Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. filed development plans this week with the City of Arlington for a new 187,183 square-foot supercenter to be located at the northeast corner of Randol Mill Road and North Collins Street in north Arlington.

City planning officials say the retail chain has filed development plans for a large scale retail center in the Festival District. The supercenter would include a pharmacy, garden center, tire and lube center and groceries. The site is the former location of K-Mart, which closed earlier this year.

"This is exactly the right place and right time for this type of retail development and revitalization," said Mayor Robert Cluck. "This is great news for Arlington."

This portion of north Arlington is located in Council District 1, which includes Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbour, The Ballpark in Arlington and River Legacy Parks. North Arlington is represented by City Council member Joe Bruner who described the Wal-Mart plan as a "win-win for everyone."

"This Wal-Mart is not only going to be aesthetically pleasing in its design, landscaping and parking features, but it’s going to attract other retail development in the surrounding areas," Bruner said.

Engineering Manager Ted Murday of Adam’s Consulting said Wal-Mart’s architectural design plans will resemble that of the neighboring Ballpark in Arlington, which is the home of the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team. According to Murday, construction could start in March or early April 2004.

Wal-Mart’s development plan is scheduled for review by the Planning and Zoning Commission at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, according to Michelle Hardin, the city’s assistant director of the Department of Planning and Development Services. It is scheduled for Arlington City Council review at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2.