GEORGIA SITE FIGHT: WAL-MART PLAN UNVEILED FOR ALBANY

Topics: | | Community Impact | Site Fights & Local Ordinances | Traffic/Sprawl | Organizing | | |

Wal-Mart plans unveiled [Albany Herald (Ga.)]

ALBANY — The Albany City Commission took a first big tangible step toward bringing a Wal-Mart shopping center to East Albany at the commission’s business meeting Tuesday night by unanimously agreeing to a rezoning request that will allow developers to move forward with the planning of the development.

Project Civil Engineer Mike Ranks of the Greenville, S.C., firm Freeland and Kauffman told commissioner the rezoning request would allow developers to provide four access roads to the shopping center.

“As we’ve developed the site plan, access has become a major concern,” Ranks said. “After conducting a traffic study of the region, we’ve made appropriate changes to allow for greater distance between the existing traffic signal and a proposed new signal (both on Cordele Road).”

Asked by Mayor Willie Adams if the traffic signal proposal met Department of Transportation requirements, Ranks said since Cordele is a city-controlled street, the city will make the ultimate decision on the location of the traffic signal.

Also see: Albany City Commission discuss plans for new Wal-Mart [WXFL-TV (Ga.)]

Adams also asked about the possible location of a police precinct at the shopping complex, which will feature a 175,000-square-foot Wal-Mart store and five parcels for future satellite development. Matt Sasser with Meyers Brothers Properties of Atlanta said the matter would be discussed as planning of the center moved forward.

“We’d love to have a police precinct on the property,” Sasser said. “There are a couple of good locations on the site, so that will be a part of the planning discussion.”

Adams replied, “It’s critical that shoppers have the perception of safety at this location.”

Project Manager Robert Rougely of Atlanta-based Brown Design Group told commissioners the design of the complex would take into consideration the surrounding area.

“It will be designed to fit that area,” Rougely said in response to a question by Commissioner Dorothy Hubbard. “We’ve extremely reduced the amount of signage, and we’re including some landscaping to bring a number of trees on the site into our design plan.”

Commissioners also approved a rezoning request that will allow Ebonezer Christian Center to build a church at 1401 W. Oakridge Drive. Pastor Charlie Williams told commissioners the church was aware that a convenience store near the property held an alcohol license after that issue stirred up debate.

“I want to make sure this body is protected if a transfer of ownership of the alcohol license is sought after we approve the church,” Commissioner Tommie Postell said. “The Patels own that store, and they just rotate ownership from one to the other.”

Commissioners also voted to approve the purchase of a wireless video surveillance system for downtown and approved a low bid for work on a traffic signal and street improvements at Albany State University. That issue had drawn criticism from Commissioners Morris Gurr and Jon Hayes at the commission’s work session last week because of the percentage of minority contractors utilized by low bidder Jim Boyd Construction Co.

Postell told the board he was in favor of moving on with the project during a prebriefing, and Hubbard said ASU President Everette Freeman had indicated the university is not prepared to pay any cost overruns that might arise from the project.

After the unanimous vote to approve the project, Lott said, “I want commissioners to be aware that we are voting to approve Jim Boyd Construction on this project.”

In other business, the commission voted to accept grant funds from GDOT for rehabilitation of taxiways C and F at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport; OK’d the employee health benefit plan with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia as the third-party administrator; approved demolition permits at 311 Residence Ave. and 607 and 608 First Ave., as well as a rehabilitation permit at 303-311 Highland Ave.; and voted to exempt the Albany International Festival from certain code requirements.

As a first order of business at the meeting, the commission unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing the South Georgia Wildcats Arena2 football team for, as Adams said, “bringing honor, an economic boost and other benefits to the city.”

Team General Manager Darren McPhail accepted the proclamation and told commissioners, “I thank this commission for your continued support, especially in working through the negotiations that will allow the team to return to Albany next year. We hope that will become a long-term relationship.”

Posted by Luke West on Wednesday, September 24, 2008