Lincoln panel approves Walmart remodel, caps in‑lot pickup stalls at 12

The City of Lincoln Planning Commission voted Feb. 18 to approve a design review modification for the Walmart neighborhood market at 255 Lincoln Boulevard, adopting a condition that limits in‑lot pickup stalls to a maximum of 12.

Mikaela Noble, associate planner with the community development department, told commissioners the remodel does not expand the building footprint and focuses on exterior updates, refreshed wall signage and parking‑lot restriping. "The project is not proposing to expand the building footprint and only intends to modify the exterior paint color scheme, update existing signage and re‑scribe the parking lot," Noble said during the staff presentation.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the store’s existing lot is already crowded and that reallocating regular parking stalls to dedicated pickup spaces could make in‑store access harder for shoppers who drive into the store. Several commissioners asked for local utilization data before approving the applicant’s original request for 20 pickup stalls.

During the public hearing, Jen Gutzloff, a civil engineering consultant with Kimley Horn representing the applicant, said the 20‑stall proposal reflects Walmart’s national standard for a neighborhood market of this size. "Twenty stalls were requested," Gutzloff said, adding the number is derived from a formula linked to store and parking‑lot size.

Commissioners questioned whether the national guideline matched local demographic and parking realities in Lincoln, where commissioners noted a relatively high senior population and constrained lot geometry. Some commissioners proposed compromise numbers: 10 or 12 pickup stalls, plus return reporting to the commission if the applicant wants to increase the total later.

Procedural steps and outcome: After discussion, a commissioner moved to amend the staff report to change the recommended 20 pickup stalls to 12 and the chair reopened the public hearing for the record (no public speakers). The amendment to the staff report passed on roll call 5–1 (one member absent). The commission then adopted the resolution approving the design review modification as amended; the resolution includes a condition that limits the maximum number of signed pickup stalls within the remodel to 12. The final resolution was approved by roll call 6–0 with one absence.

What the action does and next steps: The approval allows the exterior updates, signage refresh and the restriping work to proceed subject to the condition limiting in‑lot pickup signage to 12 stalls. Commissioners and staff said the applicant may return with local data if it seeks to increase the number of dedicated pickup stalls in the future; staff indicated the commission retains the authority to require evidence of local demand before approving any increase.

Quoted voices reflect the record: Mikaela Noble presented staff’s recommendation and explained CEQA applicability; Jen Gutzloff, Kimley Horn’s civil engineering consultant, described Walmart’s national practice for pickup stalls. City Attorney Christine advised on procedure for amending the staff report and adding a condition to the resolution.

The commission’s action was limited to the design review and parking‑stall signage condition; no building expansion was authorized. The decision is final per Planning Commission procedures unless appealed in accordance with city rules.