Food City identified as Walden grocery store
Food City is shown in a new document as the identity of a proposed grocery store in Walden where town officials have tentatively approved a site plan for the retail development.
Landowner John Anderson has said he’s under a confidentiality agreement with the store owner and he declined to reveal the name of the grocer Wednesday.
But a drawing of the site by Appalachia Design Services of Blountville, Tennessee, refers to underground power and communications going from Food City to a Gas ‘N Go on the property. Gas ‘N Go is the name of Food City’s fuel stations, which often accompany its grocery stores.
Anderson has said the store would be about 44,000-squarefeet in size. Food City is the Chattanooga area’s biggest grocery store chain.
If the process goes to plan, Anderson said he hopes the store could open in late 2021.
The store would be set back off of a Taft Highway and Timesville Road tract, according to plans. Also, there is to be 10,000 square feet of retail space in two buildings along Taft Highway in addition to a pavilion.
On Tuesday, the town endorsed a site plan subject to Anderson providing more specifics about materials to be used for the buildings and other requests, town attorney Sam Elliott said.
The vote by town officials was 2 to 1, with Mayor Bill Trohanis and Alderwoman Sarah McKenzie voting yes and Vice Mayor Lee Davis voting no.
Davis said he had a problem with the proposed pavilion, which he termed as sitting “directly across from the Pumpkin Patch,” which is a park used by children.
“Right now it’s 40 mph down hill into that area,” he said about the speed limit on Taft Highway. “I see a fatality when I see this — someone is getting killed coming out of the pavilion and running into the street. In my opinion, it’s irresponsible for us to say this is a good deal.”
McKenzie, however, said the pavilion is not directly across from the Pumpkin Patch. She also said she’d like to see a lower speed limit and improvements along Taft Highway to promote pedestrian activity.
“We’re not there now,” McKenzie said.
Davis also questioned if the pavilion meets the definition of a building, saying it will have three sides.
Mayor Bill Trohanis said he believes the pavilion does qualify as a building, though he’d prefer to have it open.
Elliott said the conditions Anderson has to meet related to the site plan include approval of architectural elevations showing the outside design and materials palette of each exterior wall for buildings on the parcel at least two weeks before the October town meeting.
Also, Anderson is to submit evidence of soil analysis and viability of the sewage treatment system 45 days prior to commencement of site grading.
In addition, the board wants evidence of compliance with stormwater erosion controls by a certified engineer prior to application for land disturbance permits. Additionally, Anderson is to provide full plans and specifications including a signage plan for review by the town’s consultant for compliance with an ordinance at least two weeks before applying for a building permit.
Elliott said there also needs to be provision for an easement for parking and access for the public to open space across store property.
Earlier this month, Walden officials had put off approval of a proposed general site plan for a grocery store as they sought more information from Anderson. Town officials decided to revisit the proposed site plan on Tuesday at the special meeting.
The proposed $15 million project won approval late last year after a long fight with a number of residents on Signal Mountain. A lawsuit was filed by citizens against the town, and it went before a mediator about a week ago.
Another developer and Food City tried unsuccessfully earlier to put a supermarket in the nearby town of Signal Mountain.
Anderson has said the Walden project would generate about $610,060 in revenue to the town and to Hamilton County each year.