The East Palo Alto City Council voted 2-1 to place a measure onthe ballot. Donna Rutherford voted against the measure. Mayor DuaneBay and Councilwoman Myrtle Walker did not vote because they ownproperty within 500 feet of the proposed development.

Voters will be asked to approve the rezoning of the proposed10.5-acre site from neighborhood commercial and multi-familyresidential to general commercial and to amend the Gateway/101Corridor Specific Plan to allow an increase in square footage,floor area ratio, height, design flexibility and multilevelparking. In previous city council meetings, the room has beenflooded with people protesting the size of the giant furniturestore and the effect it will have on traffic and parking. Those infavor have argued that the store will create excellent sales taxrevenue and many jobs ion the area.

Adding further fire to the fuel is the allegations that Walkerfailed to declare an interest in property within 500 feet of theproject until October. This week, Mayor Duane Bay has filed aformal complaint asking the Fair Political Practices Commission toinvestigate Walker's possible conflicts of interest on the IKEAproject and on a nearby redevelopment site, University Palms. Inaddition, the commission will investigate allegations that Walkerindirectly received money from the IKEA developer.