Wal-Mart awaiting final zoning vote

By Scott Aust, Journal Staff Writer | Tuesday, March 07, 2006

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RAPID CITY — The Rapid City Council had not acted on a proposed new Wal-Mart Supercenter by news deadline Monday night.

The majority of development applications for building a new store south of Rapid City on U.S. Highway 16 were approved three weeks ago, and the Rapid City Council was scheduled to take its final vote on an ordinance to change the property’s zoning Monday night.

A layout plat, subdivision variance, planned commercial development and the first vote to change the zoning from agriculture to general commercial were approved Feb. 13.

The zoning change requires two separate votes.

If the council approves the change, Wal-Mart won’t be able to break ground on the new store until getting preliminary and final plat approval from the planning commission and city council. No time frame has been set for those applications.

For more than a year, opponents have expressed concern about the store’s potential impact on city infrastructure and existing small businesses, increased traffic and encroachment on views of the Black Hills.

Supporters have touted the job and shopping opportunities development would create.

Wal-Mart’s development plan includes improvements to the intersection of a realigned Sammis Trail at Highway 16, including double left-turn lanes, dedicated right turn lanes, deceleration/acceleration lanes and a stop light. Extensive landscaping is proposed including longer and wider landscaped islands in the parking lot and lighting designed to minimize light pollution.

Wal-Mart agreed to more than 20 stipulations, including a traffic impact study and improvements to roads, drainage, utilities, landscaping and lighting. Wal-Mart has proposed paying the cost of extending utilities to the new store.