Walmart review sheds further light on proposal
Jul 29, 2010 | 1549 views | 6 
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A proposal to open a Walmart in Patterson could mean more jobs and plenty of taxable revenue to add to the city’s coffers, at the risk of shuttering a couple of local grocery stores and a downtown pharmacy, among other consequences, a draft environmental study shows.
The state-mandated review of the massive retailer’s 158,000-square-foot planned supercenter at the southwest corner of Sperry and Ward avenues was released Thursday, July 22, simultaneously initiating a 45-day period for people to take a look at the report and offer comments.
Throughout the lengthy, 700-page report, increases in noise and traffic near the store topped the relatively minimal list of environmental impacts a Walmart could cause the community, along with a minor anticipated impact on several types of local businesses, according to the report. Benefits of the new retail addition listed the generation of considerable tax revenue, the creation of hundreds of jobs and a convenience to shoppers.
“I have no idea how the community will respond to this yet, but I’m sure the study will bring forth a lot of people on both sides who are vocal about this project,” said Bryan Whitemyer, interim city manager. “I think it’s great that people will have the opportunity to really scrutinize all the aspects of the project and open the doors for a good public discussion about whether this store is right for our community.”
Upon completion, the study found that Walmart would be able to generate a sizeable amount of tax revenue that could be added to the city’s general fund. Each year, the store is estimated to generate about $751,000 in sales tax and $63,000 in costs to the city, creating an annual surplus of $688,000 for the city’s general fund in all.
An estimated 300 jobs would be created with the opening of the new store, as well, the fiscal analysis cites. As of May, full-time workers at California Walmart stores received an average hourly wage of $12.25 per hour, with the option of benefits, a Walmart official confirmed.
“The people in Patterson have seemed very excited for all the benefits, job opportunities and local shopping this store could bring,” said Amelia Neufeld, a spokeswoman for Walmart.
Some local businesses, however — like grocery stores and pharmacies — might suffer with a Walmart nearby, according to an analysis in the report about urban decay.
The study found that while it's unlikely any grocery stores or general merchandise stores would have to close, it is likely they would suffer financially, as Walmart would be in direct competition.
Most of the community’s pharmacies, such as Walgreens and CVS, should also fare OK, but the study found there would be a greater difficulty for the smaller downtown pharmacies to stay in business, such as Patterson Family Pharmacy.
As with any new store, the opening of a Walmart would mean some inevitable increases in traffic and noise. Some proposed measures to deal with increased traffic call for intersection improvements to install an eastbound turn lane at the corner of Sperry Avenue and Highway 33, as well as more turn lanes at the American Eagle and Ward avenues intersection. Walmart would pay all costs associated with the street improvements.
More noise caused by traffic would be unavoidable with the 24-hour store, the study shows. Some suggested ways to remedy the noise increase included the construction of a 10-foot high noise barrier near Ward and Las Palmas avenues, limiting the PA system volume to ambient levels in outdoor sales area, and prohibiting street sweepers, forklifts and mechanical landscape equipment to operate between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
The environmental report also looked at aesthetics, air quality, water quality and public services already in place in the community, as well as what the store would mean for the land that surrounds it and the hazardous materials it could create.
People can comment on the draft EIR until Sept. 7. Once comments and proposals for changes are received, the plan will go before the city planning commission for assessment and then head to the City Council.
If approved, the store could open in 2012.
• Contact Kendall Wright at 892-6187 or kendall@pattersonirrigator.com.
The state-mandated review of the massive retailer’s 158,000-square-foot planned supercenter at the southwest corner of Sperry and Ward avenues was released Thursday, July 22, simultaneously initiating a 45-day period for people to take a look at the report and offer comments.
Throughout the lengthy, 700-page report, increases in noise and traffic near the store topped the relatively minimal list of environmental impacts a Walmart could cause the community, along with a minor anticipated impact on several types of local businesses, according to the report. Benefits of the new retail addition listed the generation of considerable tax revenue, the creation of hundreds of jobs and a convenience to shoppers.
“I have no idea how the community will respond to this yet, but I’m sure the study will bring forth a lot of people on both sides who are vocal about this project,” said Bryan Whitemyer, interim city manager. “I think it’s great that people will have the opportunity to really scrutinize all the aspects of the project and open the doors for a good public discussion about whether this store is right for our community.”
Upon completion, the study found that Walmart would be able to generate a sizeable amount of tax revenue that could be added to the city’s general fund. Each year, the store is estimated to generate about $751,000 in sales tax and $63,000 in costs to the city, creating an annual surplus of $688,000 for the city’s general fund in all.
An estimated 300 jobs would be created with the opening of the new store, as well, the fiscal analysis cites. As of May, full-time workers at California Walmart stores received an average hourly wage of $12.25 per hour, with the option of benefits, a Walmart official confirmed.
“The people in Patterson have seemed very excited for all the benefits, job opportunities and local shopping this store could bring,” said Amelia Neufeld, a spokeswoman for Walmart.
Some local businesses, however — like grocery stores and pharmacies — might suffer with a Walmart nearby, according to an analysis in the report about urban decay.
The study found that while it's unlikely any grocery stores or general merchandise stores would have to close, it is likely they would suffer financially, as Walmart would be in direct competition.
Most of the community’s pharmacies, such as Walgreens and CVS, should also fare OK, but the study found there would be a greater difficulty for the smaller downtown pharmacies to stay in business, such as Patterson Family Pharmacy.
As with any new store, the opening of a Walmart would mean some inevitable increases in traffic and noise. Some proposed measures to deal with increased traffic call for intersection improvements to install an eastbound turn lane at the corner of Sperry Avenue and Highway 33, as well as more turn lanes at the American Eagle and Ward avenues intersection. Walmart would pay all costs associated with the street improvements.
More noise caused by traffic would be unavoidable with the 24-hour store, the study shows. Some suggested ways to remedy the noise increase included the construction of a 10-foot high noise barrier near Ward and Las Palmas avenues, limiting the PA system volume to ambient levels in outdoor sales area, and prohibiting street sweepers, forklifts and mechanical landscape equipment to operate between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
The environmental report also looked at aesthetics, air quality, water quality and public services already in place in the community, as well as what the store would mean for the land that surrounds it and the hazardous materials it could create.
People can comment on the draft EIR until Sept. 7. Once comments and proposals for changes are received, the plan will go before the city planning commission for assessment and then head to the City Council.
If approved, the store could open in 2012.
• Contact Kendall Wright at 892-6187 or kendall@pattersonirrigator.com.
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