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Local News
County wants more info from Wal-Mart
By Heather Schaefer - Daily News staff
The Oneida County Planning and Zoning Committee has a “to do” list for Wal-Mart officials.
The
county wants more specific information on a number of issues before it
makes a final decision on the retail giant's request for a permit to
build a SuperCenter in the town of Minocqua. On Wednesday, the committee
specifically mentioned it wants more detailed information on the
store's delivery schedules, how the project will impact neighboring
properties, how the project will be phased, and the store's plans for
maintaining the berm (visual barrier) which will shield the store from
the residents of Virgin Pines Condos.
The committee also wants more information on maintenance of storm water facilities.
Also
on Wednesday, the committee extended the time it has to review the CUP
application to 180 days from the date (May 12) it received the
application.
County zoning director Karl Jennrich said the
extension is a mechanism to allow the committee enough time to review
the additional information it is requesting. “I'm assuming it's going to go a lot faster than that,” Jennrich added.
The
committee is planning an onsite inspection and a second public hearing
probably in late August. Firm dates were not set because the zoning
department has to check with the town of Minocqua to make sure space is
available, but the committee indicated it would like to have the public
hearing on August 23 or August 30. An onsite inspection of the property
will be conducted on the same day as the public hearing. The committee
held a four hour public hearing June 28 but too many unanswered
questions prompted the panel to delay a final decision on the project.
On Wednesday, Jennrich bluntly told surveyor and Wal-Mart
representative Jim Rein, that he would have recommended denial of the
application based on the information available during the June 28
meeting.
Rein was relentless Wednesday in urging the committee to move the process along but the committee would not budge.
The
committee indicated it has serious concerns about traffic issues near
the proposed store. At least one committee member also complained that
the committee has been left with a lot of loose ends to clear up
because the town of Minocqua and its planning commission rushed their
recommendations.
“This got dumped on us too soon,” said committee member Larry Greschner.
The
panel has also been informed that an opposing group is paying an
outside firm to conduct an economic impact study of the project.
Committee chairman Bob Metropulos said he received a call from Lee
Guenther, President and CEO of T.A. Solberg Co., informing him that
Solberg is paying for a study of the project. The report will be
completed by August 14, Metropulos said.
The committee is
indicated it will not accept submittals of new information on the
project after August 16 but it will allow those for and against the
project to offer arguments on the new information submitted (including
the economic impact report) at the public hearing.
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