Politics & Government

Small, Vocal Crowd Tells Village WalMart Should Build Elsewhere

Citing two or three primary concerns, Mount Pleasant residents tell company representatives and trustees that the corner of Highways 31 and 20 is no place for even a smaller WalMart.

Only about 20 people attended the zoning public hearing on July 19 about Walmart's proposed neighborhood market on Washington Avenue.

Though the crowd wasn't large, they were willing to express their thoughts about the retail giant establishing itself through a smaller store on the site of the former Little Saints day care facility.

After a brief presentation by Frank Gatlin of Gatlin Development, other members of the Walmart team explained storm water run off, traffic patterns, the architecture of the building, and residents learned about the zoning issue.

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Specifically, the property is already zoned for general business use except for the northwest corner of the parcel that sits at the intersectin of Washington Avenue and the private drive leading into the CNH property. Measuring 1.45 acres, the space is currently zoned for agriculture.

In order to go forward with the project, Gatlin is asking Mount Pleasant officials to approve changing the agricultural designation to general business.

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Part of the site plan, too, includes significant improvements for the CNH facility. That company is expected to consolidate its Racine County operations into the one location, bringing an additional 300 employees to the area.

Walmart has agreed to fully fund the improvement of the Case entrance at Wright Avenue off of Highway 31 with traffic signals and to widening the private drive off of Highway 20 with all necessary infrastructure.

Walmart is also reportedly working with the state Department of Transportation to make access and exit from the new store and Case easier and safer and keep traffic flowing. Those improvements include a left turn lane coming northbound out of the Case facility, a right in/right out second access point into the parking lot of the proposed store and synchronizing signals at Highways 20 and 31 to improve traffic flow.

What Trustees Had to Say

Village President Carolyn Milkie turned the floor over to trustees so they could ask questions of the Walmart representatives.

Harry Manning challenged the group about the cost to the village for police/fire/rescue calls for incidents at the Supercenter on Durand Avenue and comparing it to what can be expected with the new store.

"If the new store is only 20 percent the size of the big store, does that mean the village should expect only 20 percent the number of calls there?" he asked.

Walmart in its current location pays about $240,000 a year in taxes, $76,000 of which stays in Mount Pleasant. Company officials said they anticipate paying more taxes with the new store to help cover those costs.

Karen Albeck addressed the proposed site and how it was chosen.

"I ask because there are so many other areas without a grocery store," she said.

Gatlin asnwered that Walmart had done extensive internal market studies to determine the best possible location.

"Walmart does market studies on the needs of a particular area," he said. "Sites are extensively scouted to be sure stores are not too close to other stores and are in the best location to service the local area."

But Brennan Kane, deputy director of planning, challenged the market studies, saying the village has not receive any documentation from Walmart to back up their service and needs claims.

"I've received inquiries from trustees and local business owners as well as residents regarding market studies," he said. "What is your criteria for determining where a new store will go? Can a study be provided to staff?"

Gatlin responded, saying studies were done for population and demographics to be sure the store would fulfill a need.

But Kane pointed out that he conducted an informal survey of the area and numbered up to 35 stores that already provide general merchandise, food and pharmacy.

"Well, this is free enterprise," Gatlin responded. "It's like putting a Target next to a Walmart or a Burger King next to a McDonald's. Walmart wants to move into an area they feel they are not servicing."

What the Residents Had to Say

Alfonso Gardener attended the meeting because he works during the day and cannot attend the Planning Commission meeting on July 20. That meeting starts at 1 pm and the Walmart zoning request is on the agenda.

Gardener was upset because he wanted to address Walmart as a whole issue but was restricted to only comments about zoning since that was the only item on the agenda.

"You're doing a disservice to the residents who can't make these afternoon meetings," he said. "But anyway, I hope if this goes forward that Walmart will use local contractors and local workers."

Joy Wolf said she opposes the zoning change because green space is in short supply and really, the village doesn't need another store doing the same thing as the other stores in the area.

"We should preserve the agricultural zoning and create a community garden or restore native vegetation there," she told trustees. "Why do this here when there are other sites like in West Racine or downtown that really need a grocery store?"

Greg Schultz, general manager of Sentry Foods, said a fourth grocery store on the same corner only means more competition and not the peaceful co-existing Walmart talked about during the presentation.

"Can anyone here think of anywhere there are four stores on the same corner? You can't because it doesn't exist," he said. "There won't be peace and harmony where we all prosper because this is about competition."

Sentry employees about 60 people at an average wage of $13 per hour, Schultz added.

"Walmart won't offer that," he concluded.

The hearing ended after Kane read a piece of correspondence Case in which the company states it is in favor of introducing Walmart's smaller store concept to the community.

The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission will take up Walmart's zoning request at 1 pm on July 20 at Village Hall, 8811 Campus Drive. Call (262) 664-7800.

Will you attend the Planning Commission meeting?


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