City Moves Forward With New 75th Street Walmart

Naperville City Council members approved final plans for a proposed Walmart Supercenter on 75th Street and Beebe Drive Tuesday night - but not without some slight changes.

Earlier: Walmart to Get Tax Break for New Naperville Supercenter

After receiving a sales tax rebate of $1.75 million over 10 years, the new 170,000 square-foot store will take the place of Walmart’s current Naperville location, 776 S. Route 59. However, the question Tuesday night wasn’t where the location will be, rather how it will look from the exterior.

“I would love to have Walmart come in, but I’m concerned about the landscaping,” said Councilman Grant Wehrli. “What I would like to see done there is for Walmart to follow the lead of [Costco and Whole Foods], literally across the street, and go above and beyond with the landscaping.”

Councilman Kenn Miller questioned Wehrli, asking what else the retail giant should add, considering Walmart’s landscaping plans already met city code.

“I’m confused, what is it that we’re missing?” Miller said.

Wehrli said he would like to see the intersection mirror surrounding retailers landscaping and taken to a “higher level” in terms of a visual standpoint.

Councilman Douglas Krause argued that those nearby developments - Whole Foods to the north and Costco to the west - weren’t set to the same standard.

“We didn’t follow the same standard when we did Whole Foods across the street. We didn’t demand them to put in a forest,” he said. “I personally feel they’ve met a lot of the concerns and are busy with addressing a lot of the concerns with the [DuPage] Forest Preserve and I give them credit for trying to adapt to make that a great location.”

Some of those concerns revolved around the type of tree species that should be planted on the commercial lot, which is bordered by Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve to the south and east. 

City Planning Team Leader Allison Laff said the city is working with both Walmart and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County to work on an agreement.  

“We are definitely working with the forest preserve district,” Laff said. “But it may come to a point were some of the recommendations that [the forest preserve] have just don’t work due to the fact that this is intended to be a commercial site.” 

Councilwoman Judy Brodhead added that the reason there is so much concern over tree species is because the current lot was previously a forest preserve before it was zoned for commercial use.

“We are delighted that Walmart is coming,” Brodhead said. “But we also remember this when it was forest preserve and we are hoping to have a good transition between the two.”

In the council's final motion, the city required Walmart to consider Forest Preserve District of DuPage County recommendations in terms of what to plant on the lot.