A San Joaquin County Superior Court judge ruled the City of Lodi's environmental review of a future Walmart Supercenter at Lower Sacramento Road and Kettleman Lane (Highway 12) complies with State law.
Barring further court action, Monday's 36-page ruling by Judge Elizabeth Humphreys removes any prohibitions keeping the the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer from building a 226,000-square foot Supercenter in Lodi.
The groups Lodi First and Citizens for Open Government filed suit in early 2005 against the City, claiming the City approved a legally deficient environmental impact report. In December 2005, Humphreys ruled against the City's EIR, requiring additional studies.
Humphreys found Lodi's revised environmental report has "served its purpose to inform the public and its responsible officials of the environmental consequences of their decisions."
With Walmart's application to build a Supercenter previously reviewed by the Planning Commission and the Lodi City Council, Monday's ruling opens the door to the City to begin accepting construction documents and issuing building permits.
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