A public meeting will be held tonight at 6:30 at Saints Philip and James Church, at 2801 N. Charles St., to hear plans put forward by Wal-Mart to develop a Superstore on 25th and Sisson streets in Remington.

The retail giant is seeking a “minor” amendment to a PUD (Planned Urban Development) to carve out its store from a larger PUD approved for the stalled 25th Street Station retail development.

The Remington Neighborhood Alliance, among other groups, is pressing for the altered plans to be considered a “major” amendment requiring Planning Commission and, ultimately, City Council approval.

Fast-Track Plans Slowing

Councilman Carl Stokes, who will be hosting tonight’s meeting, told The Brew that the city administration wants a minor amendment, in part to avoid the public controversy and outcry over Wal-Mart and Lowe’s “big box” plans for the site in 2010. Lowe’s subsequently dropped out of the plan.

Since Wal-Mart’s revised plans were disclosed recently before a city design panel, the Rawlings-Blake administration has been trying to fast-track the changes. Last week, the Site Plan Review Committee looked over the plans, but did not approve them, sources tell The Brew.

The committee, which meets in private to go over the concerns of city agencies regarding traffic, sanitation, fire code and other issues, has called for a second review, tentatively scheduled for October 16, the sources added.

Meanwhile, the Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel (UDARP) that harshly criticized the aesthetics of the proposed Wal-Mart store last month is set to review its revised plans at a public hearing this Thursday.

Major Amendment Sought

Joan Floyd, president of the Remington Neighborhood Alliance, has submitted plans calling for the store’s truck loading docks and main parking entrance be moved to prevent a large influx of cars and trucks on residential 24th Street.

“This is so clearly a major amendment to the plan that we want a thorough review,” she said.

Bruce Willen, of the Old Goucher Business Alliance, agrees. In a letter sent to Planning Department officials, Willen wrote, “The new designs are significantly different – and a clear step backwards – from what the community originally reviewed and OK’ed more than three years ago.”

He continued, “This is a great opportunity to show how the community input process can have real and positive effects on a project. It’s an opportunity to set a high bar for future big-box development in Baltimore.”