PORT ANGELES — Barring a last-minute glitch in the permit process, Walmart shoppers will have a brand-new Port Angeles Supercenter during the 2010 Christmas season.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has placed the existing store at 3500 E. U.S. Highway 101, Port Angeles, on the real estate market as it prepares to build a larger store across the highway.
A Kmart that closed in January 1998 occupied the 19.8-acre site where the new Walmart will go at 3471 E. Kolonels Way.
Boise, Idaho-based Engineered Structures Inc. has set up portable office space at the vacant lot as Wal-Mart closes in on building permits.
Wes Watts, superintendent of Engineered Structured Inc., said Wal-Mart is in a 10-day waiting period after it submitted a response to the Olympic Regional Clean Air Agency.
Once approved, Clallam County can approve the contractor’s demolition permit to tear down the old Kmart building.
A building permit, which Wal-Mart has already submitted, will be signed after a demolition permit is granted.
Dec. 10 meeting
Steve Gray, Clallam County Planning Manager, said the contractor will meet with county staff on Dec. 10 to go over the final steps.
“The county is basically ready to issue the permits,” Gray said Wednesday.
“I think we’re coming pretty close.”
Karianne Fallow, Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said it usually takes between 10 to 12 months to build a Walmart Supercenter from ground-breaking to grand opening.
About three months prior to the grand opening, Wal-mart will name a store manager, hire associates, set merchandise and train an expected 300 employees, Fallow said.
Transfer employees
“We are planning to offer transfers to all of our associates [at the current Port Angeles Walmart] to the new store,” Fallow said.
“Usually in those cases, it’s pretty seamless. One store closes and one opens at the same exact time.”
Since the Clallam County location will be serviced by an extended city of Port Angeles sewer system, the city and the county will split any sales tax increase once the store is up and running.
“We’re hoping construction of that building will result in additional commercial development in that area,” Port Angeles city manager Kent Myers said.
Clallam County commissioners on Sept. 1 consolidated the eight lots at the site into two.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
