THE SOUTHERN
MURPHYSBORO - While Murphysboro's zoning appeals board approved making
variances to the city's signage and parking codes to accommodate the
anticipated Wal-Mart Supercenter, those in attendance at the meeting also
got a first look at the exterior design of the store.
Bryan Johnsrud, an engineer with Crawford, Murphy and Tilley of Springfield
(the engineering firm hired by Wal-Mart on this property) described the
store that is to be located at the intersection of Country Club Road and
Illinois 13 as "the new modern Wal-Mart" with earth-tone colors, two
entrances and a 500-foot-wide storefront, among other things.
"That's not a gaudy design," said
Terry Sharp, a Mount Vernon attorney
representing Wal-Mart at the meeting.
It was the first look some of Murphysboro's city officials had received of
the proposed design as well.
"It's a much better looking store than the old one; it's better than a
concrete block with paint on it," said Alderman Bill Pierson.
"It's classy," said Alderman Dan Bratton.
The purpose of the zoning appeals board meeting was to grant variances to
the city's ordinances that would allow for a pylon sign to be placed on the
north side of the property with proper lighting as well as changes in the
size of signs on the store exterior.
Sharp
also asked the board to grant a
variance so Wal-Mart could create smaller parking spaces but allow bigger
aisles for traffic to move through.
The zoning appeals board unanimously approved each request, with board
chairman Andrew Eggemeyer voicing his concern about granting changes to
existing code. But he also noted that the ordinances were perhaps outdated
and weren't made for businesses of this scale.
kristen.cates@thesouthern.com
(618) 529-5454 ext. 5804
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