Village Board Approve Not Funding Walmart Study

**Updated 7:40 pm

Mount Pleasant trustees voted unanimously Monday to not fund a market study for a proposed Walmart Neighborhood Market at the corner of Highways of 31 and 20.

While several trustees and residents, as expected, spoke against the new store, Village Attorney Tim Pruitt pointed out that the village's ordinances make it pretty clear that trustees can't legally deny the proposed use since it complies with zoning.

"One of the reasons you can't deny the proposed use is that the property is already zoned for this particular use," he said. "The second strike is that it’s consistent with the village's comprehensive plan that designates Highway 20 as a commerical corridor."

Only Christopher Ruud from Ruud Lighting/Cree spoke in support of the new store.

"I'm here to speak to other side of the argument relative to the jobs that will be created as a result of the Neighborhood Market going in," he said.

Ruud is vying for the outdoor LED lighting contract for Walmart's Neighborhood Markets and already supplies on a global scale some of the indoor LED lighting as well.

"This new Neighborhood Market will be a showcase for emerging technologies," Ruud added. "To be able to have a store down the street as a showcase is great for credibility for the technology and our business as a whole."

When Walmart first brought their , members voted unanimously that the retail giant provide a third-party market study on how a Neighborhood Market might affect surrounding businesses. , though, was a collection of white papers and surveys Walmart commissioned in markets from other states.

If it were to locate in its desired location, the Neighborhood Market would be the fourth grocery store at that intersection.

Ralph Malicki, owner of the Piggly Wiggly on Washington Avenue, and Greg Schilz, owner of Sentry Foods, commissioned a market study by DJL Research of Waukesha. Basically, the analysis results said placing a Neighborhood Market in that location would eventually prove fatal to both The Pig, Sentry and, potentially, the Pick-n-Save on Rapids Drive.

In February, the on whether or not it would fund a market study. The Commission still has authority over the site plan, which does not require Village Board review or approval.

According to the executive summary provided to board members, village staff is recommending the village not pay for the study. Whether or not this stance is based on two legal opinions from village attorneys remains a question because the opinions have been stamped "attorney/client" privilege.

Why the opinions are not being made part of the record is a good question, Trustee Gary Feest agreed when Patch asked about it. We brought it up because just a few weeks ago, Village Attorney Tim Pruitt was at a board meeting on another matter that required a legal opinion and he presented it in open session.

"I agree that this opinion should be public, but I'm guessing it's because Walmart has deep pockets and we're trying to be careful," he said.

As for why he might support staff's recommendation, Feest says Walmart's Neighborhood Market fits with the zoning.

"My bottom line is that we can't stop them from building there and the market study was a delay tactic at best," he said. "I don't like that they're jumping into the competition but we can dictate how they're there with certain site plan requirements like parking, set backs and landscaping."

Trustee Karen Albeck said she wanted to read the legal opinions in detail before making a decision.

"There is broad sentiment against having a Walmart at that location, but we have to comply with the legal issues," she said.

The Mount Pleasant Village Board meets at 7 pm at Village Hall, 8811 Campus Drive. Call (262) 664-7800.