Wal-Mart Supercenter stalled by permit process

August 20, 2006

By JOEL DAVIDSON

Frontiersman

PALMER - Public attention might have quieted down, but Wal-Mart still plans to build a Supercenter in Palmer.

The permitting process, however, is taking longer than expected.

The store's second attempt to submit an acceptable traffic impact analysis for the proposed store still is pending, according to Department of Transportation officials.

Wal-Mart representatives Lounsbury and Associates, Inc. submitted the first traffic study to DOT in January, but the state rejected it because it failed to include updated traffic numbers from the Mat-Su Borough's recent long range transportation plan.

Once the state receives the updated traffic study, it likely will take longer than normal to receive DOT approval, said state traffic engineer Scott Thomas.

&#8220This site has complex drainage and access issues,” he said in an e-mail to the Frontiersman. &#8220So I do not think approval will be as rapid as some.”

Wal-Mart plans to locate a 190,000 square foot store on a 22-acre former horse field just south of Palmer High School. The site sits lower than most surrounding properties, and has inadequate access roads to accommodate traffic from a Wal-Mart Supercenter, which would include groceries, liquor, a garden center, an automotive center and general merchandise.

Typically, DOT takes 30 to 60 days to approve traffic impact studies, but more complex sites can take six months or longer, Thomas said.

Until the study is approved, Wal-Mart regional spokeswoman Jennifer Holder said the company has no definitive timeline to begin construction.

&#8220We don't even talk about any of that until we have permits in hand,” Holder explained.

Aside from the state traffic study, Wal-Mart also must gain permits from the Mat-Su Borough to build the main access road from the Palmer-Wasilla Highway to the proposed store.

Wal-Mart applied to the borough for a 40-foot public easement that runs along the east boundary of Palmer High School. If approved, the easement would allow Wal-Mart to extend Felton Street to connect West Arctic Avenue to the Palmer-Wasilla Highway.

The borough, however, is waiting for DOT to act on the pending traffic study before holding public hearings and taking action regarding the proposed extension of Felton Street.

If the state and borough grant the necessary permitting, the City of Palmer also must weigh in.

Palmer has an ordinance that stipulates architecture, landscaping and other requirements for any proposed large retail store.

The Large Retail Establishment ordinance is intended to prohibit the construction of so-called standard &#8220big-box stores.” These stores generally are defined by plain architecture and massive parking lots.

Once Wal-Mart secures state and borough permits, Palmer will review the store's architectural and landscaping proposals for the new site.

&#8220If the city believes the application conforms to the LRE, they would then hold a public meeting to allow people to see the designs, voice concerns and ask questions,” said Palmer Community Development Coordinator Sara Jansen. &#8220As long as Wal-Mart meets the standards, the chances are they will receive the LRE (permit).”

Once all permitting is in place, Holder said it will still take roughly a year to build the Wal-Mart Supercenter, hire 350 to 500 employees and prepare for opening day.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.