01/24/2007

Forum

Time for Meijer to make peace

BY BILL KURTZ

In May 2006 the Acme Township Board approved the construction of a Meijer store, gas station and outlots on Meijer's property at the comer of M-72 and Lautner Road. The board placed conditions on the approval that were meant to mitigate the impact of placing a large big-box development in a small township.

Meijer sued the township, and the board tried to reach out to Meijer by removing some of the conditions. This month the circuit court upheld the remaining conditions. It is now time for Meijer to make peace in Acme and build its store.

The township's decision last May approved all the elements of Meijer's project: a 230,000-square-foot superstore, gas station, and 100,000 square feet of outlot stores. The board put conditions on the approval, however, and Meijer sued.

In December, the board removed the most controversial requirement — that Meijer close to customers between midnight and 6 a.m. — as well as some aesthetic conditions. The board did this hoping it would bring the divisive fight to a close.

Instead, Meijer decided to keep fighting. The board is not backing down on the remaining conditions. They include:

• Traffic. Meijer projects its store will draw 2.7 million customers per year. Ninety-five percent of those customers will be driving in from out of town. It is essential that Meijer evaluate — and deal with — the impact to our roads from all this regional traffic.

• Environment. The board is requiring Meijer to move its gas station off the corner, which is one of the wettest parts of the property. The board is also requiring Meijer to use best management practices to control stormwater and to monitor nearby creeks to make sure pollution is not running into our waterways.

• Master plan. The township master plan says that with proper layout and design, the Meijer store could serve as the commercial anchor for an Acme town center. The board is requiring Meijer to redesign Lautner Road as a main street between the Meijer property and the parcel owned by the Village at Grand Traverse, and to create walkways that will help pedestrians move between the two projects.

These conditions were reasonable and responsible and they have now been upheld in court. Meijer can start building its store tomorrow — statements to the contrary are simply not true. All Meijer has to do is let go if its "one-size-fits-all” model and show some flexibility.

Meijer has filed seven lawsuits against Acme Township in the past two years. Township board members have endured two sets of personal lawsuits by Meijer, and more recently an attempt by Meijer's lawyers to subpoena our home computers.

Enough is enough. The residents of Acme want a Meijer store, but they also want to protect the environment, manage traffic and preserve our small-town character. The board is trying to balance those goals. It is time for Meijer to quit filing lawsuits and move towards becoming a valued member of our community.

About the author: Bill Kurtz is the Acme Township supervisor.

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