Walmart has received approval to bring back drone deliveries at the Supercenter at 406 S. Walton Blvd.
On September 2, the Planning Commission approved a one-year conditional use permit for Walmart to set up new drone facilities in the store’s parking lot.
The plan calls for two fenced enclosures. One, called the “Nest,” will be used for charging and storing drones when not in use. The second, known as the “Autoloader,” will be used by employees to load products before drones take off. Together, the enclosures will occupy about 27 parking spaces.
The nearest homes sit roughly 200 feet from the planned enclosures, separated by a row of trees. Walmart said in its application the distance is “significant enough that any noise from the drones will be very short in duration” and that the noise will be “comparable to a vehicle or a gas lawn mower, so it is negligible and will blend into typical parking lot noise.”
Drone operations are planned daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The project will use technology from Wing, a drone delivery company owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet. Walmart previously tested a different type of drone delivery at this same store, using a tower that has since been removed as part of a store expansion, according to application materials.
City conditions
City staff recommended approval of the project with several conditions. Those include:
Walmart must submit monthly reports to the city on average daily flights.
The company must provide and maintain 24/7 emergency contact information for drone operations.
Launches and landings must be limited to the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Drone operations must comply with city noise standards at the property line, and the city may require verification testing.
Any changes in scope or use could trigger a new public hearing, and the Planning Commission may hold a hearing or revoke the permit at any time.
An eight-foot safety fence must surround both enclosures.
