What’s up with Wal-Mart?

The site of a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter at 44th Avenue and Regal Street has remained largely quiet over the past few months.

Steve Haynes, a planner for the City of Spokane, said his department hasn’t heard a word from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. since last spring, when the city asked for additional information on environmental and traffic issues surrounding the proposed development. The property is owned by developer Harlan Douglass.

However, a second location at 57th Avenue and Palouse Highway, which is also owned by Douglass, saw an initial flurry of dirt-moving activity that recently slowed. Neighbors have speculated that site, which is also about eight acres, is an alternative location for the supercenter.

The Wal-Mart site at 44th and Regal sparked controversy when it was revealed that a wetland had been buried by a combination of city road work and past and current development activity.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has until the end of the month to respond before the company’s original short plat application expires, Haynes said.

The 57th Avenue and Palouse Highway spot is just outside city limits and Spokane County has issued a grading and filling permit for the land.

A representative at Spokane County’s planning department said it hasn’t yet received a building permit application for any projects on 57th and Palouse.