The Region : 3 Wal-Mart Stores Planned : Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is negotiating for stores in Duarte, Covina and Glendora.

The Duarte City Council last week approved a development agreement with the Arkansas-based retail giant, striking a deal for land at the intersection of Mountain Avenue and the Foothill Freeway.

The 127,000-square-foot store would provide more than $400,000 a year in sales tax revenue to the city, said Mike Yelton, assistant city manager. “It should be open within a year,” he said.

To attract the store, the city agreed to cut the price of the land by $1.8 million, city officials say.

Covina and Glendora are negotiating similar agreements. Although 46 Wal-Marts have been built in California, these would be the first in the San Gabriel Valley.

The Covina City Council has approved an exclusive negotiation agreement with Wal-Mart and Toys R Us, which would share space on land at Azusa Avenue and Groundahl Street.

City officials say negotiations should be complete by May 21, and the project would generate $500,000 a year in sales tax revenue.

Negotiations involve the city buying two other parcels of land to add to its own to house the project, expected to open by the end of 1994.

The Glendora council will vote on an agreement with Wal-Mart May 11, said Culver Heaton, deputy city manager.

The 135,000-square-foot store is planned for 14 acres on the south side of Auto Center Drive between Lone Hill Avenue and the Orange Freeway.