By Renee Worthing
Staff Writer
Several Sanford town officials and representatives from Wal-Mart and KGI Properties gathered June 12 for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Super Wal-Mart and Lowe’s development in south Sanford.
The 37-acre site has been in the planning stage for more than three years. Sanford Economic Development Director Les Stevens said it was “very difficult” to get the project underway.
“We just plugged along,” he said. “Every obstacle we met, we overcame.”
He said some of the obstacles included traffic issues, the presence of endangered black racer snakes and “a lot of negotiations” with landowners who had to relinquish land in order to widen Route 109 and construct a roundabout at the intersection of Routes 4 and 109. The developer also contributed $600,000 to the construction of the roundabout, said Town Council Chairman Joe Hanslip.
KGI Division Manager Frank Dougherty said KGI spent $500,000 to assess, mitigate and relocate two black racer snakes.  The snakes were relocated to 58 acres of land in Kennebunk.
 KGI Principal Ben Devine said he was “thrilled” to get the Wal-Mart and Lowe’s project underway.
“We had great support from the town,” he said. “It was a team effort.”
Wal-Mart Regional Manager John Miller said the retailer was looking forward to “enhancing” the shopping experience and being “good neighbors.”
 Hanslip said residents are “sick and tired” of driving to other communities to shop.       
“This will be the catalyst to bring other retail businesses to Sanford,” Hanslip said.
He said the $20 million development would generate $300,000 in property taxes.
“This development is a testament to perseverance and a testament to public and private partnership,” Hanslip said.
Super Wal-Mart, tentatively slated to open mid-June 2009, is expected to bring about 200 jobs to Sanford.