It may or may not have a Wal-Mart

ALBANY - Wal-Mart or something else?

Representatives from the SmartCentres development company still will not disclose whether a Wal-Mart store will go into a commercial shopping center planned on about 26 acres east of Interstate 5.

After the Albany City Council gave final site plan approval on Wednesday, Andrew Sinclair, land development manager for the Canadian-based company, said he did not know what large retailer would open at the site.

The property is south of Santiam Highway and west of Goldfish Farm Road.

Sinclair said he preferred not to be interviewed but did say his company did not have anyone signed up yet to locate on the site. He said he did not know when SmartCentres could announce a tenant.

Planning staff has asked SmartCentres numerous times what major store is planned for the shopping center, and they got the same answer. Many of the shopping centers the company has developed elsewhere included a Wal-Mart as an anchor store.

The council voted 4-1 to approve the $45 million shopping center plan. Voting in favor were Ralph Reid Jr., Floyd Collins, Bessie Johnson and Jeff Christman. Dick Olsen voted against. Sharon Konopa did not take part in the hearing that led to the final vote. Earlier, she cited possible conflicts of interest. She said she was sure that a Wal-Mart would be one of the tenants and her husband, a union official, had opposed the company. Olsen said he voted no because of a possible condemnation related to the development.

The developer needs easements and public right of way for a new east/west collector street from Goldfish Farm Road to the west boundary of the shopping center. The property is owned by Jackson Food Stores of Idaho.

If the developer cannot secure the right of way, the developer is expected to ask the city to condemn the property and then pay all city costs associated with a condemnation.