For those wondering about the status of Menards since the Oct. 18 groundbreaking ceremony that took place at Charles Pointe Crossing, there was good news Monday. And for those who have questioned if the location in Bridgeport was the only one postponed after it was announced several years ago, there is an answer.

 

Clarification on both fronts came during Tuesday evening’s Bridgeport Zoning Appeals Board meeting. Tom O’Neil, Menards Sales and Leasing Representative, flew in from the company’s home base of Wisconsin to take care of before work begins and a building permit is filed.

 

O’Neil was on hand to seek variances for the new facility involving the parking at the massive site and the sign that will be placed near and on the building. During his requests to the BZA Board, O’Neil provided other information as well.

 

One of those involved whether Bridgeport was alone in the delays.

 

“We’re doing our first building since 2020,” said O’Neil, who has been with the company for more than two decades, after the meeting. “We have a handful we’re doing and the last one our company did was in Westover.”

 

During the meeting, O’Neil explained his company’s reasoning for seeking a variance for the number of parking spots in the first of two public hearings and variance requests. O’Neil was seeking to be allowed to have just 400 parking spaces, although they would build 431 spaces.

 

Being able to go down to 400 would allow “flexibility” in the event an area such as a garden center or warehouse space would need expanded. Even at 431, it would have been well under the amount required per square footage of the building.

 

However, a not insignificant portion of the 251,349 square foot structure is warehouse space, which requires less parking. BZA Chairman Richard “Dick” Forren said based on his calculations it would come to 459 required. Based on that, and the Menards footprint, the BZA unanimously approved the variance.

 

A second variance was also approved but is contingent upon the developers of Charles Pointe – Genesis Partners – agreeing to it after a review by their own architectural review board. While the BZA approved the sign size of 380 square feet – up from the standard 90 typically allowed – the ARB will need to give a final sign off before it becomes official. The height of the proposed sign, 80 feet, was given a variance from the standard 20 feet.

 

“I don’t think they’ll create a visual distraction,” said member Meredith McCarthy, who along with others pointed that there were no residential units in the area impacted by the matter.

 

The sign will be visible from Interstate 79’s southbound lanes. O’Neil said he does not believe it will be visible from the northbound lanes.

 

The BZA did not need to grant a variance but did have to sign off on wall signs – those on the front of the building and throughout. If the total exceeds 100 square feet, a business needs their plans reviewed and approved. Menards’ signs easily exceed the 100 square foot limit, but on the store front itself would make up roughly 3 percent of the area, said O’Neil.

 

O’Neil also said he anticipates there to be up to 150 employees. The number includes both full- and part-time workers at a store that could near $20 million in cost based on comments made at the October groundbreaking luncheon.

 

One thing that has not happened yet, however, is the filing of a building permit. The move, however, is not unusual as Menards typically begins construction in March and files a permit after all other matters – such as the variances and approval of their development plan – are approved. Spring of 2023 has been the time frame announced in the past.

 

Menards actually submitted plans for review to Community Development Director Andrea Kerr’s office prior to the start of COVID, but there was almost no action since. That changed last month as Kerr said her office requested fresh and revised plans and those plans arrived in early November.

 

There was no information or even speculation on when the building would be complete although during the groundbreaking event, a Menards official anticipated it to be in 2024 for the building site that will cover 17 acres. That will leave 50 acres of land left for development and Genesis Partners officials have said they anticipate multiple new business announcements as the project moves forward.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Tom O'Neil of Menards, while BZA members Meredith McCarthy and Richard Forren are in the next two photos, respectively.