Walmart Presents Revised Plans For New Location

The Seekonk Planning Board on Tuesday continued its review of a revised proposal to place a new  on the site of  on Route 6. 

The plans were  to the Conservation Commission last June, however they had to be resubmitted following the commission’s  that the proposed store would encroach on vernal pools on the site.

At the planning board's meeting Tuesday night, Matt Smith of Bohler Engineering, which is representing Walmart, said he believes the new plan addresses those concerns, However, the plans are still being reviewed by the conservation commission. The two parties are expected to meet again in two to three weeks.

has submitted revised plans to the Seekonk Planning Board regarding its proposal to relocate to the site of on Route 6. A large number of residents were expected to attend Tuesday night's meeting to voice their opposition for the plan, but ultimately no one came out to speak against it.

Matt Smith of Bohler Engineering believes this new plan addresses those concerns, but the plans are still being reviewed by the commission and they are expected to meet with them again in two to three weeks.

“The site conforms, we believe, we the commission's requirements,” Smith said.

A large number of residents were expected to attend the meeting to continue to voice their opposition to the plan, but ultimately no one came out for that purpose Tuesday.

Planning Board member Pheobe Dunn did question Walmart's request for 500 parking spaces on the property. She said she was concerned that this would further reduce the amount of green and permeable land.

Smith said the 500 spaces are necessary and that this site had the lowest ration of spaces to land. Smith said the current Walmart has between 5 and 6 spaces per 1000 square feet of the store.

The proposed store is to be 157,000 square feet and would also feature 130 new trees, 700 new shrubs and other plants, according to Smith.

Jeff Dirk, Vice President of Vanasse & Associates, also presented a traffic study on the impact of the proposed site. The study was done assuming that the current Walmart would remain, though that will not be the case. The study was done that way because the plan is for Walmart to sell its current location to another retailer.

Dirk said the increase in traffic would be dealt with through improvements to the traffic signal system on Route 6. The plan is to inspect, improve and replace damaged vehicle detection systems that are in place under pavement at the two intersections closest to the proposed site on Route 6. Additionally, the timing on the signals will be altered to improve flow.

“The key thing is retiming those traffic signals,” said Dirk.

The main entrance to the proposed Walmart would be the current entrance to Fantasyland and utilize the left turn-only lane. However, Dirk said they would like to extend the left turn lane to prevent backup into the traveling lane.

To further reduce congestion, Neal Abelson, chairman of the board, suggested that there be a connecting road way from the stores on Commerce Way and the new Walmart.

“It would be advantageous to everyone,” Abelson said.

However, Smith said the owner of the abutting property, Seekonk Reality Trust, was not open to that suggestion, but the board is considering sending a letter to request the connection.

The Planning Board is expected to revisit the Walmart plans again on February 14. The Conservation Commission will also be holding a public hearing on January 23.