneurship and to avoid retail hegemony;
In witness thereof, the City of Hamilton declares its official statement that to ensure the health, safety, and general welfare of its citizens, the City Council this 21st day of October, 2014 opposes the construction of large-scale retail facilities in the Hamilton Trade Area.
We applaud the council for taking a stand on this issue, even if it is merely symbolic. As Councilor Jenny West said at the meeting, it’s just such a shame that the County has absolutely nothing on the books, not even a Growth Policy, to address what kind of development is appropriate for our valley.