Lake Zurich Walmart plans expansion

Lake Zurich residents may see a new look to the Walmart store on Rand Road as officials revealed plans for a 40,000-square-foot expansion.

Project representatives presented plans to trustees at Monday night's village board meeting. Project officials say they hope the renovations will be completed as early as next fall.

"We're very pleased to have them renovate," Village President Suzanne Branding said. "It's been there a while and it's time (to update). It's always nice to have a fresh coat of paint."

The proposed Walmart store expansion plan includes a full-line grocery store, a new facade with two main entrances, brighter lighting and a new truck loading dock. The store was originally built in 1989.

The renovated store would be open 24 hours.

The addition would reduce parking on the east side of the building where most of the construction would occur.

The new store would be considered a smaller version of Walmart's Super Centers, which can be as large as 200,000 square feet. The proposed addition would boost the size of the Rand Road store to a little more than 150,000 square feet, officials said.

Walmart and village building and zoning department officials met last week with neighboring residents, who voiced concerns about parking lot lighting and delivery hours. Walmart officials said they would consider those concerns as the expansion plans continue.

"I think they'll probably be able to address the bulk of the residents' concern," Branding said.

Officials said the store would remain open during construction, which is expected to take 11 months.