July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Supercenter in works (5/19/04)

New store may be located near hospital

By By Mike [email protected]

Rumors that began not long after Wal-Mart opened in Portland in the mid-1990s are at least one step closer to becoming reality.

Plans have been submitted locally for a new Wal-Mart Supercenter to be located just west of Jay County Hospital on the north side of Votaw Street.

And if the company decides to proceed with the plans, there are virtually no hurdles in terms of local zoning to clear.

The entire lot, which is currently a corn field, is zoned highway service, which allows a wide range of commercial operations — including the one proposed by Wal-Mart. Drainage plans would have to be approved by the Jay County Drainage Board (county commissioners).

The plans for a new 155,017-square foot store that would include groceries and a tire/lubrication auto service center along with the traditional Wal-Mart offerings, have been submitted to the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Department.

Those plans were prepared by Carlson Consulting Engineers of Bartlett, Tenn. A person answering the telephone at the company this morning said that no one would comment, saying that all such matters were confidential between the company and its clients. She would not confirm that Wal-Mart is a client of the company.

An assistant manager from the local store declined to comment this morning, saying all communications would come from corporate offices in Bentonville, Ark.

A message left late this morning for a company spokesperson was not returned by press time.

A representative from Carlson Consulting Engineers is scheduled to discuss the plans at a meeting of the Portland Planning Commission on Thursday, June 3, at 5 p.m.

The preliminary plans call for two public entrances to the parking lot: One off Votaw Street just west of new condominiums that are part of the Heritage Commons retirement community and the other off Industrial Park Drive about 400 feet north of Votaw Street.

Application has been made on Wal-Mart’s behalf to the Indiana Department of Transportation to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Industrial Park Drive and Votaw Street, which is a T-intersection.

Plans are currently in the works by state officials for adding a center left/right turn lane to West Votaw Street/Ind. 67 all the way from Meridian Street (U.S. 27) to just southwest of Jay County High School. That project is currently scheduled for 2006.

Bill Milligan, director of the city/county building department, said this morning that no building permits have been sought and that no specific timetable for construction has been discussed by Wal-Mart representatives.

The main parking area for the proposed store will be between the store and Votaw Street. The tire/lube and garden centers are planned for the west side of the store near Industrial Park Drive, and a large stormwater retention pond is slated for the rear (north side) of the store.

At least one sanitary sewer line and possibly some county-maintained field tile would have to be re-routed around the parking lot and/or store.[[In-content Ad]]
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