Walmart Discussion Laid Over

Caledonia trustees Monday night agreed to lay over discussion about land use at the corner of 4-Mile and Green Bay Roads until next Monday.

Walmart has submitted rezoning and land use amendment applications that, if changed to commercial, would pave the way for the company to build a 182,000 square foot supercenter at that corner. Currently, the land is zoned for light manufacturing/commercial and residential. 

Planning Commission members voted last week to identify that land as mixed use, which is a combination of commercial and residential and would serve as a buffer between the CalStar manufacturing plant and the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Village President Bob Bradley said that the board needs to have a full understanding of what "mixed use" means as recommended by the Planning Commission. He said Julie Anderson from the county planning department and Attorney Elaine Ekes have provided ideas to trustees for them to consider.

"We'll talk July 8, and probably after, too," he said. "This is the smart thing to do, clean it up and get it right so we don't have to do this again."

Before Bradley made the announcement that this agenda item would hold for another week, citizens had the opportunity to speak address the board.

Retired Col. Don Ford said he's concerned about the future of the employees at local businesses in the area because of too much duplication of services and products at prices too low for fair competition. He rattled off a list from larger business residents like Pick 'n' Save to smaller locally owned shops like Nelson's.

"By my count, there are over 600 area employees who could lose their jobs if Walmart moves in," he said.

But John McKevitt, a representative from Calstar, reiterated the company's commitment to staying headquartered in Caledonia and pointed out how local companies benefit from development.

"We have moved our corporate headquarters to Caledonia. This is our home, and we will continue to grow here," he said. "There is real opportunity here with firms such as ours, with what's happened with Cree Lighting and so on, to really create a dynamic growth driver."

The special board meeting begins at 6 p.m. Monday at the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Avenue.