This site plan seen on Pittsfield Community Television shows where the pickup area — at the top — will be in relation to the store in Berkshire Crossing.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Walmart is closer to gaining approval to convert part of the garden center into an online ordering pickup area. 

On Tuesday, the Community Development Board endorsed the company's request to amend its existing site plan at 555 Hubbard Ave. As part of nationwide store improvements, about 1,500 square feet of the Pittsfield garden center is planned to be enclosed for an online ordering pickup center.

Greg DiBona of Bohler Engineering, the firm hired by Walmart, reported working on similar projects at dozens of other locations. Online shopping became popular and necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"They look at their stores and reassess which ones need more basically staging and lay down area within the building designated for the pickup operation, and for this facility, it was determined that really they could use more space that's specifically designed for their pickup operation," he said, pointing to the the site plan that moves pickup from the front corner of the store to the side adjacent to the auto center. 

"… They're taking up existing garden center space to make the addition, so when we say 'addition,' it's additional interior condition space, but it's all within the existing footprint of the Walmart itself. It just takes away from some of the outdoor garden center area." 

Last month, the Conservation Commission issued a negative determination for the project's request for determination of applicability, meaning it will not have a negative impact on the protected wetland areas.  The board's approval required Walmart to include an impact statement in its application to the City Council. 

There are currently eight designated pickup spots in front of Walmart, where people can pre-order online and have items brought to their vehicle within hours.  The project increases pickup spots to 17, located next to the new pickup area. 

"That's also something Walmart reevaluates per site based on what they expect their future growth in this market to be for online grocery use, so they're going to 17 spots here for future growth," DiBona said. 

"But the improvements on this one are pretty minor, because, again, we're not really expanding outside of the footprint today. We're not increasing impervious coverage. There are no utility relocations that we need to do. It really is kind of just converting that garden center area to the pickup, and just like the pickup operates today, this is not an entry for customers. This is only serviced by the Walmart employees themselves." 

The garden center isn't included in the building square footage that was approved more than 30 years ago, in 1993. 

Walmart has planned improvements for the remainder of the parking lot as well. 
 

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