Representatives from Walmart addressed environmental concerns stemming from the company's proposal to build a 152,124 square foot location in West Wareham during a joint meeting of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday.

In March, Hancock Associates, which represents the town, provided a site plan review that assessed the proposed Walmart’s design and indicated that it generally complies with Wareham’s development standards, but listed several areas that would required further study including traffic flow and environment impact.

Matt Smith of Bohler Engineering, which represents Walmart, said the store is currently working with the Conservation Committee to fully understand the environmental impacts the facility could have on the surrounding land and wildlife.

Community Preservation Committee member Nancy Miller, who spoke during the citizens participation portion of the meeting, said she was concerned about the location of the store's proposed garden center, noting that it would be placed in close proximity to a brook that flows into Weweantic River. The brook is home to many species of plants and animals such as turtles.

“There are going to be [environmental] issues,” she said, proposing the designers move the garden center to the opposite side of the store, farther away from the brook. “It’s not a good situation to protect the environment.”

Others did not share Miller’s fears.

“I don’t see what turtles have to do with making our lives better or worse,” said Vincent Peternel of West Wareham. “There are regulations, and as long as they follow the regulations, I don’t see why anyone should have any concern.”

Smith said moving the a 4,200 square foot garden center would not make a difference.

“Everything that is in the plan goes into the same drainage system,” he said. “If you [move the garden center to the opposite side] it could impact parking.”

In addition to the issues raised Tuesday, the controversial proposal has been met with a number of other concerns about the town's sewer capacity and safety concerns for the children attending John W. Decas Elementary School, who would be walking through the area.

Smith said Walmart is continuing to pursue public sewer with the Board of Selectmen. He said he is optimistic the proposed Walmart will ultimately connect to the public sewer, but noted the process has been “unusually challenging.”

Traffic flow, another ongoing concern for residents, will be addressed at an upcoming joint meeting of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Walmart, which currently operates in East Wareham, has proposed a plan to construct a new store and move to the corner of Tobey Road and Cranberry Highway in West Wareham. In addition to Walmart’s current inventory, the new store would offer a full line of groceries. The store is currently prohibited from expanding its grocery business due to a restriction on its property because it is located in the plaza with Stop & Shop.

Prior to its construction, the project will need to be approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and Mass Highway.

The next Walmart public hearing is scheduled for June 14 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall lower level cafeteria.