Landowner To Fight Big-Box Moratorium

"A landowner who wants to sell 27 acres to Wal-Mart says he plans to file a $25 million lawsuit against Duluth after the city imposed a six-month moratorium on big-box developments."

"Former Gov. Roy Barnes represents the landowner, Jack Bandy, whose 27-acre parcel on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Gwinnett County is where Wal-Mart wants to build a 176,305-square-foot Supercenter."

"Barnes said in a letter the city received Friday that the city acted improperly by imposing the moratorium."

"Bandy was poised to sell his land to Wal-Mart once city planners cleared them to build the store."

"Amid the heated debate over the Wal-Mart Supercenter, the Duluth City Council imposed a six-month moratorium on big-box developments on July 30."

"'This ordinance was not passed for the general health and welfare of the citizens of Duluth,' the letter says, 'but with the specific intent to delay, hinder and frustrate Bandy and Wal-Mart...'"