The four-day trial over a proposed Wal-Mart at Northcross Mall ended Friday morning in the Travis County Courthouse with no judicial resolution.

District Judge Orlinda Naranjo set a ruling for mid-December, stating that she needs further time to review the arguments.

The citizen group Responsible Growth for Northcross is suing Lincoln Property Co. and the city of Austin to block the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the area. The group argued that development would violate city codes and could cause flooding, drainage, erosion, traffic and crime problems.

“The court is going to take the time to read the briefs,” Naranjo said. “I’m going to take the time that is necessary to make the right decision in this case. I understand how important it is to give a ruling as soon as I can.”

Developers and lawyers representing the city called the group’s argument a “shell game” and “bloodless literalism.”

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2007/11/19/StateLocal/Austin.WalMart.Ruling.Postponed-3109107.shtml