Walmart Seeks Northbrook Location

A proposed 24-hour Walmart Supercenter in Northbrook could create between 300 and 350 jobs on the North Shore and generate between $1 and $2 million in revenue for the Village, according to information which came out at a Village Board meeting Tuesday.

More than 100 people turned out for the meeting and most of them were there for the nearly 90-minute presentation by Walmart representatives for the proposed location at 1000 Skokie Blvd., south of Dundee Road.

Earlier: Walmart Shows Interest in Northbrook

The closest Walmart stores to Deerfield and Highland Park are currently in Buffalo Grove and Vernon Hills.

Should the Village grant Walmart’s request to rezone the property from its current office space use to retail, the store would occupy 15 acres of the 18-acre tract, according to Northbrook Village staff. The developer wants to rezone the entire property with the potential for future commercial development on the leftover land. 

If Walmart decides to proceed with its application process, its proposal would need to be considered by the village's plan and zoning commissions. Tuesday’s presentation was not an indicator of the village's support or opposition to the store's presence in Northbrook.

Steve Elrod, the village attorney, said the Northbrook was legally obligated to consider any zoning change proposal, and a zoning change on the lot would be necessary for the development to proceed. 

The proposed Walmart project could bring general merchandise, groceries and a pharmacy to the North Shore, along with 6,000 cars in estimated daily traffic, 25 weekly trucks and a 30-foot high sign, according to representatives from the company.

One item sold in many Walmart stores, firearms, would not be in the displays in Northbrook. “That does not meet our code whatsoever," Village President Sandy Frum said, regarding firearm sales. The company will seek a license to sell alcohol.

Trustee Michael Scolaro asked how much revenue the company expects the store to make, but representatives would not disclose that specific number. Instead, Scolaro asked how many stores the company had and their annual earnings, and used those responses to estimate the store could bring $1-2 million in revenue for the village. 

The development would not include a gas station, drive-through pharmacy or tire center, Walmart’s representatives said. Other discussed features were exterior lighting designed to avoid spillage into nearby residential areas, partially constructing the building with recycled material and a 300-square-foot sign outside the proposed store.

Representatives from the Northbrook East Homeowners Association spoke out against the proposal, warning the board members of the potential traffic congestion, pollution, and decreased property value that could occur because of the big box retailer nearby.

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