Second Wal-Mart Tabled Again

By Melissa Vogt/Tribune-Star
Date: Oct. 3, 2002

Members of the Vigo County Area Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday night to again table a request to rezone land along Indiana 46 that could pave the way for a second Wal-Mart in Terre Haute.

Commission members said they need more information from Wal-Mart's engineers about sewer, traffic patterns and other infrastructure concerns before they could approve the requested rezoning. They also want to first finish a development plan for the so-called Indiana 46 corridor.

"Of course everyone wants [Wal-Mart] but we want it under conditions everybody can live with," commission member J.W. Dennis said during discussion.

Attorney Jeff Lewellyn was unhappy with the 7-0 vote to stay a decision on the rezoning request, filed Aug. 1.

Lewellyn represents John Leminger, who seeks to rezone his 47 acres along Indiana 46 from agricultural to a regional commercial designation. Wal-Mart is interested in developing the property.

"I don't feel this one lot would throw the entire [Indiana 46 corridor] plan out of whack," Lewellyn said, trying to urge commission members to act Wednesday on the zoning request.

Wal-Mart might not be interested in the area six or 12 months later when the county finishes such a plan, Lewellyn warned.

"We've tried to work with the city," he said, noting $20,000 recently spent for an additional traffic study. "We would continue to work with the city. But I don't think it's reasonable to tell Wal-Mart to wait 12 months while we do a corridor plan."

Tim Porter, director of Vigo County Area Planning, said a regional commercial zone requires existing infrastructure to support growth, which the area in question lacks. He also challenged numbers from the new traffic study, which indicated about 10,000 cars per day at the future Wal-Mart.

Downtown business owner Todd Nation disputed Dennis' assertion that the public widely supports building a Wal-Mart along Indiana 46. He said the megachain store could harm small business owners on Terre Haute's east side.

City Councilman Ryan Cummins, R-2nd, who also spoke at Wednesday's meeting, said he hasn't decided yet. But he firmly supports finishing the corridor study before approving any further development along the state highway.

Cummins said he intended to file a resolution with the City Council on Thursday to push the corridor study. He said his conversations with engineers suggests the study could be complete in six months.

He compared Wal-Mart to a 15-foot alligator that slips into a garden pond.

"He doesn't displace much water but it sure changes the feeling in the pond," Cummins said.

Cummins noted Third Street/U.S. 41 as an example of poor foresight for development.

Cummins is concerned about traffic flow and safety, drainage, utilities and aesthetics for Indiana 46 commercial development.