PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Monroeville planners table Wal-Mart proposal
by rustbelt radio Tuesday, Aug. 02, 2005 at 4:18 PM
radio@indypgh.org (email address validated)

Last week, the Monroeville planning commission considered a proposal by Wal-Mart to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

The world's largest retailer wants to build a 204,000-square-foot store at Broadway and Mosside boulevards, near Pitcairn and the southern border of Monroeville.

Wal-Mart needs to combine three lots into a 29-acre parcel and to rezone 22 acres from industrial to commercial use. It also asked the commission to recommend approval of its site plan.

Residents of Pitcairn, whose declining business district is a short walk from the proposed Wal-Mart site, voiced concerns about the increase in traffic on the town’s two-lane main street. The impact of the store on local commerce is another concern of the community. The impacts of new Walmart stores have been seen in towns across the country where the local grocery, hardware, apparel and variety stores have gone out of business.

The commission last night agreed to postpone consideration until Wal-Mart provides more details on how it will manage traffic and stormwater.