Sweden hears Wal-Mart Supercenter proposal

In an effort to be almost all things to all people, the owners of Wal-Mart are proposing a 203,500 square foot, 24 hour a day, seven day a week super store in the Town of Sweden.

The Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed to the Sweden Planning Board members at the November 25 meeting would be similar to Supercenters in Gates and on Hudson Avenue in Rochester, Neal Madden, an attorney from Harter, Secrest & Emery, who is representing Wal-Mart said. "Wal-Mart is attempting to maximize the convenience to its customers by offering one stop shopping," he said.

The Supercenter would be approximately one mile east of the intersections of Route 31 and 19 in Brockport. It would involve extensive road improvements and upgrades and would encompass a 21.3 acre lot. The store would feature 36 general merchandise departments, a grocery department, one-hour photo processing lab, pharmacy and a tire and lube area. The tire and lube area would host an eight bay garage area that would be used mainly for installation of items purchased in the store or for oil changes, Madden said. "There would be no major repairs or mechanical processes going on."

Planning Board Chairman Craig McAllister asked Madden what would occupy the spot where Wal-Mart is presently located. "It took us 15 years to fill the space in that plaza," he said.

Madden said he wasn’t certain if it would be Wal-Mart’s or the landlord’s responsibility to find a suitable tenant for the property that would be left vacant if the new supercenter is constructed.

Terry Hover, planning board member said, "I’d like to know that there was a good faith effort on Wal-Mart’s part to fill the space," he said. "Every effort should be made to pursue filling the existing site."

Town of Sweden Supervisor Nat O. "Buddy" Lester said it was way too early in the process to make any comment on the project. "With a project of this magnitude the board wants to stay informed but right now we don’t know what’s best for the community," he said.

A public hearing on the proposal will be held January 13, 2003. While the location of the meeting has not been decided, holding it at the high school was discussed as a possibility in order to accommodate the anticipated crowd.