Lew Griswold: Visalia considers turning farmland into retail space

It's still unclear whether the Visalia City Council will approve a controversial proposal to designate farmland at Caldwell and Highway 99 for retail development.

The city's proposed long-term growth plan, good until 2030, would let the property be annexed and developed when the city gets larger or a specialty retailer such as Ikea comes knocking. The council has to vote on it.

At a joint session last week of the City Council and Planning Commission, Mooney Boulevard property owners argued against the designation, saying that premature development would deflate the economic power of the city's commercial strip.

Two council members -- Bob Link and Greg Collins -- staked out opposite positions.

Link, a downtown business owner, said he favors the designation because the city will grow. Downtown survived despite competition from Mooney Boulevard, he said.

Collins, an independent planning consultant, said that "not being on 99 is what distinguishes us from other communities," so the city should butt out.

Their fellow council members stopped short of saying how they would vote.

Council Member Warren Gubler said the current plan is too vague about the timing and type of retail development. But, he said, "it's an area we need to plan for eventually."

Council Member Steve Nelsen said if the city does nothing, the county could say yes to development -- it's outside city limits -- and the city will have missed out on major sales tax revenues.

Mayor Amy Shuklian said she wants to make a decision that won't keep her up at night.

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Lew Griswold: Visalia considers turning farmland into retail space