ANKENY, Iowa — Proposed plans for rezoning in northern Ankeny may open up opportunities for a Walmart to go up alongside residential neighborhoods.

Residents of the Piper Property neighborhood have been speaking out against a December 2024 proposal that would turn multi-family into residential property. The plans involved an open area west of Northeast 36th Street and North Ankeny Boulevard.

“If you introduce a big box retailer right in the middle of a residential area like this, it’s going to create new noise pollution, new light pollution. It’s going to be a lot of trash blowing around. It’s going to create a very large new traffic load,” said resident Trevor Meeks.

“I live over by 18th Street, and it’s like a drag race. It’s like, it’s too much traffic, I need to breathe,” said resident Anne Lehmann. “Walmart, if they build it there, the safety of the kids and residential life. Who would build a house if Walmart’s going to be there?”

Residents of the neighborhood have been voicing their concerns on a public Facebook group. On Tuesday, an open house was held where residents and Walmart representatives gathered to discuss the plans.

“I didn’t count, but somewhere around a couple hundred people from the neighborhood attended that meeting, and I didn’t see anyone who was in favor of it coming,” said Meeks. “So they were there to share their concerns with the Walmart team about what was be going on.”

Walmart says the meeting was an opportunity to speak with residents about the possible outcomes of a new store in the area.

We are having preliminary discussions about the possibility of bringing a new store to serve the needs of this growing area. We’re thankful for the opportunity to meet with neighbors – their feedback is important in shaping any plan for the future.

Anne Hatfield, Walmart Global Communications

Residents say the meeting gave an opportunity to speak with Walmart, but some are more concerned with reaching city officials.

“Well yeah, (Walmart) has a plan, but the city needs to ask the people,” said Lehmann. “And if they find out they’re going to build a Walmart there, who’s going to build and plus the market, house value and trying to resell the house? Oh, there’s Walmart, you got the traffic, the lights.”

Members of the Facebook group have also been messaging the Ankeny City Council and development board with their concerns.

The City of Ankeny says they received the application from Piper Properties Plat 2 Condominiums and North Ankeny Blvd LLC, and have since requested a traffic impact survey.

City staff requested a Traffic Impact Study, which the applicant is still preparing. The process is on hold until that study is finalized. If and when the request moves forward, there will be a public hearing at a future Plan and Zoning Commission Meeting and at a City Council Meeting. The property must be rezoned before any commercial development can move forward.

Amy Baker, City of Ankeny Communications Director

The city has given no indication of when the survey will end. In the meantime, residents say they will continue to voice their concerns.