City Council member Dale Hensley further stated his objections to the Wal-Mart project east of Mill Creek during Tuesday’s study session.
Mayor pro-tem Donna Michelson, who was running the meeting in the absence of Mayor Terry Ryan, suggested putting an agreement between the city and Wal-Mart relating to design standards on the consent calendar for the June 14 meeting, but Hensley objected, stating he wanted to vote against the measure.
The measure will now appear on the Council’s action item agenda, open to discussion.
“I’m voting against it on principle,” Hensley said. “The only advantage I see in this is money. I see more disadvantages.”
Hensley said he was not opposed to city staff working with the company to ensure it meets Mill Creek design standards, but that he did not want Wal-Mart in Mill Creek because of its business practices. He also expressed concern about the impact the project will have on traffic, even though as part of the project, the state will install a traffic light at 132nd Street SE, a state highway, and 39th Avenue SE.
“Common sense tells me another stoplight at 39th (Avenue SE) will overburden surrounding streets,” Hensley said. “We’re setting up a real traffic problem.”
Aside from Hensley’s objections, the rest of the Council seemed satisfied with the agreement.
The agreement calls for Wal-Mart to build the store to Mill Creek’s design standards, even though right now it is located in unincorporated Snohomish County. The store, however, is in the area the city is trying to annex, and the company has been willing to meet Mill Creek’s stricter design standards, community development director Bill Trimm said.
According to the conditions, which were approved by the city’s Design Review Board on two separate occasions, the 135,000-square-foot store will have two gables at its entrances, several awnings, and varying heights. It will be recessed from 132nd Street SE, and 39th Avenue SE will be extended to allow access from the store, which will not front 132nd Street SE.
“Basically, we don’t want it to look like the Wal-Mart on 164th (Street SW),” Trimm said.
The property is being developed by Lynnwood-based Gramore Development, which has already applied to the county for a rezone to build the development. Trimm said if the annexation of the area goes through, any building permits for the site would be made through the city.
Sales tax revenues from a Wal-Mart are a main reason the city is seeking to annex areas east of 35th Avenue SE. Early estimates show the store, once open, could bring in close to $500,000 annually in sales tax revenues to the city. Preliminary estimates also show store construction could bring in $13,000 a month in sales tax revenues.
A Home Depot store is rumored for property east of the Wal-Mart site, but no applications have been made, Trimm said.
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