Politics & Government

Walmart Rezone Request on Plan Commission Agenda

Planning Commission members will discuss how to proceed with Walmart's rezoning and land use amendment applications.

Caledonia Planning Commission members will talk about how best to proceed now that Walmart has submitted both a rezoning application and a land use amendment for the land at the southeast corner of 4-Mile and Green Bay Roads.

According to the meeting agenda, the discussion comes under new business right after the anticipated approval of a certified survey map for the new property for A&W.    

Walmart is interested in building a 180,000 square foot supercenter similiar to the store on Durand Avenue in Mount Pleasant.

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Village Attorney Elaine Ekes announced at the Jan. 21 Village Board meeting that Walmart earlier this month submitted an application for a land use amendment because the Racine County overlay plan does not match Caledonia's comprehensive plan. She also told trustees and gathered residents that the store's proposal will be on the Jan. 30 Plan Commission agenda.

"Adopting a comprehensive plan amendment for this property would align the Racine County Plan with the Caledonia Plan and the uses intended for the property," the application from Walmart reads. 

Find out what's happening in Caledoniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This isn't Walmart's first attempt at building a store in Caledonia. The retail giant originally wanted the site at the northeast corner of 4-Mile Road and Highway 31, but the village's land use plan specifically calls for that land to remain green space.

Now, though, Walmart is looking at 4-Mile and Green Bay Roads, and there appears to be some ambiguity about the new site because Caledonia's comp plan allows for a mix of commercial and retail development there.

Ekes reminded everyone that the discussion at Plan Commission is not a public hearing but it is a meeting open to the public. She also noted that any decisions will be made only by the village.

"I would remind all of you that the Plan Commission is a recommend-only board and ultimately, the decision is up to the Village Board," Ekes said.

The Plan Commission meeting begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Avenue.


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