Bentonville Commissioners Approve Walmart Prototype Plans

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

BENTONVILLE -- Planning commissioners gave Walmart the green light to pursue a grocery pickup center at their Tuesday meeting.

The 15,000-square-foot center is to be at the southeast corner of Southeast Dodson Road and Southeast J Street.

At A Glance

Commission Action

Bentonville’s Planning Commission met Tuesday and approved:

• A lot split at 4301 S.W. Second St.

• Plans for the Black Apple Addition, which includes 11 single-family residential units and one common building at 821 N.E. A St.

• Plans for the Lamplighter Townhomes, which includes four single-family residential townhomes on the southwest corner of the intersection of Northwest A Street and Northwest Third Street.

Source: Staff Report

Commissioners approved 7-0 a property line adjustment and development plan for the site.

The prototype doesn't have a name yet, said Deisha Barnett, Walmart spokesperson. It'll allow customers to order groceries online, schedule a pick-up time and have them delivered to their car once they pull up, she explained after the meeting.

"It's as easy as that," Barnett said. "We're excited to see how customers respond to it."

The center will have 10,000 grocery items from cereal, chips, bread, milk fresh produce and meat. It won't have the full assortment of general merchandise offered at Supercenters, Barnett said.

This will be a prototype for the United States but was inspired by Walmart's United Kingdom subsidiary, Asda, which offers home grocery delivery and 'Click and Collect' option, Barnett said. Walmart To Go grocery delivery is a test program launched in California in 2011 and Denver in 2013 allowing customers to order groceries and other items online and have them delivered to their door.

The grocery pickup center in Bentonville is an option to meet the customers' needs, which are constantly changing as they gain more shopping options and higher expectations, Barnett said.

"We're combining digital and physical assets in a way that no other retailer can to offer solutions that allow our customers to shop when, where and however they want," she said.

Plans show there will be 52 parking spaces. Thirty three will be for drive-through customers, and 19 for employees.

The exterior of the building will be quick brick, composite wood, split face concrete block, structural insulated metal panel and steel.

Commissioners approved three waivers in the plans regarding parking stall depth, number of curb cuts and building material. There was no discussion on the project.

NW News on 05/07/2014