B.G planners OK larger Wal-Mart

4/9/2004

BOWLING GREEN - The city's planning commission has voted to recommend that city council approve a rezoning request that will allow Wal-Mart to build a super center at its current South Main Street site.

Wal-Mart wants the zoning changed to B-2, general commercial, as part of a plan to build a bigger store. The old store would then be razed.

City officials have said they prefer to see Wal-Mart re-build rather than go elsewhere and leave another empty store on the south side of town. The former Kmart, Food Town, and Churchill's stores on South Main are still vacant.

Also Wednesday night, the planning commission unanimously decided not to recommend a rezoning and development plan for a proposed Walgreens pharmacy at the southwest corner of North Main Street and East Poe Road.

Since the Walgreens project was first presented, planning commission members have expressed concerns over traffic congestion, the large size, and its potential to be a distraction to motorists. Hearings will be scheduled before the two projects are presented to Council.