By Jeff Gehring
Officials for Smith''s took a sigh of relief Wednesday night, March 13, when they were given another year to begin construction on their store in West Provo.
Smith''s originally sought approval for a new store, on the corner of Geneva Rd. and Center St., in 1998.
Due to opposition from nearby residents, approval was not granted until March 2001.
According to Provo City Code, 'an approved project plan which has not proceeded to actual construction within 12 months shall expire and be of no further force or effect.'
Fortunately for Smith''s, the code does allow for a one-time, one-year extension.
'We would''ve been out of luck if they would have denied us,' said David Nielson, agent for Smith''s. 'Our project approval would have gone away, but now we have another year.'
Smith''s would have liked to build the store some time ago, Nielson said, but it has been a complicated issue.
'I remember talking on the phone watching Tara Lapinsky win the gold medal in Nagano when this was under process,' Nielson said. 'Much has changed since then, but we are hoping to start within the next year.'
The request for an extension was made due to competitive changes, Nielson said. The Springville Wal-Mart being built and the addition of food to the Orem Wal-Mart have reduced sales projections for this store.
'Due to some market issues and the time it took to get the case through court, the time is not right for them to start on the project,' said Jason Bench, Provo city planner.
The idea is to start construction as soon as it is economically feasible for the store, Nielson said.
'We''re hoping and praying we can build within the next year,' Nielson said. 'We don''t want to let it sit, that would be like paying rent for one house and living in a different house across town.'
Nielson said Smith''s currently pays approximately $100,000 a year for the land and spent about $30,000 when all was said and done to get the 58,000 sq. ft. store approved due to neighborhood opposition.
Wednesday night no one was present to oppose the extension. In fact, some residents are anxiously awaiting a Smith''s closer to home.
'I would love that - there are no grocery stores relatively close,' said Michele Dester, a west Provo resident. 'Community wise, for the west side of Provo it would be ideal.'
Executives at Smith''s will be performing a six-month market analysis to determine whether or not others share Dester''s sentiment.
'We are confident that over the next eighteen months, new growth coupled with an improving economy will make it feasible to construct the store,' Nielson said.
A decision will have to be made within the year, or the extension will expire, and then it''s back to the drawing board.