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Wal-Mart eyes Wadena
Associate Editor This time, Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden said, Wal-Mart means business.
Representatives of the Becker family trust and Wal-Mart had approached the city twice about tentative plans to build a store along U.S. 71 near Pamida. Now an application to rezone 40 acres from residential to commercial was made by the Beckers, who, the mayor said, have an agreement to sell the property to Wal-Mart for a supercenter. A conditional use permit for a gas station also is being requested.
"This could move very quickly," Wolden said, noting he has not been informed of any formal timeline. "My guess, if they get approval, they'd move ahead with spring construction. ... I think they mean business."
The Wal-Mart Supercenter would be on 25 acres of the 40 acres being considered for rezoning. Wolden said the city has no ordinance against big-box stores and the rezoning is the only major hurdle the developers would face.
Byron Larson, Wadena planning and zoning director, said the proposal has sparked mixed reaction around town but that it would be treated just as the city would treat any other rezoning request.
The Wadena Planning and Zoning Commission will consider the rezoning and conditional use permit for a gas station Oct. 3. The commission is expected to make a recommendation that would be considered at the Oct. 11 Wadena City Council meeting. Wolden said rezoning requires the approval of four of the five council members.
Wolden said there were seven residential properties on a nearby 4- or 5-acre site that form a border between the proposed Wal-Mart and U.S. 71. He said those would probably be considered for rezoning also to avoid a spot zoning situation. If those properties were rezoned commercial, the residents could continue to live there but restrictions could be placed as far as adding extra bedrooms or "increasing the footprint" of their home without a variance, Wolden said.
Larson said Wadena residents who don't want to buy clothes at Pamida currently have to travel to Brainerd, Alexandria or Detroit Lakes to buy clothing.
"The majority of residents I've talked to are very pleased," he said. "They're excited about the purchasing options they don't have now. People are very, very price conscious now with gas reaching $3 a gallon. Brainerd, Alexandria and Detroit Lakes ... it's not an inexpensive day trip anymore. They want to stay home and shop."
Wolden said 10 to 20 percent of the people he talked to have concerns about small Wadena businesses. He recalled moving to town 22 years ago when Wadena had a J.C. Penney store and an S and L clothing store.
"As I've seen Baxter grow, I've seen our downtown shrink," he said. "I realize this is small town, Minnesota. Now it's happened to Wadena. I hope that when and if Wal-Mart comes it spurs additional retail development."
The mayor, who is business manager at the Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Wadena, said the property in question is zoned residential but is currently being used as farmland.
"My personal feelings are not relevant," he said about Wal-Mart plans. "I don't go to Wal-Mart much. I love my downtown businesses. I go to the hardware store and they know me by name. I hope we don't lose that."
Wal-Mart officials did not respond to inquiries about the planned store Thursday.
MIKE O'ROURKE can be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
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