County wants more info from Wal-Mart

The Oneida County Planning and Zoning Committee has a “to do” list for Wal-Mart officials.

The county wants more specific information on a number of issues before it makes a final decision on the retail giant's request for a permit to build a SuperCenter in the town of Minocqua.

On Wednesday, the committee specifically mentioned it wants more detailed information on the store's delivery schedules, how the project will impact neighboring properties, how the project will be phased, and the store's plans for maintaining the berm (visual barrier) which will shield the store from the residents of Virgin Pines Condos.

The committee also wants more information on maintenance of storm water facilities.

Also on Wednesday, the committee extended the time it has to review the CUP application to 180 days from the date (May 12) it received the application.

County zoning director Karl Jennrich said the extension is a mechanism to allow the committee enough time to review the additional information it is requesting.

“I'm assuming it's going to go a lot faster than that,” Jennrich added.

The committee is planning an onsite inspection and a second public hearing probably in late August. Firm dates were not set because the zoning department has to check with the town of Minocqua to make sure space is available, but the committee indicated it would like to have the public hearing on August 23 or August 30. An onsite inspection of the property will be conducted on the same day as the public hearing.

The committee held a four hour public hearing June 28 but too many unanswered questions prompted the panel to delay a final decision on the project. On Wednesday, Jennrich bluntly told surveyor and Wal-Mart representative Jim Rein, that he would have recommended denial of the application based on the information available during the June 28 meeting.

Rein was relentless Wednesday in urging the committee to move the process along but the committee would not budge.

The committee indicated it has serious concerns about traffic issues near the proposed store. At least one committee member also complained that the committee has been left with a lot of loose ends to clear up because the town of Minocqua and its planning commission rushed their recommendations.

“This got dumped on us too soon,” said committee member Larry Greschner.

The panel has also been informed that an opposing group is paying an outside firm to conduct an economic impact study of the project. Committee chairman Bob Metropulos said he received a call from Lee Guenther, President and CEO of T.A. Solberg Co., informing him that Solberg is paying for a study of the project. The report will be completed by August 14, Metropulos said.

The committee is indicated it will not accept submittals of new information on the project after August 16 but it will allow those for and against the project to offer arguments on the new information submitted (including the economic impact report) at the public hearing.