Kitty Hawk Walmart expansion to start in fall

KITTY HAWK, N.C.

The Outer Banks' only Walmart store is still slated to be upgraded to a Supercenter, but it could be this time next year before customers of the retail giant see those plans become reality.

Residents had expected to see construction begin last month. The new timetable has construction getting under way in the fall and being completed next spring, said Tom Wheeler, co-owner of the shopping center where the Walmart is located.

A meticulous planning process is just taking longer than anticipated, he said.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. "has not backed away from this project," Wheeler said. "In fact, I would say the momentum has greatly increased."

Expansion has been part of the company's plans since the Walmart opened in Kitty Hawk in 1993, after several years of controversy about the project's environmental impact. The construction of Shoreside Shopping Center required filling 8 acres of wetlands. The site borders a maritime forest, Kitty Hawk Woods.

The expansion will not affect any additional wetlands, town planning staff have said.