NIMBY!

What's the difference from the NW corner to the SE other that the pollution has less distance to travel to the river. Everyone I talked to or read a comment from said to move it by K-mart not across the street.

Works for me! Retention ponds can be built to reduce run-off to the river, and it'd be nice to have an alternative destination up on this end of town.

I would prefer the Kmart to be replaced but either way just do it.

I just want to have my taxes reduced and in the long term this will be great for the community

I thought the original Walmart consideration was to be a Neighborhood Market like the one presented in Mt Pleasant and Elmwood Park

Bring it...it would be nice to have a grocery store with some lower prices. I'm sure everyone has noticed Pick and Save isn't all that competitive since they went with the Roundys label...it certainly hasn't lowered the grocery bills any. And I totally agree with Antonio...it would be nice to replace Kmart...talk about a store that needs to go...

Walmart gets what Walmart wants! I don't care WHERE they build. I won't shop there.

Great! Caledonia needs it. Not another horse farm.

I believe they intended to say "North Green Bay Rd" which would be across from Moquito. I'm not a hardcore Walmart fan, but the village NEEDS the revenue.

Walmart isn't asking Caledonia IF they can build here. They're asking WHERE they can build. Remember the power plant money that Caledonia said no to? And where did the power plant end up? Don't pee another imminent opportunity out the window.

There's a Walmart on hwy 11. We don't need another one.

The zoning at Four Mile and North Green Bay is still residential. There are houses directly across the street from that site. Would you want to live across the street from a big store open 24 hours - bright lights? car noise? And neither road is built to withstand that kind of traffic; both are two lane with virtually no shoulder. Increased revenue will NOT pay for the upgrades needed.

Build on 32/Douglas - it is zoned for it and has the infrastructure (roads and drainage) for it. I think that's what citizens said. Follow the zoning.

Troy
Good luck to Walmart but here in Caledonia we seem to be completely anti development . Been to enough meetings to see this .

Here we go again... I support it... but I dont wear ribbons or hold up signs so my viewpoint wont be visible enough... just like last time...

I think Walmart will find out that it will not matter where they propose, the arguments will shift to new things and the same people will be against it for the latest reasons that fit their viewpoint of not having it happen...

Will the board entertain the idea of rezoning the entire 4 Mile Road area from the railroad tracks to North Green Bay Road? That then could be extended further west as time goes on. This would be the Village Cross Roads area. Pretty soon we are back to developing out at Highway 31. Then eventually 4 Mile could be reconstructed as 4 lanes all the way out to I-94. Sounds like a good long range plan for the village board.

I'm better with the new location. Bring it!!

This store is needed on the northside. There are 61,000 people living on the north side and all we have are 3 full-size grocery stores. There are 22,000 people who live in the 53406 zip code and they have 6 full-size grocery stores. Woodman's wont build in the area since Racine is too close to it's Oak Creek and Kenosha stores. Why should anyone have to drive to the south side of Racine or to Oak Creek to shop?

Wal-Mart should drop the idea of a 24 hour store, it might help their proposal to be more likely accepted. Another wise idea would be don't build a parking lot that is way bigger than what is needed, like they did on Hwy 11.

I agree... neither Pick N Save nor Kmart give us reasonable prices in our area... they gouge... so some competition here would be nice... not to mention, we have way too much fast food, I'd love to see some mid-level restaurants join in on the property like Red Lobster and Texas Roadhouse did by the new Pick N Save by the mall. Any new option would be nice... cant eat at Douglas Ave Diner or Charcoal Grill every day...

Don't want it. Don't support the plan. And I will not shop there if and when they build it. I have no problem driving to Oak Creek to go to Target and will continue to even if they build yet another store when we already have enough.

If the availability of stores is a primary concern where you live they buy a house next to a shopping center. I wonder how many of the people who support this actually live close and will have their lives affected by it.

From a quick look around in K-Mart, just yesterday, they are moving toward closure. Put Wal-mart there. We need something on the north side and K-Mart just isn't making it anymore. Soon we will have nothing but the $ Store on Erie. NOT a good option. Certainly do not need an empty box on Douglas.

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Comments about water polution forget about air polution and traffic congestion. This northside location would save 16 miles round trip travel for residents of the heavily populated area of 4 Mile at Main St. over the drive to the Sturtevant store. It would also relieve the horrible traffic congestion near the 31 and 11 intersection and save time for everyone (either time spend sitting at stoplights for non Walmart shoppers or driving time to the store for those who do use Walmart).

If you shop in Franklin sales tax is more. In the end makes a big difference!!! Think of the jobs. A lot of people need work. Kmart has gotten very bad.

Lets be adults about this people. Fact is we NEED a store we can get everything at including, garden, car service, food etc... I wish I could be at meeting tonight but I will be out of town. I do not feel that the new location would be a good spot for that store. Another stop and go light at the corner, people do live near by. I really wish it could be back on 31 and 4 mile road. Maybe across from the Kmart and Pick & Save. Somewhere where it is not going to cost to redevelope the roadway for Caledonia. How about in Husher? Any farmers out there who would like to sell some land? I would drive there to shop!!

If you NEED a store, live by a store. Many of us selected Caledonia to live in because we don't want to live next to a store. We want to be 16+ miles from the nearest mall. We don't want small mom and pop shops closing because of big box stores and restaurants.

Walmart has never been in Caledonia. So why did you choose to live here then, if being close to a Walmart was so critical? There are lots of locations for city dwellers to choose from.

Yet those of us who chose to live here because of the open areas, and yes, horse farms, are being told to give up our choice. We can NEVER get back land, trails, pasture.

Growth will happen. Its inevitable. In time Caledonia will look like Mount Pleasant. The pretty fields will be subdivided. Horse farms will be sold, and nature lovers will move elsewhere. But wherever we choose, we will be encroached upon. Soon there WON'T be villages like the current Caledonia in existance because we need a Walmart and Red Lobster every 16 miles.

It is terribly saddening and so short sighted. This proposal moved from being, basically, in my backyard, to now, basically, across the street from my parents lovely 2 acre home on the river.

It affects me and my family directly, and we selected Caledonia as a place to live, have our families, and retire. To enjoy the area and what it offers for nature lovers. Not as a place to be able to walk to Walmart.

Walmart in Mt pleasant is police headache.Your just going to bring more riff raff into the bedroom community.

Well, here are my 2 cents so far and I'll try my best to be at the meeting in October:
1) In a Perfect World, I would prefer to sit a nice new Wal-Mart (with a classier outdoor and indoor decor) right smack on top of Kmart. I shop at Kmart, but it's depressing as it always seems 2 days from going out of business.
2) 4 Mile and North Green Bay are not big enough to accommodate traffic from a large store. Will Wal-Mart pitch in to upgrade the roads?
3) I personally like Wal-Mart, but I wouldn't want one that looks like an old warehouse like the one recently opened in Somers. As a village, we can require the outside to look nice - I'm not sure what say we have on what the inside looks like.

JW - your insulting tone and past behavior in what is supposed to be civil discourse leads me to believe that you just want a fight. You don't know where I or my family live - and just to be clear - none of us are on major roads. We chose our locations because of their LACK of traffic and low density. Again, open space disappears - buildings, cement, and density are forever - or until abandonment. Tell me again where we should move to? Is there an invisible line there that says "Do Not Cross"? Because, I will go, and take my taxes with me. You can live in your new shining city, JW.

But you know what, I won't be responding to you any further. I recall your obtuse and arrogant attitude last time.

I guess you all enjoy the higher taxes you are paying. More businesses gives us a larger tax base which means less burden on you. Three hundred jobs means the "ghetto" you perceive will have more employed residents. Competition to Pick-n-Save and Piggly Wiggly for lower grocery prices and a wider selection than K-Mart. Less of a drive than going to HWY 11 and as Heather said, the original site at 31 and 4 Mile is much more accommodating to a store of that size and the traffic associated with it. Why burden the residential area, already overused due to the construction on 4 Mile Rd, because the people near 4 Mile and HWY 31 do not want a business as a neighbor? They already chose to live near a heavily used intersection and on busy roads. If the person who owns that land wants to sell it to them so be it. It's time for residents of Caledonia to open their eyes to the inevitable changes. You cannot expect the government to provide the services they do without taxes going up so let some growth happen to make the tax burden easier on all of us. Lower taxes and more jobs does not sound so bad to me and maybe it will slow down and help eliminate the number of abandoned and foreclosed homes in Caledonia.

Will 4 Mile Road even be open by the time Wal Mart is Built?

Lexi and etal who are making comments for a grocery store...this new proposal is not for a grocery store...more like a mini-me original walmart. Secondly, all grocery prices went up, even though there are things cheaper at walmart superstore, there is other stuff the same and more expensive there than other stores. I go to a few different stores to save more. Roundys brands are carried by pick n save because it's their brand. PnS is Roundys! you will save overall if you go with those brands. I have tried several and they are really good. I can't say the same for the great value brands. this should not be a basis for if we accept a walmart or not though since this is not going to be a grocery store.

If you build it they will come.

My biggest question is will it affect the road work that is supposed to be in progress currently since it will greatly increase traffic from all directions? Will there be improvements that will need to be made to 4 mile rd from I-94 to the proposed location and if so, what?

I am not for Wal-mart in our area, at all, even though it would be decidedly convenient for my business. I moved here 21 years ago knowing that I would have to travel 5 - 20 minutes for shopping. I think we all knew what was available when we chose to move here. And, Wal-mart is not cheaper on everything. I'm in grocery store 4 or 5 days per week. I pretty much know pricing in every store and while some things are cheaper at Wal-mart, Aldi's is actually the best value overall and Pick n Saves sale prices generally can't be beat. Don't forget about Piggly Wiggly and Sentry, too.

But, it's true, if you build it, they will come. I know, personally, that if they build the Wal-mart I will boycott it for a while and then eventually the siren song of the convenience will get to me and I will start to shop there.
With that said, if Wal-mart is so intent upon coming to Caledonia then the Village should tell them to take over the Kmart spot--period. We all know that Kmart is failing. I would bet that they'll close within 6 months of the Wal-mart opening and then we'll be stuck with an empty box store in our business corridor. Why doesn't the Village propose that Wal-mart make Kmart an offer they can't refuse and rebuild or remodal that store. If its against their corporate creedo to remodal a competitors store then the Village should make it clear that if they want to come here, that is their only option. If its too small for their needs, then they should offer to take over the space from Cousins and Kings Wok and maybe move and relocate them to the former Blockbuster building. I'm sure the leasing company that runs the Blockbuster building would be happy to remodel it into two or 3 smaller stores, just to have tenants, as its been empty for 2 years now.
Douglas Ave & 4 Mile is already set to handle the traffic flow that will accompany a Wal-mart--no roads will need to be widened, no extra stoplights, no extra bus lines. It would fit all needs.

I don't think anyones opinion here is wrong, that's the great thing about living in America, we all get our opinions.
I think that there is positive and negatives to Wal-mart coming here.
But, if you want you opinion heard--yes or no--you need to attend the meetings. We did, and as far as we saw, it was overall negative against Wal-mart. If you're for Wal-mart get to the meetings and have your YES Wal-mart signs to go up against the NO Wal-mart signs.
If you can't make the meetings then write a letter--positive or negative--to the Village.
And let's get this settled once and for all.

I'm confused why they would choose this area, off the beaten path? Why not on Douglas--Near Kmart or somewhere actually ON Douglas?? This will seriously cause traffic issues and turn that beautiful area into crap. I agree with the need for revenue, but how about somewhere that already has a large traffic flow and has other businesses around. There is nothing here but the Mosquito, farms and apartments. Not an ideal place. I can't see how it would fit there as well.

Hi Heather,
I am working that evening and I an unable to change my schedule but my husband will and I'll set him up with the info.

I would much rather have a Target built out here!

But building on 4 Mile & 31 will still cause Kmart to go out of business and we'll still have an empty store.
4 Mile will have to be expanded sooner, rather than later. Folks will lose their homes or property values will plummet. 4 Mile & Douglas is already developed and set.
What about the cornfield behind Kmart/Pick n Save next to Crawford park? That is open space in a developable area--do those folks want it there?

It's a great idea, to suggest Walmart take over the failing KMart location. However, that is not a Walmart trend. In Kenosha, they abandoned a useable Walmart store and built a brand new one just a mile away. They don't mind leaving vacant Walmart and Sam's buildings behind, why would they try to occupy a KMart? They are not "green" company.

And I just have to comment about the negativity in posts made here regarding the Conservancy and horse enthusiasts.

What Caledonia offers these two groups is so unique! I've lived and visited many other equestrian communities around the country, and I have yet to find one like Caledonia. No matter your personal opinions about equestrian enthusiasts, we are a group of devoted hobbyists no different than golfers, skiiers, boaters, hikers, trekkers. It takes a very special blend of community, conservation, access, networking, and physical surroundings to have an area be viable for these types of activities and hobbies. It isn't "created" out of thin air.

We are "loud" and passionate because what has been built in this community is truly unique. I cannot find it elsewhere; it just doesn't exist. And once gone, that is it. We can't just relocate miles of trails and farms, and farm network to Union Grove, or wherever.

I acknowledge that this is a small percentage of Caledonia residents. But it is also our heritage in this area, a piece of our culture, a species than could go extinct for us.

Development will happen. Inevitability. But we can manage it thoughtfully, to preserve things of real value.

I've got the perfect solution for this dilemma. Let's all encourage Woodman's Foods to build in Caledonia. I would even take them over a Walmart any day.

Mau-I emailed Woodman's about the area and they said Racine is too close to their Oak Creek and Kenosha stores. I would suggest contacting Meijer's in Michigan. They have proposed stores in Franklin, Grafton and Sussex over the last few months.

Now that my new neighbor decided to put in ALL NIGHT 500,000 watt light in my back yard viewing area (FLAG POLE LIGHT), after all, wall-mart has air pollution, so does my yard,….I say WALL-MART, I welcome you, and I hope I can sell my land to MC DONALDS or maybe “CASH CHECKS HERE”! C-MON DEVELOPMENT!!!!!!!!!!!
One Pissed Off Tom Holsten (who has lived in a construction zone for YEARS!