The City has received word that ALDI is backing out of the deal to build a store in Oak Ridge, because of “numerous site issues and approvals that did not meet the corporate office approval process.
This is both a disappointment (a new grocery store on the east side would have been a very positive addition to the Oak Ridge retail scene) and a relief (I expect this news will help the neighbors sleep peacefully).
“Next time,” I hope that site-related challenges like those that arose with site drainage and access will be made evident early in the siting process, so that prospective developers can plan around them. Similarly, I hope that clear and accurate project information can be communicated to the community, so that city boards that need to issue approvals will not have misconceptions about the project.
I agree that it is unfortunate that the city seems to be unable to get the commercial activity that we so desperately need. I wonder what we can do to deal with this issue of not being able to work with businesses.
Which misconceptions about the project are you referring to?
You asked about misconceptions.
Up until a few minutes before the Planning Commission approved the project, neighborhood residents and at least some of the planning commissioners thought that ALDI planned to bring a semi-trailer every night, unhook the trailer and leave it for 24 hours, then retrieve it the next day when they dropped off a new trailer (thus leaving a trailer parked at the loading dock 24 hours a day). That expectation of round-the-clock presence of trailers increased concerns about the aesthetics of the loading dock, and may have contributed to the commission’s imposition of requirement for a tall gate to screen the loading dock area.
That was a misconception. Shortly before the Planning Commission vote, a neighborhood resident commented about this arrangement, and the ALDI representative said that ALDI does not operate that way. They bring a trailer, unload it, and drive back to the Nashville area. (In fact, he said it would be inefficient to leave trailers parked at their stores.)
Additionally, there was confusion about the traffic to be generated by the store. At the TSAB meeting, I understood the traffic estimate to be 400 vehicle accesses per day (meaning 200 vehicles, making 200 trips in plus 200 trips out). However, the memo from TSAB to City Council indicated a total of 350 to 400 customers per day, and the news media has reported the same numbers. I don’t know which is correct (200 customers or 350-400 customers per day?). The difference between 200 customers and 400 customers is a big one in terms of people’s perceptions of the impact of the store on the surrounding neighborhood.
Clearly the first misconception was dealt with during the meeting before the vote. That seems normal as well as an appropriate and timely way to deal with a misconception.
I’m not sure that 400 vehicle accesses to a location only means 200 vehicles access the location or that each car only carries as single person. Clearly they do not pile up in the parking lot. But to put it in perspective that difference is about 1 car every 4 minutes and some of them would use the Turnpike entrance/exit for half of their activity.
I’m not sure the first misconception was dealt with effectively at the meeting, since the correct information came after most deliberation was done, and possibly after the motion had been amended to add a gate to screen the loading dock. If commissioners had not been thinking about that trailer being parked all night, they might not have required the gate.
Regarding your point about the traffic, I think you are nitpicking. I believe the various sources that referred to 350-400 customers were talking about customer vehicles.
I have mixed emotions about ALDI. Their reputation is less than desired, but they would have filled a void out east. Their store layout is for shopping off pallets, but their item prices are very low.
They would have attracted more traffic than anyone on a board in City of Oak Ridge has studied, but LeRoy, Chief Bailey, and myself seemed to be the only one talking about Fire Station #2. Each vehicle at an intersection adds 3 to 5 seconds to a service call. That would have put the largest population sector in City of Oak Ridge over 5 to 7 minutes to respond, including Tom Beehan’s and Charlie Hensley’s residences which is serviced by Station #2. That response time is unacceptable to most home insurance companies since a fire or heart attack doubles in severity in seconds. Our home insurance rates would have surely risen just with the addition of this one store because of the ODD access wanted on the turnpike with no control of traffic lights to lessen response times by our fire departments. Besides, the last referendum has shown the favoritism given to some companies, why wasn’t a tax abatement given to ALDI to cover their site costs?
Still no response to what would have changed on Fairbanks Road due to lane designations on Florida Avenue, and still no response to the unbalanced services in City of Oak Ridge due to tax abatements. How much longer will citizens pay for businesses while being neglected by city departments? It is apparent some board and commission members are sitting in their comfort zone while citizen tax rolls are bait to attract business for these board and commission members. I cannot wait for the store that wants to locate out west. Weigel’s could use the competition.
Ray, I am not following your logic. How would 1 extra car in Florida Av/Turnpike each 4 minutes increase the wait by more that 4 seconds? If a car stays in the intersection an average of 1 minute (which seems high), it would appear that the average additional wait would be about 1 second.
And why do you think that ALDI would not have requested their freely available tax abatement?
I see you haven’t driven a fire truck. At least take a ride and see it from their view.
I was just assuming that your basic information was correct. One extra car near that intersection every 4 minutes. Not much of a barrier over what is normally there… about an extra second.
We live near an aldi distribution centre in the Wirral, Cheshire, it is a nightmare, suppliers wagons using area as giant carpark and toilet, refrigeration units running all night long stopping local residents sleep, extreme noise issues when they load, increased diesel fumes..
The whole aldi thing should be stopped.. they are damaging the rural areas, residential areas etc.
it is sad that one of the best Discounter did not find to Oak RIdge. In germany with a way higher food quality ALDI beat them with is ecxelente (no compain at all) food out. THis store chain has the capacity to blow away the Food City, Walmart HIGH Price stuff.