Proposed Walmart Applications Withdrawn from Caledonia

Opponents of Walmart's proposed supercenter in Caledonia can breathe a heavy sigh of relief: the retail giant is no longer looking for space at 4-Mile and Green Bay Roads.

Attorney Robert Henzel represents the landowner families of the Betchkals and the Luis, and he had letters hand-delivered to Village Hall Tuesday confirming the end of Walmart's interest in their properties.

"Walmart Real Estate Business Trust has terminated the contract for purchase of our property and has no further involvement with our property," the letter reads. "Under the circumstances, we withdraw ... the application for rezoning ... (and) the application for an amendment to the (village's) comprehensive plan."

Because the contract has been terminated, the law firm of Reinhart, Boerner Van Deuren no longer represents the interests of the landowners. According to Village Administrator Mark Janiuk, that means the rezoning and land use amendment applications fall back into the hands of the property owners.

"Walmart pulled out of the contract to purchase the land, so this cancellation puts the decision making back into the hands of the property owner," he explained. "So it is appropriate to withdraw (the requests)."

Katie Tiderman who lives on Green Bay Road was the outspoken leader of an organized residential opposition to the development, and she is relieved at the outcome.

"That site was inappropriate from the beginning," she said, "This has been a long, hard road to get here, but it's the right decision. What the future holds for that site sits in the hands of the village board."

Trustees voted unanimously July 22 to send an office park consideration to a public hearing after a land use work group recommended strictly residential use at that corner, and the village's planning commission recommended a mix of residential and commercial uses.

The letter from the families states they want the Sept. 23 public hearing on the rezoning and land use canceled. They contend that the landowners never asked for - and don't want - an office park use considered.

"We never requested such a change," they write. "We believe that the reason for suggesting the proposed designation was opposition to the Walmart development. Now that Walmart is gone, we believe there is no reason for the proposed change."

Whether or not the public hearing will still move forward is a little up in the air. Patch has a message into village attorney Elaine Ekes with this question, and we will update this story after we hear from her.