Minutes of the GMVA Meeting with Wal-Mart regarding the Sawdust Road Store
June 20, 2006
The Church of Christ on Sawdust Road

(If you have more detailed questions and answers please forward them to us at bruce@gmva.org.)

Wal-Mart, represented by Ms. Kim Randle and about ten from the company including architects, site engineers, landscapers, store operations personnel, traffic consultants, and public relations staff. Approximately 50-60 residents attended. Art Salinas, from Commissioner Ed Chances office attended and spoke on traffic issues as well.

Ms. Randle presented slides outlining Wal-Marts policies and operations. This was followed by others who showed site plans, the architectural design, and a representative who discussed traffic. The slides will be made available to the GMVA and will be posted on the web site.

Most of the residents were angry and upset at the building of the store. A two hour question and answer period followed and is summarized below. Wal-Mart agreed to relook at certain aspects of the development.

Everyone should be aware that Wal-Mart has no obligation to meet or even talk with the GMVA or anyone else other than the country and then only regarding road access.

Highlights of the information provided by Wal-Mart:

• Store will be a 204,000 square-feet Supercenter, with merchandise, food, photo, optical, garden center, 1,000 parking spaces.
• It will be a 24 hour operation.
• There will be a gas station located at the front.
• Two areas that may be leased to other companies, most likely restaurants, are also located at the front of the property.
• There will be a 100-foot wide greenbelt around the western and southern edge of the property that will be left undisturbed from its current state.
• Along the southern edge of the property trees will be transplanted from other sites to increase the coverage.
• Many of the large trees currently on the property will be saved.
• A water retention pond will be located along the eastern edge of the property to catch water runoff. It is designed to drain off in 24 hours.
• NY light poles will be installed which funnel the light down on to the lot rather than letting it disperse.
• Traffic is estimated to average 6,000 cars trips in and out each day, this means there will be more in peaks and less other times.
• Store will be similar in design to the one on Woodlands Parkway; building will be painted in natural colors.
• There will be two entrances with traffic lights at one of them; one will be designed for traffic flows in each direction.
• A left-hand turn lane will be added to Sawdust Road from the bridge to the entrance.
• No additional entrances are planned.

Resident Questions:

Traffic

• How does the 6,000 compare with traffic at the current store? Answer to be provided
• Will the bridge be widened? No.
• Will a bridge be built across the MUD ditch? No.
• Will lights be provided at the school? They did not commit. Art Salinas said this is a CISD responsibility.
• What roads were evaluated? Just those around the store, nothing on I 45.
• Traffic was low during the period it was counted because of construction on Sawdust. Wal-Mart will do another survey in September.
• Was effect of trucks on bridge considered? Yes.
• Did you consider the impact of traffic on Budde Road at peak hours? Apparently not.

Impact on neighborhood

• Will you build a wall around the property? My impression is that they would look at putting walls at a few places that had problems (e.g. Peace Rose Road, at the south end of retention pond.)
• Will you pay for the market losses on our homes? Not answered.
• Will you move the south end of retention pond so that it not as close to the homes? Said they would look at it, sounded positive that they would move.
• We are concerned that the store will be attractive for criminals, what will you do? Wal-mart has a firm security policy and does not tolerate criminal activity of any sort at its locations.

Bruce Cunningham
President, GMVA