Bernalillo Town councilors were presented with plans to add a new Walmart gas station and convenience store along busy Highway 528. If approved, it would be the first in Sandoval County.
The council, with Mayor Pro Tem Dale Prairie presiding in the absence of Mayor Jack Torres, was presented with the ordinance by Planning and Zoning Director Stephanie Shumsky at the July 8 meeting. The ordinance proposed amending the Venada Plaza Shopping Center master plan to add a gas station and convenience store, as well as a plan to reduce the size of the parking lot.
The discussion marked the second step in the process to establish the first Walmart gas station in the county. The next step will take place at the regular council meeting Aug. 12, where the governing council will review the gas station proposal for consideration and hear any public comments.
The proposed gas station and convenience store would be positioned between Enchanted Hills Dentistry and Orthodontics and the Venada Plaza PNC Bank branch, with the only entrance accessible from Montoya Road.
According to Shumsky during the planning and zoning meeting, building the gas station would result in the loss of approximately 155 parking spaces. She was comfortable recommending approval because these spaces are generally unused, and the vast parking lot often sits empty.
The planned convenience store would be 1,440 square feet in size, and the gas station would provide a total of 20 pump spaces. There would also be room for a turnaround for the gasoline delivery trucks.
According to USA Today, in 2016, Walmart ended its 20-year partnership with Murphy USA. Walmart decided to operate and brand gas stations independently outside its stores. However, Murphy USA will continue managing over 1,000 branded locations within Walmart parking lots.
In other business, the council approved raising the fee for preparing and analyzing commercial water budgets from $750 to a fixed $1,000, aiming to simplify processes and reduce administrative burdens associated with varying costs.
Get involved
The next town council meeting is at 6:30 p.m. July 22 at the Town Hall Council Chambers, 829 Camino del Pueblo.