Welcome mat for Wal-Mart

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Plans for a Super Wal-Mart in Saratoga Springs' small-but-growing business district would be put on a fast track for construction as soon as a proposal is filed, city officials said Friday.

Although no formal announcement of the store's construction has been made, the retailer has approached the city with plans, and the city is willing to help speed up the building-application process, city planner Scott Messel said.

"We'll run it through the process as quickly as possible," Messel said. "I think we have it set up so they can do a master development site plan, site plan and preliminary plat all at the same time."

The proposed store, which could be more than 200,000 square feet, most likely would be built at the intersection of U-73 and U-68.

A handful of businesses, including a Smith's Food and Drug, have opened up in that spot in the past few years. Messel said the city hopes to make a "Main Street" environment around the area.

"Usually in what you typically think of as a Main Street feel, a big box (store) doesn't fit into that," Messel said. "But we don't have anything else out here. Wal-Mart won't be coming in and putting mom-and-pop retailers out of business."

According to Messel, the city is working with the store's developers to make sure the building meets the city's aesthetic standards.

The proposed building would have awnings on the front, as well as brick and masonry on its exterior. The city also asked Wal-Mart to add different elevations to the roof of the building.

"The facade has architectural elements that will make it more exciting than a big box," Messel said.

Messel said if the city receives a formal application from the store by next week, site plans could probably be on the Planning Commission agenda by July 5.

According to Saratoga Springs ordinances, public hearings at the Planning Commission and City Council meetings will take place as a part of the site-approval process.

Messel said he does not expect a negative response from the community about Wal-Mart's plans to build there.

According to Karianne Fallow, a representative for Wal-Mart, store officials hope construction will be finished by late 2007.

When construction is completed, the retailer will provide an additional 350 to 500 part-time and full-time jobs, Fallow said.

Wal-Mart has been looking at the area since 2005, Fallow said.

"(Saratoga Springs) has been a market of interest for a while now," Fallow said. "When we feel like we can serve a niche, that's a big consideration."

Saratoga Springs Mayor Timothy Parker said he hopes the mega-retailer's presence will attract more businesses.

"The sales tax income would be a great benefit to us, but I also think the fact that Wal-Mart is making a commitment to making a presence here should indicate to other retailers that the region is ripe and ready," Parker said. "I anticipate a lot of interest in commercial development because of this."

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