EXPANSION APPROVED IN BOONE, NC

Boone Wal-Mart gets approval for expansion [The Watauga Democrat (N.C.)]

The Boone Wal-Mart may offer low prices, but its square footage is about to get higher.

The current store is set to expand its facilities by approximately 28,000 square feet for a grand total of 149,978 square feet.

The Boone Town Council approved an additional water allocation of 1,998 gallons per day for the expansion, and attorney Don O’Toole spoke on behalf of Wal-Mart.

O’Toole said a store with less than 150,000 square feet is not a typical Wal-Mart size.

“It’s a lot smaller store than Wal-Mart typically builds,” he said. “With the expansion of this store, I think Boone will be getting some good improvements to the existing store.”

According to Boone Development Services, construction is expected to occur on the north side of the existing building, in the parking lot area.

O’Toole said the current store would be updated to meet the town’s Unified Development Ordinance requirements, including increased landscaping on site, an increase of pervious surface and enhanced architecture.

O’Toole acknowledged that the expansion would require a special use permit from the Boone Board of Adjustment, but that the results should be “good for Boone.”

O’Toole said construction should start next year with a 2010 completion date.

The council unanimously approved the request, which came after the adoption of a lease agreement between the town and Wal-Mart on March 31.

In order to meet land-use intensity regulations, primarily the minimum livability space required in the general business district, 27 percent of Wal-Mart’s gross land area would need to be greenspace.

In order to help Wal-Mart meet this requirement, the town agreed to lease the land occupied by the Leola Street Community Garden, comprised of approximately 1.2 acres.

According to the agreement, Wal-Mart will lease the land for 15 years, beginning at the store’s grand opening, with the option to renew or extend for six consecutive periods of five years, for a one-time, non-refundable $20,000 deposit.

The lease includes stipulations that the community garden will remain on the property, with Wal-Mart not allowed to modify, renovate or build, store inventory, park or unload vehicles or plant vegetation on the property without prior written consent of the town, “and that the [community garden] may continue to engage in such gardening and planting activities as provided pursuant to the terms of conditions…”

Town manager Greg Young said such leases are common in Boone, most typically seen by way of parking lots and cellular phone towers.

Matt Cooper, director of the community garden, which falls under the umbrella of the Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities, said he has no problem with the lease and expects the garden to continue with business as usual.

“I don’t believe it will affect the garden at all,” he said. “Actually, I think it will help it, because now we’ve got another partner to collaborate with. Wal-Mart likes to give back to the community, and we’re the community.”

Posted by Joel Nezianya on Wednesday, July 02, 2008

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