Meijer, the Grand Rapids-based retailer known for its supercenters across the Midwest and Southfiled-based developer Redico Holdings LLC have filed a lawsuit against Plymouth Township seeking to overturn a decision of the township planning commission.
The lawsuit, filed Aug. 9 in in Wayne County Circuit Court, claims that the plans for a new super-center and gas station at Five Mile Road west of Beck Road in the township is permitted by special land use, “subject to meeting standards set by the township zoning ordinance and is consistent with the Township's 2015 Master Plan and Future Land Use Map.”
Members of the planning commission denied the special land use request from Meijer by a 5-1 vote at their meeting June 21. Plans included a 159,000 square foot Meijer, a nature center, gas station and convenience store on a 21-acre parcel at Five Mile Road, west of Beck Road.
Residents from Plymouth and Northville voiced their objections to the project during the June 21 meeting. Several cited the inconvenience and heavy traffic conditions already in the area.
The lawsuit claims, however, that the plans for the new store were reviewed by planning consultants, engineers, fire department and traffic consultants for the township. The court documents claim that none of the professionals objected to the special land use request or the traffic impact studies. Meijer agreed to road improvements suggested in connection with the project, according to the court filings.
The lawsuit requests the court to reverse the decision of the planning commission and find “the township's denial of the special use request constituted an arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable decision, was not based upon proper procedure, was not supported by competent, substantial and material evidence on the record, and/or violated applicable law policy.”
Meijer is also asking the court for an order protecting the development from interference by the township in the development of the property. In addition, the complaint also asks the court to award Meijer legal fees associated with filing the lawsuit.
Township Supervisor Kurt Heise said it was not the policy of the township to comment on any pending litigation. He said the board of trustees would review the lawsuit and decide on a course of action.
