WalMart will be back before the Zoning Board of Appeals next month to continue a public hearing on a proposed WalMart Depot in the Home Depot plaza on Webster Avenue.
The project for the 25,000-square-foot WalMart Depot was before the ZBA for a second time last week.
The project was also before the Planning Board last month, where that board recommended the ZBA deny its special permit request due to traffic and use concerns.
At last week’s ZBA meeting, the team representing WalMart presented a new traffic study showing that the traffic associated with the Depot concept would be considerably less than other businesses in the plaza, as well as for other potential retail uses of the 25,000-square-foot building.
ZBA Chair Janice Tatarka said she appreciated the updated information on the project and the traffic plan, but said the board needed more time to review the traffic study before taking a final vote.
Rather than ordering online from larger nearby WalMart Supercenters in Saugus and Lynn, the Depot location will be stocked with high volume, everyday items that shoppers can order to be delivered in one to two hours. The public would not be allowed to shop within the distribution center, but WalMart approved drivers would pick up between one to three orders to deliver to shoppers within a 30 minute radius.
During last week’s meeting, City Councilor-at-Large Leo Robinson spoke against approval of the project.
“I spoke before the planning board, and we can do better,” said Robinson. “People in my neighborhood are against it, I don’t really see any benefit for the people of Chelsea. More than 1 percent of the people in Chelsea wouldn’t even be ordering from this distribution place here; I just disagree with the assumptions of the traffic, there are other people in the neighborhood that went before the planning board and were against it and I don’t think it is appropriate for Chelsea.”
However, several current and former councilors voiced their support for the project. Councilors Kelly Garcia, Manuel Teshe, and Norieliz DeJesus all submitted letters in support of the project, noting the convenience for residents who do not have vehicles or rely on public transportation, as well as the economic benefits to the city.
Former City Councilor Roy Avellaneda said he disagreed with the assertions some made that the WalMart depot would not have any benefit for the city.
“First of all, let’s reflect that this is WalMart, and the fact that a company listed on the NASDAQ is saying that they want to move to Chelsea,” he said. “If you know the history of that area, it is mind-boggling, and it should be, and they don’t want that loss because … that area used to be dead for so long. The fact that we have a retail giant with that name interested in locating in Chelsea should be a badge of honor.”