Cottage Grove road upgrades for Walmart project near approval

• East Point Douglas Road

City Council members last week voted to accept a feasibility study on the proposed $2.2 million project that would complete roadway, drainage and sewer improvements along a short stretch of East Point Douglas Road near the VFW Post 8752 Red Barn and the shuttered Cottage View Drive-In theater where Walmart plans to build a store to open in 2014. File photo

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A multi-million-dollar road and utilities improvement project needed to pave the way for Cottage Grove’s first Walmart store is closer to city approval.

City Council members last week voted to accept a feasibility study on the proposed $2.2 million project that would complete roadway, drainage and sewer improvements along a short stretch of East Point Douglas Road near the VFW Post 8752 Red Barn and the shuttered Cottage View Drive-In theater where Walmart plans to build a store to open in 2014.

Walmart will foot the bill for the portion of the project that under city ordinance would be borne by assessments to benefitting properties, according to the city. A second phase of road improvements to the area, including construction of a new roadway through future commercial properties on the Cottage View site, would happen after development is slated to occur, officials say.

If you go:

A public improvement hearing on the project is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway.

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