Scott Ring, store manager of the Westfield Walmart, third from right, joins, left-right, Westfield City Advancement Officer Jeff Daley, Kate Phelon, Westfield Chamber of Commerce director, Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik, Gary M. Crisalli, president of G.M. Crisalli & Associates, Inc. and Rocco A. Paone, of G.M. Crisalli & Associates, Inc., during a ground breaking ceremony for the new super Walmart on Springfield Road. (File photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – The Planning Board voted unanimously at its June 5 meeting to grant three permits needed for the Walmart expansion project, ending a saga which began in November of 2011.
W/S Westfield Properties Limited Partnership of 1330 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, Mass., the property owner, requested the Planning Board to approve a special permit, the site plan and stormwater management plan for the expansion project. Walmart is currently constructing a 58,692-square-foot addition to the store at 141 Springfield Road, expanding the existing 127,284 store into an 186,064-square-foot Walmart Superstore.
The expansion work, primarily on the west and south sides of the existing structure, includes construction of a new loading dock, a larger sales area, expanded parking and access modifications, enlargement of the stormwater management facilities and installation of new utilities services.
The Planning Board’s process of reviewing the application spanned eight months, with several delays requested by the petitioner to ensure that the full board was present to hear testimony during the public hearing, and eligible to vote on the special permit, which requires a super majority of five board members.
Reorganization of the Planning Board, with five new members, following the resignation of members protesting the dismissal of former City Planner and Community Development Director Larry Smith, also delayed the process.
