Plans for a 245,000-square-foot Woodman’s supermarket in Grafton, Wisconsin, have moved forward after the village’s Plan Commission approved the proposed development on Tuesday.
The scheme would bring a new store to a vacant 26-acre site near Port Washington Road, Arrowhead Road and Interstate 43. Commission members also approved the property’s annexation into the Village of Grafton, a planned unit development and a site plan subject to amendments.
If built, the complex would include a 24-hour supermarket, a convenience store with fuel pumps, quick-lube facilities and a drive-through car wash. It would become Grafton’s seventh grocery store.
The site lies north of Costco and south of Arrowhead Road. Village officials have said Port Washington Road would need to be widened between the Aurora Medical Center and Costco junction and Arrowhead Road to accommodate the development.
A traffic impact assessment is under way, while the village has been discussing a possible cost-sharing arrangement with Ozaukee County for the road improvements and new traffic signals.
The proposal drew opposition during public comment, with residents raising concerns about traffic, safety, the number of similar businesses in the area and the potential cost to taxpayers.
“My request is that we stop looking at these developments one person at a time and start looking at cumulative impact of our community. We’ve got a lot of these things already. What else could we put there that would help our Grafton community thrive?” resident Robyn Wiegand said.
Supporters have pointed to the prospect of new jobs and greater competition for shoppers. A Woodman’s representative said the store could help keep grocery prices down for local and regional customers.
The full Grafton Village Board is expected to consider the Plan Commission’s recommendations in October. Final approval would still be required before construction could begin.
