Wal-Mart begins construction at Stafford Lakes

STAFFORD — Bulldozers and backhoes began moving dirt on the construction site of the new Walmart Super Store in southern Stafford on Nov. 21. Workers set up a fence along the three surrounding roads and with the perimeter secured, a construction trailer was set up by week’s end.

The county approved construction of the Wal-Mart several years ago, but during the process, the original design was downsized from the initial request for more than 230,000 square feet to the current 176,000.

The discount department store is being built on the corner of Village Parkway between Warrenton Road (U.S. 17 south) and University Blvd. The new super store will be located across the street from the University of Mary Washington College of Graduate and Professional Studies and directly in front of the Stafford Lakes Village subdivision community association club house and recreation area and a Minnieland daycare center.

Stafford Lakes Community Association formed a committee several years ago to serve as liaison on the Wal-Mart project to help protect the environmental integrity of the residential community.

They voiced concerns about building a buffer of some type behind the store along University Blvd. and limiting multiple roadway access to the retail property.

The approved county plans show three major entrances to the property from Warrenton Road, Village Parkway and University Blvd. However, they do not include any landscaping plans except trees and plantings required by code.

Stafford County planning department staff indicated in a telephone interview that there will be grass medians between the three surrounding roads and the parking lots, ranging from a minimum of 25 feet to more than 100 feet in depth. Wal-Mart will also be required to have 75 plantings per 100 linier feet on the medians.

County officials also indicated that no additional traffic lights were included in the plans. Currently, traffic signals are located at the corners of Warrenton Road and Village Parkway and at the next major intersection at Stafford Lakes Drive, next to GEICO.

Tina Bundy of the Fredericksburg VDOT office verified that permits have been issued for the three entrances. Specifically, one will be on Warrenton Road, 700 feet east of Village Parkway, and one on Village Parkway about midway between University Blvd. and Warrenton Road.

Although she did not have the exact location, Bundy said the access from University Blvd. “appears” to be a delivery entrance. At press time Wal-Mart officials had not yet responded to an inquiry to verify the status of that entrance.

“All entrances will have two lanes going in and two lanes coming out,” said Bundy. “Each will be about 36 to 40 feet wide.”

Although there will be no additional traffic signals installed by the Wal-Mart, Bundy said other road alterations will be made. “The turn-around at M&P Market and Booth Feeds on Warrenton Road will be eliminated,” she said. “Access to those businesses will be available from an improved intersection at Cardinal Forest Drive where a traffic signal is scheduled to be installed.”

When completed by the end of next year, the store will be the third Wal-Mart in Stafford County, with two others located on Route 610 near Interstate 95 and Route 3 near Ferry Farm. But it will be the fifth in the area. Two other Wal-Mart Super Stores are located in Fredericksburg’s Central Park at Route 3 and I-95 and in Massaponex at U.S. 17 and I-95.

KBS, Inc. of Richmond is the general contractor on the project, with several other contractors such as Bohler Engineering, with offices in Warrenton, providing additional services on the project.

Marty van Duyne is a contributing writer at the Stafford County Sun. Reach her at .