Wal-Mart moved closer to South Carroll yesterday when the Carroll County Planning and Zoning Commission approved the final site plan for a store in New Carroll Center at Routes 32 and 26 in Eldersburg.
The national retail chain plans to build a 103,518-square-foot building on 16.9 acres on the site, which is the last undeveloped parcel at the intersection.
Wal-Mart has stores in Westminster, Aberdeen, Glen Burnie, Laurel and White Marsh, and plans to open another in Glen Burnie and one in Catonsville. The chain has more than 1,800 stores nationwide.
The State Highway Administration recently widened the intersection, which is one of the most traveled in the county. But the improvement only maintained the crossing at a level C. Level ratings range from A for good to F for failed and severely inadequate.
"At a level C, motorists feel more restricted and there is a noticeable decrease in freedom of movement," said Carroll traffic planner Steve Horn. "It also starts on a decline to unacceptable."
On Route 26 just south of the intersection, motorists will have full access to the new shopping center from right- and left-turn lanes. No traffic signal is planned at the access.
Traffic from Route 32 will enter the center from a proposed new extension of Bevard Road. The county plan requires Wal-Mart to secure the easements and build the proposed road.
"Access is the key factor, and we have been working with the State Highway Administration," Bruce Waldron, a county planner, told the planning commission.
Traffic signals serve the intersections of Liberty Road (Route 26) and Route 32, and south of the planned center with Georgetown Boulevard, an intersection classified D.
No additional signals are planned on Liberty Road. A light is proposed for Route 32 at Londontown Boulevard, north of the center.
Average daily traffic counts, based on a 1993 SHA survey, list 18,325 two-way trips on Route 32 south of Route 26; 20,700 trips on Route 26 west of Route 32; and 30,975 trip on Route 26 east of Route 32. The SHA adjusts those counts for growth by 6 percent annually for Route 32 and 7 percent on Route 26.
"How much more traffic can this intersection take?" Dennis Bowman, planning commissioner, asked.
"The SHA says this much more," Mr. Waldron answered.
County Commissioner Richard T. Yates, a South Carroll resident, said he has reservations about traffic flow until proposed connector roads to Londontown and Georgetown boulevards are built.
"That's a killing field down there," he said. "Go down on Saturday and see the traffic."
Wal-Mart will share space in the center with Carroll County Bank and Trust Co., which plans to open one of its largest branches there this summer. Parking will be available at the sides and front of the buildings.
"We have good circulation in the center," Mr. Waldron said.
The site plan provides a looped access drive on the perimeter of the parking areas.
Planners have "done a good job in dispersing traffic," Mr. Waldron said.
Connections to public water and sewer also have been approved.
In an economic impact analysis, the Legg Mason Group estimated that the Wal-Mart would generate jobs for 158 people and more than $110,000 in annual tax revenue for the county.