Planning committee, council approve Walmart plans

DECATUR -- Two special meetings were called May 19 to discuss plans for construction of a new Walmart Express on the site currently occupied by the old Decatur General Store.

The planning and zoning committee met at 5:30 at the request of Decatur Mayor Charles Linam.

First item on the agenda was a request by Timothy McDonald to split a piece of property on Roller Avenue. McDonald presented a set of plans which shows the proposed division of the land into four one-quarter acre parcels which will be put on the market for sale at a later date.

After review of the McDonald plans, the planning committee voted unanimously to grant the lot-split request. It was sent to the city council where they also voted to grant the McDonald request.

The planning committee then considered a request by the Walmart Corporation to build a 12,000-square-foot Walmart Express on the site currently occupied by the Decatur General Store which ceased operations in 2012.

Walmart submitted a set of site maps which detailed their plans for the use of the old general store property on the corner of Roller Avenue and Main Street. The plans call for the complete demolition of the old general store building and replacing it with a new structure and an eight-bay gas-pump island.

After careful review of the layout and acting on the recommendation of the Decatur planning and zoning committee, the Decatur City Council voted unanimously to accept Walmart's request for the new Walmart Express.

Linam recommended that Walmart submit design plans to Steve Castaneda for review and certification. Once this is complete (scheduled for this week), Walmart can apply for a building permit.

The Decatur Walmart Express is scheduled for completion sometime in early 2015.

General News on 05/28/2014