After almost three hours of impassioned pleas begging city council to say no; it said yes, gifting to Richmond in the process its first ever Walmart.

At a packed out, standing room only public hearing at city hall council chambers, city council, by a majority 6-2 vote, approved SmartCentres’ controversial $150 million, ten-year-old proposal for a 14-acre outdoor shopping centre – anchored by U.S. retail giant Walmart.

Councillors Harold Steves and Chak Au were the only two to vote against the West Cambie plan – bound by Alderbridge Way, Garden City, Alexandra and No. 4 roads.

Before the plan was approved, veteran Steves went as far to brand the development the “worst or second worst” the city has ever been involved with.

However, although many in the audience had nothing but condemnation for the proposal – traffic concerns, loss of green space and views, environmental damage and dislike of Walmart topped the list – there was a surprising throng of approval for the project.

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