Wareham residents expressed dissatisfaction and frustration over Walmart's plans to build a new 152,124-square-foot facility at the corner of Tobey Road and Cranberry Highway in West Wareham at a public hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

"We have to be concerned about the environment, not the building of a Walmart," said resident Mack Phinney who introduced himself as "representing the organisms" at the site.  "I think the environment takes precedent."

The Tuesday hearing before a representative of the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs provided an opportunity for citizen's to weigh in with concerns about the development's environmental impact so that the state could be sure that all concerns are addressed in the certification process.  The hearing was the first of several times that Walmart representatives will be before town boards this week.  On Wednesday, they will appear before the Conservation Commission to discuss their impact on wetlands.  Next Monday, representatives will meet before a joint meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board.  Both meetings are open to the public and, if Tuesday's meeting was any indication, Walmart will hear from many angry residents.

Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Analyst Purvi Patel spent the first part of the meeting asking questions of the site engineer Matt Smith, of Bohler Engineers,  concerning the development's impact on traffic patterns, greenhouse-gas emissions, and wetlands.  These questions were further expounded upon by local residents.

The site is adjacent to Strow's Folly Brook, and water and drainage issues, as well as the fact that this area is habitat for endangered Eastern Box Turtles, caused discussion.

West Wareham resident and Town Moderator Claire Smith noted that the water table has changed significantly with development in the area, causing seepage problems underneath the railroad bridge just west of the Tobey Road and Main Street intersection.

"The seepage of groundwater ended just two weeks ago, even given all the dry weather we've had" Smith noted.  "I think you'll see a deeper impact" with the new development, Smith said, and she suggested that the state look at the environmental and traffic impact studies done before previous developments in the area were built.

Other citizens shared Smith's traffic concerns, particularly concerning the intersection of Tobey Road and Main Street.  The development plans to install an exit where cars can turn either left or right onto Tobey Road.  Cars can only exit onto Cranberry Highway by turning right and heading south towards downtown Wareham.

Walmart currently is not planning to put in a traffic signal at the intersection, a decision which several citizens suggested they reconsider.

John Wagner of West Wareham predicted it could be "a mess" with the additional traffic, especially since Decas Elementary School is nearby and the neighborhood lacks sidewalks.

Other concerns were raised as to whether Walmart even needed to move when there are plenty of buildings in East Wareham that need new tenants.

This raised the related issue as to whether citizen's concerns would be addressed.

Smith, of Bohler Engineers, assured citizens that this was the first of many public hearings that the developers would face.

"[Walmart] will be subject to future filings and these issues will be studied thoroughly, Smith said.

Town Administrator Mark Andrews agreed.

"I liken this to a baseball game," Andrews said.  "We're in the batters box," we haven't gotten up to hit yet.

Because the development falls under MEPA jurisdiction - the superstore's proposal exceeds two thresholds - that a development add more than 10 acres of new impervious surface (the plans call for 15 acres), and that a development generate more than 3,000 new vehicle trips per day (traffic studies estimate 11,000) to the site - it must obtain certificates from The Massachusetts office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Patel said that after the hearing, she will write a issue a certificate with an added report that presents citizen's comments and the concerns that  the developer needs to address. The developer must respond to each of these issues in its draft of an Environmental Impact Report.  If they are addressed to the office's satisfaction, then another certificate will be issued to allow the developer to prepare a final Environmental Impact Report.  Patel said that the first certificate should be issued on August 17.

"I understand and hear your concerns," she said to citizens in concluding the meeting.  "They will be written and addressed and used" in the certification process.

Only one person spoke in favor of the proposal at the hearing.  As the last citizen to speak, Wareham resident Wilma Ingerman said that she would shop at Walmart in this side of town.  But she seemed to understand the majority's feelings towards big-box stores.  She added that she didn't like Target.