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| Breaking out of the box not easy for Wal-Mart |
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| Wednesday, 03 December 2008 | |
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Jennifer Larson Staff Writer The Forest Lake Wal-Mart is expected to undergo a major face-lift next year but it won’t come without pain. Post-op results for store #2274 have some members of the Forest Lake City Council concerned as officials with the retail giant requested modifications to the building’s exterior look from the original proposal. The council had previously granted approval to expand and reconstruct a 179,373 square foot Wal-Mart Superstore Center at 200 SW 12th St. The building architecture was approved at the specific direction of the city council. The store was forced to delay its 2008 construction by an Xcel Energy Co. substation project that was still in progress earlier this year. At its Monday, Nov. 24 meeting, the council tabled a site plan amendment to the architectural design plan. Councilwoman Susan Young withdrew a motion to deny the request, which failed due to a lack of a second. Wal-Mart officials are expected to present a revised proposal during the council’s regular meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8. The project is expected to begin in 2009. In September, the Forest Lake Planning Commission suggested that some elements from the original architecture design be applied to the revised proposal. The commission table approval at that time. At its Nov. 12 meeting, the planning commission voted 5-3 to recommend the city council approve the Walmart revised plan. Reaction In its earlier proposal, Young said Wal-Mart had a great project that would fit into the community. “You don’t,” she added of the current plan. Both Young and Councilwoman Judy Bull said they could not support amendments to the site plan review as proposed. Aside from a change in roof lines, differences between the plans included less color and use of materials. Also noticeably absent from the new logo was the hyphen. A yellow “star” was added after the new trademark, Walmart. Eric Miller, a civil engineer consultant, said the company is trying to improve their shopper’s experience as a whole by going with a much more modern looking store. “It’s a corporate change,” he said. Miller noted that similar plans are before the Bloomington City Council. The Forest Lake Walmart would be one of the first to roll out the new look, which Miller said would be consistent to what the company plans to do nationwide. “It is just unimaginative to me,” said Bull. She admitted, “I’m not sure what modern is.” Bull said the proposal brought to the council looked like an airport hangar. Project Manager Glen Zeitler explained the approved design with all the parapets would increase the snow load. He said the current roof would then need to be replaced because it could not maintain the increased load. Young wasn’t buying what Zeitler said, saying that a company as savvy as Walmart didn’t think about the snow load prior. She said that Walmart could take its “big box” and “they can go with it far away.” Social Bookmarking ...       |
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