Members of the Canton Township Planning Commission have approved plans for a BJ's Wholesale Club at the former JC Penney store on Ford Road.
Commissioners recommended approval of the planned alterations to the building at 43690 Ford Road which has been vacant for several months. The current zoning allows for retail superstores and the alterations requested for BJ’s included only a reduction in the number of parking spaces to allow the installation of cart corrals and a tire center to be installed inside the building.
BJ’s business plan is similar to that of Costco and Sam's Club and requires an annual membership to purchase items at discounted prices, usually in bulk. The business began in the early 1980s as a wholesaler and now has stores across the country. In Michigan, there are BJ’s stores in Madison Heights, Taylor and Chesterfield Township, according to the company website.
Bryan Amann represented the business during the planning commission meeting Sept. 13 and said that the retail opertion would open at 9 a.m. daily and would, if requested, keep the bay doors to the tire installation area closed to contain noise. He said that would significantly reduce any potential noise factor in the area which does abut neighborhood homes.
That suggestion met with approval of the commissioners who noted that closing the bay doors would control noise which could impact neighboring homes. The proposed plan does not require any further approvals from the township board of trustees as the site is already zoned for the retail operation, officials said.
