After months of rumors, it's official: Walmart wants to build a store in Waukee.
A staff report to the city's Planning and Zoning Commission released Friday, Aug. 7, identifies a development proposal for a 182,429-square-foot Walmart Supercenter that will include a pharmacy, gas station and an automotive service center at 1165 E. Hickman Road.
The lot, which sits at the northeast corner of Hickman Road and Northeast Alice's Road, is currently vacant. A Hy-Vee Grocery store sits across Alice's Road, and catty-corner from the lot sits an Aldi. Target opened a store at 900 Southeast Laurel Street, just southeast of the proposed Walmart, in 2024.
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Work for the project started in January when one of the project's developers, Birmingham, Alabama-based Orange Development LLC, began the process of rezoning the 33-acre parcel for commercial use. The Waukee City Council passed the ordinance on April 20, according to meeting minutes.
The project, when first introduced, was only identified as a combined retail and grocery store with a gas station, but which retailer it would be was unknown. It was rumored to be a Sam's Club or possibly a Kroger, Albertsons, or Meijer grocery store, none of which have Iowa locations.
The developers of the project, Orange Development and West Des Moines-based Hurd Real Estate, as well as Walmart, were unable to be immediately reached for comment. According to an April news release from Walmart, approximately 20 new stores are expected to open in 2026 and early 2027.
The project's plan calls for the Waukee's Walmart store to have a pharmacy and automotive service center, as well as a fueling station with 10 pumps and 748 parking spaces, according to the report. About 44% of the lot would remain open space, more than double the city's 20% minimum requirement.
There would be two access points along Hickman Road, which have been approved by the Iowa DOT, according to the report. A traffic study determined that a right-turn lane would need to be added at the easternmost entrance along Hickman.
There would also be three entrances along Alice's Road, including one at an existing traffic signal, according to the report. Two would be right-in/right-out. There would also be a limited access point by the West Light Apartment complex to the east of the proposed store.
A 5-foot-wide sidewalk would be installed along the west part of the lot along Alice's Road, according to the report. A 30-foot landscape buffer would be required along the north and east sides of the lot to screen from residential areas.
The Waukee Planning and Zoning Commission will consider the project's plans at a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Waukee City Hall.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Walmart Supercenter plans for Waukee, new filing shows