Royal Purple

Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Joy Kowald The former Staples store on Main Street near McDonald's was approved last month. The Walgreens will have a drive-thru open from 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

The City Plan and Architectural Review Commission approved Walgreens to occupy the old Staples building and a Kwik Trip to go on the east side of town as part of the East Towne Market project.

The Walgreens is going to have a drive-thru which in that particular district of the city constitutes what is called conditional use. The drive-thru will not have speakers which lead the city to feel that Walgreens will have a low impact on the surrounding residential neighborhood. Currently the drive-thru is only allowed to be open between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

"I think just to be sensitive of the fact that it's surrounded by residential properties is the big issue there," Ryan Garcia, City Planner, said.

The city has no ordinance against 24 hour drive-thru operation. At anytime Walgreens may petition the city to allow extended drive-thru hours if it's found that the character of the neighborhood changes or it's found that Walgreens's drive-thru is not a nuisance at all.

The plans for Walgreens call for the building to be reduced to 14,700 square feet from the existing 22,000 square feet.

"Most of it is going to be used to accommodate the drive-thru. They're actually taking the building and cutting it down." Garcia said. "It'll reduce the mass of the building which I think is a good thing in that location."

Students will be able to benefit from Walgreens on a couple levels. Its position in the city makes it easily within walking distance for most students. In addition, the store will bring jobs.

"I think Walgreens will be great for the city of Whitewater. It'll be nice to have some more national retailers here." Senior Samantha Bohrer said.

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