Walmart approval delayed
By DIANA SROKA
JOHNSBURG – Although Walmart hasn’t asked village officials for the final go ahead to build a
Supercenter store in Johnsburg, many shoppers are eagerly awaiting the retail giant’s arrival.
“I’m definitely for it,” said Jeff Fowler, a Johnsburg resident who typically shops at Meijer and Jewel. “I’m hoping with the bigger store there are more options.”
Johnsburg resident Tammy Moran said she was looking forward to price wars between the Supercenter store and other large retailers along Route 31.
“It’ll compete with Meijer,” Moran said.
In spring 2009, Walmart unveiled its plan to close the McHenry store and build a new, expandedWalmart Supercenter about a mile north, in Johnsburg.
Walmart officials have said the store would span 182,000 square feet. It’s slated to be built on the southwest side of the intersection of Route 31 and Running Brook Farm Boulevard, and would offer a full selection of groceries, two lanes of drive-thru pharmacy, the usual general merchandise, and an auto store.
Because of the grocery component, Walmart officials said the new store would add about 180 jobs.
However, before Walmart can break ground on the store it must secure a number of permits from outside agencies, as well as secure the final approval of the village.
As of Tuesday night, Walmart was not in a position to ask village officials for the green light.
“Basically they just don’t have all their final [materials] together that they want to bring to the board for the approval,” Johnsburg Trustee Mary Lou Hutchinson said.
The final approval originally was slated for October but was delayed to November and then December.
Village officials had hoped to approve building the store at last Tuesday’s Village Board meeting, but the matter was delayed again.
Hutchinson said in spite of the repeated delays, Walmart still planned to build in town.
“They just want to get everything buttoned down,” she said.
