Austin activists boycott Lowe's

A group of Austin activists has launched a boycott against Lowe's today.

The boycott is in response to home improvement retailer Lowe's Cos. Inc.'s plans for a retail store on Brodie Lane in Southwest Austin. Those participating include environmental activists and neighborhood association representatives.

"Lowe's is committed to maintaining the integrity of this environmentally sensitive area," says Jennifer Stanbery, spokeswoman for Wilkesboro, N.C.-based Lowe's.

Stanbery also says a proposed settlement agreement between Lowe's and the Austin City Council regarding the site would hold the company "to the strictest environmental standards of any business operating in the area."

Under the proposal, Lowe's would drop a lawsuit against the City and agree to do environmental mitigation, as well as pay infrastructure costs. In return, Lowe's would get City approval to build more than 200,000 square feet over the aquifer on 39 acres at Brodie Lane near William Cannon Drive.

On Nov. 6, the Austin City Council voted to move forward with the settlement agreement by a vote of 4 to 3, with Council Members Daryl Slusher, Raul Alvarez and Danny Thomas voting against the deal.

The local group of activists began a boycott against Lowe's today at noon at the store at I-35 and Stassney Lane, according to a news release from the participants.

Those participating include: SOS Alliance, Clean Water Action, Deer Park at Maple Run homeowners association and environmentalist Robin Rather.

The release says the group will have signs and flyers "to educate consumers about Lowe's efforts to build over the aquifer and undermine Austin's environmental regulations."

The groups say Lowe's is attempting "to bully their way onto this inappropriate location."