BLAINE, Minn. –– With the new Wal-Mart on Highway 65 nearing completion, Blaine is moving into the next phase of another potential project with the giant discount retailer. For several months Wal-Mart has been exploring the possibility of moving out of its existing location in The Village shopping district and relocating to a commercial retail area near Ball Road and Lexington Avenue. Recently Wal-Mart presented the city council with an environmental assessment worksheet(EAW). The EAW is designed to look at the big picture environmental impacts of this potential project. The EAW includes more than 1,000 pages of studies on everything from wetlands, to land soil, to traffic. The council received the report and has declared a 30 day public comment period on the EAW. Comments must be submitted in writing and can be sent via email directly to Community Development Director Bryan Schafer. “We will respond to all comments related to the EAW” said Schafer. The comment period will run until July 24th.
The neighborhood surrounding the new potential development has a number of vocal critics of the proposed plan. Much of the concern relates to the increase in traffic that the store would generate. The city shares those concerns and indicates that updates to Ball Road would be necessary for traffic flow and safety. When Ball Road was originally constructed 30 years ago it was always envisioned that the road would be upgraded as surrounding development demanded. If this potential project moves forward Ball Road will be upgraded to a larger modern roadway and taxpayers will not have to share in any of the cost as it will be Wal-Mart’s responsibility.
One comment that has been relayed to city hall from some in the affected neighborhood is that they want to see the site developed but they would like a different store. “We don’t get to pick from a catalog” Schafer responded. The area is zoned for commercial retail meaning that a developer can propose virtually any type of retail business for the area.
The proposed development would include an 182,000 square foot Wal-Mart store plus other small retail. To put that in perspective the new Wal-Mart on Highway 65 is a 150,000 square foot store and the Fleet Farm on Lexington Avenue is well over 200,000 square feet.
If the project moves forward from the EAW stage it would enter into a public hearing stage that will include several opportunities for additional public comment. That would most likely occur in September and October.
Related Links:
Ball Road Wal-Mart EAW
City of Blaine
