Lorain/Elyria, OH
Lorain planners: Wal-Mart OK to us
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LORAIN — The city’s Planning Commission on Wednesday approved the final development plan for Lighthouse Village, paving the way for Wal-Mart to land in Lorain by 2010.
The 200,000-square-foot supercenter will bring up to 400 jobs with it, but before the Planning Commission rolled out the welcome mat, Mayor Tony Krasienko and Service Director Robert Gilchrist made sure to quell a few residential concerns involving parking, lighting and the buffer between the retailer and surrounding residents.
Both requested that developer Tom Kuluris make small changes such as planting a denser hedge barrier on the mound behind Wal-Mart instead of the random pine trees currently separating the Home Depot store from residents near the development.
They also requested a review of the lighting plan to make sure that the light doesn’t filter through to nearby residences at night.
Although Kuluris was initially apprehensive about changing a plan that didn’t request any variances, zoning or otherwise, he told the Planning Commission he was willing to work with the city to get the deal done.
“If you think it’s going to make a difference and (the plan) is better, I’ll commit to that, and I’m sure Wal-Mart will commit to that,” he said.
The only sticking point during the meeting came over parking.
Kuluris’ plan called for 5.2 parking spaces for every 1,000 feet of space, just above the city’s minimum retailer requirement of five, but Krasienko wanted only 4.5 parking spaces per 1,000 feet built, with the condition that if Wal-Mart needs the additional spaces, spaces can be added.
“It’s so they also get some flex in the storm water,” Krasienko said. “And so we’re not saddled with a sea of asphalt where we don’t necessarily need it.”
Kuluris, again, was willing to compromise, but Law Director Mark Provenza advised against it, requesting that officials either amend the city’s ordinances or have Kuluris fill out an application for a variance.
In the end, the Planning Commission recommended that City Council approve the plan with the added sections for landscaping and light. Both parties agreed to get back to the parking situation at a later date.
Kuluris also surprised several residents who voiced concern over the buffer problems by adding that he’ll spruce up the pine trees behind Home Depot with an added hedge barrier.
Resident Donna Ignatko said the outcome came as a pleasant surprise.
“I’m impressed with how well everything went,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect when I came in here, but it turned out wonderfully.”
The Planning Commission also gave its OK for the smaller phases of the plan, which will include 10 smaller tenants and possibly a restaurant, Kuluris said.
Contact Stephen Szucs at 329-7129 or sszucs@chroniclet.com.
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Hey didn’t they already vote no Wal-mart in Lorain?
Is it just me or does this sound kind of sneaky to any one else?
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Wal-Mart is becoming like McDonalds, low wages, bad products and one on every corner.
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There was a no vote for a different location. I am happy one is coming closer to us, but wish it wasn’t in a shopping center that was supposed to offer a more upscale feel. As for every corner, I say that if the people support these places by shopping at them, they will continue to push their way onto the next corner.
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MyLyria…what do you consider quality products, where do you get them and how much do they cost? Complain all you want about Walmart, but this country doesn’t make enough products anymore. You could never get everything you need by buying just “Made in USA.” It’s been that way for a very long time. I wish it weren’t so. I can’t afford not to shop there and everything in one place.
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Cant wait!! We need a walmart closer. Super Kmart is just a nasty place to shop.
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Dear Super-K,
I’ve tried your stores, I’ve bought “stuff” from you. I’ve waited in your long lines, searched for product that wasn’t there and went home empty handed.
Your prices are not competitve, your product offering is weak and your stores just are 21st century enough for me.
Sam Walton had a better idea and now he’s moving in on your turf in Lorain.
I bid thee farewell, may you try another locale, a different city or maybe state but you just won’t belong here anymore.
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I don’t have anything against Wal-mart, but wheres the union outcry this time? Whose pockets did Wal-mart line to keep this all hush hush? Maybe someone sould look into that eh?
Oh and Mylyria,
A trained monkey could do MOST of the jobs available at Wal-mart or Mcdonalds. What kind of pay would you expect for jobs like that? ( remember the federal government sets the min. wage not Wal-mart or any other business. ) If someone is trying to support a family with the pay of Wal-mart or Mcdonalds CAREERS I’d say they made some bad choices. When are people going to quit whining and take responsibility for their own choices?
Also last time I checked you can get most of the name brands you can buy anywhere else at Wal-mart too. So if they have bad products everyone must.
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Wal-Mart may have the products you want at a low price, but the FACT is, Wal-Mart is BAD for the economy. Americans are just too stupid and lazy to realize it. They do not allow over-time, pay low wages so the workers are forced to live with little or no health insurance, or live off public assistance. Wal-Mart USED to sell and promote American products, but since Sam Walton died, Wal-Mart has worked with it’s American manufacturers to MOVE THEIR PRODUCTION TO CHINA! They undercut local shops, so most Mom & pop grocery and service/specialty stores are forced to go out of business. then, once they have sucked the local economy dry, they leave huge empty shopping complexes in their wake.
Don’t get me wrong, I shop at Wal-Mart when necessary, but I ALWAYS look for the MADE In USA, and if I can, I will pay a little more and drive a little farther to get it.
A good example is computers. If you buy one from Wal-Mart, well, you get what you pay for. If you buy a computer from a LOCAL shop, Like Holland Computers (no, I don’t work there), you can get FREE stuff like routers, printers, Blackberry. Check it out here: http://www.localpcbuilder.com/
I’d also rather buy a good quality lawn mower from M&M Mower (I don’t work there, either) instead of a cheap one from Wal-Mart.
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Low wages eh? They start most people above min. wage.
They do offer insurance for full time. ( Like most places part time does not get that benifit )
People are not on welfare because they work at Wal-mart. They are on welfare because they made bad choices in life and expect everyone else to pick up the slack. Granted there is a small percentage that this does not apply to.
Mom and Pop shops are normally over priced and any chain going in would put them out of business.
Most of all it is a moot point because you ( and most who cry out against Wal-mart ) shop there anyway. Why don’t you give your business to the over priced mom and pop and specialty stores and help them out eh?
We all know that Wal-mart has the most important items that you just can’t get anywhere else right?
Oh yeah I know why you shop there, its because you are, to quote you, ” too stupid and lazy” and Wal-mart has good deals right?
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