Wal-Mart resists plan for altering intersection
By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-HeraldJOHNSTOWN - Wal-Mart officials have agreed to most of Fulton County's requests in the state environmental quality review process involving the retailer's Supercenter project in Gloversville.
County Planning Director James Mraz told the Board of Supervisors' Buildings and Grounds-Highway Committee on Monday the only measure not accepted to date is the proposed reconstruction of the intersection of Harrison Street and County Highway 128 (South Kingsboro Avenue Extension). He said Wal-Mart officials contend that is not needed.
The company accepted measures such as the county's abandonment of 500 feet of County Highway 128.
County officials are concerned about the Supercenter's possible effect on County Highway 128. The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution last July recommending mitigative measures to the Gloversville Planning Board.
Mraz said most measures were agreed to by Wal-Mart, with the exception of what to do about the Harrison Street-County Highway 128 intersection. He said that issue is "up in the air."
He said county officials noted a year ago the intersection is not at a "perfect T" right angle. Mraz reminded the committee it was concerned about the volume of traffic at the intersection and asked that it be reconstructed.
"Wal-Mart has come back and said they don't think we need to do that," Mraz said.
He said Wal-Mart officials feel it's "not an issue" because truck traffic will be more inclined to use a proposed roundabout closer to the store.
Wal-Mart anticipates about 90 trucks going to the Supercenter site each week, Mraz said, and the retailer suggests a flashing yellow "intersection ahead" sign on Harrison Street near Route 29 to make vehicles aware of the Harrison Street-County Highway 128 intersection.
Mraz said Wal-Mart also is proposing a traffic study or evaluation of the intersection, perhaps six to 12 months after the opening of the store. It also was proposed that any restaurants, stores or other businesses adjacent to the store could share in the cost of any future traffic study.
The Supercenter project, which Mraz said has been a "challenge," was first announced in 2004 by then-Gloversville Mayor Frank La Porta.
"This project is moving toward completion of a SEQR process," Mraz said.
It took until January 2007 for Wal-Mart to unveil its plans for the 186,979-square-foot Supercenter. The project would involve the creation of 890 parking spaces, extension of municipal water and sewer services, construction of storm-water infrastructure and a wetlands mitigation area.
The Wal-Mart store on Fifth Avenue Extension in the town of Johnstown would close when the new store opens. The Supercenter would employ about 200 people, almost twice the number at the Johnstown store.
Michael Anich can be reached by e-mail at johnstown@leaderherald.com
