Members of the Plymouth Township Planning Commission denied a special land use request from Meijer by a 5-1 vote during a recent meeting.
Representatives from Meijer submitted plans for a supercenter on Five Mile Road, west of Beck Road on former Detroit House of Corrections property. Meijer proposed a 159,000 square-foot store and gas station on the 21-acre parcel. Meijer is now prohibited from submitting another plan for the land for one year, according to township officials.
The vote followed a 3-hour meeting during which township residents voiced their concerns about the proposed construction. Residents from both Plymouth and Northville voiced their objections to the proposed project. Residents told the commissioners they feared increased crime and traffic in the already heavily trafficked area. Others noted the opening of a supercenter would negatively impact the peaceful nature of the township.
The concerns regarding traffic were substantiated by two traffic studies, both concluding that road improvements are necessary in the area prior to development. Commissioners said the current roads would not sustain the increased traffic and that road improvements would be necessary before consideration of the proposed project.
Meijer representatives suggested the commissioners table the application and allow them to resubmit it with changes to accommodate concerns voiced during the meeting. Commissioners denied that request along with the special land use permit.
