Waukesha, WI. That Building Is Ug-ly

Wal-Mart’s exterior snags plan approval [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

The proposed south side Wal-Mart Supercenter cleared two hurdles Wednesday but stumbled over its proposed exterior appearance submitted to the Plan Commission for preliminary approval.

A battery of Wal-Mart officials and hired architects were given a big box full of advice on improving the appearance and layout of the building and its 32-acre site.

Commissioners recommended to the Common Council a zoning change be made from manufacturing to commercial. And it gave preliminary approval to the site plan.

But the plain red block that dominated the largely windowless structure fails to adhere with the city’s architectural design guidelines, City Planner Mike Hoeft said. The commission responded by giving the architecture only “conceptual approval.”

Ald. Paul Ybarra, who also is a commissioner, asked whether Wal-Mart architects had even read the guidelines that call for walls that are 20% windows and a mix of exterior materials to enhance appearances. Hoeft said Wal-Mart stores in the City of Pewaukee, Mukwonago and Germantown have better-looking exteriors.

“They need to go a long way to improve the appearance in Waukesha,” Hoeft said.

As for the grounds, Ald. Charles Lichtie, who attended the meeting, suggested that Wal-Mart consider installing exterior public art on the property.

“Beautiful buildings add value to a city,” Ald. Joan Francoeur said. “I want people to look at the Wal-Mart picture in Waukesha and say, ‘That’s what I want.’ “

Suggestions included a water theme at the store, possible use of Lannon stone and surrounding sections of the property with wrought iron fencing.

Project officials said they would return to a special commission meeting on Sept. 25 with revised architectural plans for preliminary approval.

“We don’t build just big boxes anymore,” said Lisa Nelson of Wal-Mart public affairs. “We want this to be a special store in your community.”

Some residents spoke about their concerns over increased shopping traffic passing through their nearby neighborhoods. Others were concerned that the supercenter could hurt local hardware stores, pharmacies and small shopping strips.

Supporters said the store, which sells groceries, means that they no longer would have to travel to Mukwonago to shop that supercenter.

The 24-hour Wal-Mart is proposed for the corner of Highway 59 and S. West Ave. on the site of the former Cretex concrete pipe plant, just south of the Sunset Drive commercial strip. The 180,000-square foot building is expected to increase the value of the property to possibly $22 million, which could add up to $185,000 to the annual city tax roll, according to a Wal-Mart spokesman and Ybarra.

The site will have two driveways for shoppers and one for trucks, all onto West Ave. The site also will have seven acres of available space just north of the bypass for possible future use by national restaurants.

Resident Marji Saye, who opposes the store, said the connector streets between Sunset Drive and Highway 59 could become jammed with traffic as shoppers head to the store on the city’s bypass route.

Hoeft warned residents that if they do not want the site to become a large commercial district, they need to stop the zoning change by the Common Council.

A public hearing and possible rezoning will likely take place Oct. 2, Hoeft said.