Planning Board says Walmart must return if it removes permanent front planters

Town staff told the Planning Board that Walmart asked whether it could remove a set of concrete masonry planter boxes along the front of its store without filing an amended site-plan application. Staff noted the site-plan-review regulations require review for "significant change" to an approved landscape plan and that the planning department typically decides whether a change is substantial; the board may also act.

Board members said the concrete planting structures are permanent features and that wholesale removal would eliminate a complete swath of approved landscaping across the front of the store. Members asked why Walmart wants to remove the planters; staff said no formal reason was provided in the initial inquiry. One board member moved to treat the change as a major/substantial alteration requiring an amended site-plan application; the motion was seconded and passed.

Joseph (staff) explained that minor relocations of plantings or re-siting similar species would likely be non-substantial, but the complete elimination of the permanent concrete planters falls near the threshold of a major change and therefore should come back before the board. The board asked staff to notify the applicant and expect a formal amended landscape/site-plan submission so members can review the rationale and any proposed compensatory landscaping.