Supporters and opponents of a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter on Green Bay's east side braved rain and high winds Thursday to attend a city-sponsored open house for the project.
It was less stormy on the sixth floor of Green Bay City Hall than outdoors, but some of the discussion was spirited.
Gary Baier of Green Bay tried to convince Wal-Mart representative Roderick Scott that the store would be better located near the Wisconsin 54/57 intersection. Baier said there is already too much traffic in the proposed area.
Wal-Mart plans a 203,819-square-foot store on 50 acres bounded by East Mason Street, South Huron Road and Finger Road. Scott said Wal-Mart will not close its store in Bellevue, less than three miles away. The company also has Supercenters in west Green Bay and De Pere.
Scott was unbending and Baier walked away unhappy that he could make no headway.
"The traffic actually backs up on the highway now. Traffic is a huge problem as it is," Baier said. "More little shops would be better."
Shane Lagerman of Green Bay, who lives within a mile of the site, said it's time for commercial development in the area.
"The residential development has been very nice. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's ready for commerce out there," he said. "I'm for the convenience and the other services it will bring."
Jeff Fonferek, who owns the nearby Pearly Gates Bar & Grill, 3551 Finger Road, approves of the plan, too.
"With the way the economy is, anytime you can bring in business in instead of losing it, that's what you want to do," he said. "I'm sure there is going to be others to follow."
Robert Van Vonderen, who also lives near the site, is "totally against it."
"Why don't they make a Supercenter out of the one in Bellevue. They did that on the west side," he said after making his position unquestionably clear to a Wal-Mart representative. "We need a good grocery store. We don't need a Supercenter."
Wal-Mart representatives distributed literature describing the impact of the store and other information about Wal-Mart, refuting claims by opponents who say it is not a good company. And opponents distributed literature arguing the opposite.
John Bunker, one of the owners of the property where the store will be located, said planning in that area anticipated this kind of development. He said zoning built in buffers between residential and commercial property, and roads were designed for the kind of traffic that will follow the development.
"This fits perfectly with Smart Growth (planning)," he said. "This was all planned out."
Patrick Quinn, a co-owner of the property and owner of Mackinaws Grill & Spirits nearby, said he conducted a survey at his restaurant, simply asking people their opinion of the proposed development. Of more than 500 responses, he said 61 percent favored the Supercenter and 39 percent opposed it.
"I think the people of Green Bay are realizing we are losing commercial business to Ashwaubenon and Appleton," he said. "We've had a reputation for too long of driving developers away. That's hurt the tax base."
Rebecca Katers, executive director of the Clean Water Action Council, said during a press conference Wednesday that Wal-Mart is a bad corporation. She said it cripples local business, holds down wages and costs taxpayers with its lack of employee health insurance.
Scott counters that Wal-Mart buys $2.8 billion worth of goods in Wisconsin annually. He said the planned Supercenter will pay $188,000 in annual property taxes and more than $2.5 million in sales taxes. He said it will create 340 jobs, about three-fourths of them full time.
And, he said, other businesses can thrive around a Wal-Mart.
"Wal-Mart can't be all things to all people," Scott said. "Other businesses will serve customers in a different way."
Scott and Mayor Jim Schmitt said water runoff from the project will not harm Baird Creek. Scott said all runoff will be contained on the site, as required by regulations.
"We want this development, but we are not going to bend any rules for them," Schmitt said.
The proposal is subject to zoning approval by the city Plan Commission, likely on May 22, and the City Council. A public hearing is probable on June 20.
Activists oppose new Wal-Mart
