Oregon Public Broadcasting

Keizer City Council is scheduled to hold a public meeting Monday. It will discuss and vote on a plan that some residents worry will allow a Walmart to be built in town. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

The Keizer Station Shopping Center stands north of Salem, right next to the I-5. To try to attract more stores, the owners have asked for and received zoning changes.

But the latest proposed change has some residents worried a Walmart could be built there.They say a big box store would suck the economic heart out of small retailers.

Keizer Commissioner David McKane says the city hasn't received any notice that a Walmart or any other national chain might be coming.

David McKane: "I'm not pro or con any specific brand. If something can go in there and not be detrimental to the community. That's fine with me. But I think there's a group of people that's simply concerned that that brand is coming in and we're laying the groundwork for that to happen. And I would tell you that's simply not true."

Michael Roth, the president of Roth's stores, has submitted testimony saying a big box, high intensity retailer would leave downtown Keizer looking like a two mile strip of vacant buildings, thrift stores and taverns.