Wal-Mart has been extended an invitation to submit a new plan for a controversial store at Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive.

Mayor Sue Hack at Tuesday evening’s City Commission meeting clearly opened the door for Wal-Mart to attempt to move the project forward through City Hall rather than by resuming a lawsuit, which is seeking a court ruling that would allow the store to be built.

“It is our assumption and hope that another plan would be submitted,” Mayor Sue Hack said after listening to about two hours of public comment – overwhelmingly against the project. The comment came as part of an agenda item designed to brief two new commissioners, Rob Chestnut and Mike Dever, on the Wal-Mart issue.

Following the meeting, Wal-Mart spokeswoman Angie Stoner said the world’s largest retailer would consider its options and make a decision in the next few days.

“A final decision hasn’t been made, but we do appreciate the mayor’s request,” Stoner said.

Others in the room were sending a different message. A crowd of more than 100 people filled the meeting room and a good portion of the City Hall lobby. All but one of the approximately 20 speakers voiced opposition to the idea of a Wal-Mart at the site. Opposition ranged from traffic concerns to fears that Wal-Mart would damage existing retail businesses in the community.

“I don’t know that we need another Wal-Mart,” Lawrence resident Mark O’Lear said, noting the retailer’s existing location on South Iowa Street. “I haven’t heard any complaints that the Wal-Mart down south is too busy. I don’t think they have to turn people away.”

Several speakers said the new Wal-Mart simply would attract customers from the existing store and would not bring new shopping dollars to town. Others said the store would become a traffic magnet that would cause large amounts of motorists to cut through adjacent neighborhoods.

Some members of the public also criticized the new commission for successfully seeking a delay in a lawsuit that was scheduled to begin April 16.

Just days after the April 3 elections, which saw two Wal-Mart opponents leave the commission, the city asked Wal-Mart to put its lawsuit against the city on hold. The lawsuit alleges the city illegally denied a building permit for the Wal-Mart store.

The case is now scheduled for trial in mid-September, a delay meant to give the two sides time to talk about a possible settlement.

“That has left a very sour taste in the mouths of many citizens,” Jim Carpenter, a Lawrence resident, told commissioners.

City commissioners took it all in. Chestnut said he agreed with Hack that a new plan would be welcome. But he stopped short of saying what details the new plan would need to include for it to win his support. He also stressed that any new plan would need to go through the full approval process, including being heard by the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission.

Dever said he would consider a new plan like he would any other development request, but he said the public comment session was enlightening.

“I have a lot to think about after all that public comment,” Dever said. “I learned a lot about the passion that exists on the issue. It was even deeper than I thought.”

The meeting did have one small disturbance. During the public comment session, some members of the crowd passed out fake dollar bills with a picture of Hack on them. The fake money was distributed to members of the crowd wearing shirts indicating they represented different types of locally owned Lawrence businesses.

A woman dressed in black clothing, sunglasses and a sign reading “Uncle Sam Walton” – referring to the founder of Wal-Mart – then began to aggressively rip the fake dollar bills from the hands of the individuals. Hack asked the woman to take a seat because she was distracting from public comment.

Afterward, local attorney Todd Thompson – who represents Wal-Mart – said the display was an embarrassment to the community.