03/22/1994 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

and stated that they had proposed a smaller store on the previous site. He questioned what would prevent them from doing a good business with a smaller store at a different location on this lot. Mr. Newberry responded that if this store did do a good business, it would be necessary to expand here, as had been planned at the other site, and there would be no room. Wal-Mart is willing to build a high voltune prototype st:ore at this location and risk that it will do enough busi.ness to justify the size. Mr. Bingham advised that the prototype of the store proposed for the other site is no longer built anywherea This is the prototype that they are building now, and the one that they need to build at this location. Mr. Miller responded that they have a lot that effectively carinot contain this size store without variances. He questioned why they could not build a successful store that was 10% sxnaller which would not offend the neighbors, and noted that they-would not compromise. He believed that this was just a matter of common sense. Again, in reference to the lighting, Mr. Tallon suggested that they test the high pressure sodiun bulbs which gives a softer light. Mr. Newberry responded that high pressure sodiun significantly distorts colors and metal halide gives more of a daylight appearing light. Mr. Tallon was not sure that the distortian was significant, and noted that the sodiinn was more energy efficient and would be less intrusive to the neighbors. Mr. Newberry will take this up with the lighting consultant. r1r. Orlowski did not believe that the access adjacent to the Westbury would enhance either Wal-Mart's business or the traffic in the area, and believed that drivers would use it as a cut through to avoid lights on either Brookpark or Country Club thus creating gridlock on Great Northern and hindering the Westbury residents from getting into their parking lot. He suggested eliminating this access, and noted that Mr. Newberry stated that it was too narrow for sidewalks. Mr. Newberry responded that theix traffic study had been reviewed by the city, who indicated that this road would be a relief valve for traffic going north and south. These drives will all eventually be tied into the traffic actuated signal system which will relieve traffic congestion. Mr. Gorris would like to refer this to Mr. Griffith for his opinion. Mr. Miller made several suggestion about relocating the main drive and traffic light back about 150 or 200 feet to keep the drive away from the front of the store, relieve traffic on Brookpark, keep congestion on their property, and elim;nate the need for a second drive. Mr. Newberry objected to dividing the parking lot into several small areas where cars cannot get out and preferred to have access from the sides of the drive to relieve congestion on the lot. Normally he did prefer to have the entrance drive away from the front of the store, but not if it ineans moving it to the middle of the parking lot and interrupting the parking bays so that people would have to cross drives to get to the store. The purpose of the east drive was to allow right turns in and out in order to spread out the traffic. He did not believe that this drive would cause congestion on Brookpark and noted that they cannot relocate the ma.in drive to the back of the property because it would be too close to Great Northern. Rega.rding crossing two drives, Mr. Tallon believed that this would only be a problem during the Christmas season and Mr. Gorris noted that people ha.ve to cross two drives in other locations and specifically mentioned the Brook Park Sam's Club. Mr. Newberry stated that Wal-Mart did not build the Sam's Club, they bought an existing facility. Regarding the forester's report, Mr. Newberry stated that he would agree to doubling the.width of the parking lot planters, if he can reduce the number of planters similarly. Mr. Wendell clarified that trees in the smaller islands would survive, but would not grow to their potential and woulcL be more prone to disease. If they died there might be a problem getting them replaced. Mr. Newberry stated that, because of Wal-Mart's agreement with the selTer, this wotild be a problem between them. He intended to have his landscape architect meet with Mr. Wendell on the site to ._?,:.. _. flag--=the trees which can be saved or transplanted. He, too, would prefer to save 8