ACME — Township officials could grant final approval for a new Meijer Inc. store when the board meets this week.
The Acme Township board meets Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the township hall to review planning commission recommendations for the project, the first phase of the proposed Village at Grand Traverse Development.
Officials expect a long meeting that could conclude a years-long community debate.
"There's a desire by everybody to do this right, especially when we've spent so much time on it," said Wayne Kladder, township supervisor. "But I don't suspect we will be done by 10 p.m. or even 11 p.m."
The board must adopt an amendment to the original 2004 special use permit before reviewing traffic, environmental and market study issues.
Then, it will tackle what's known as "findings of fact" — a legal document the board must approve to move the project forward. The document outlines decisions made by the planning commission and developers.
Attorneys for the township and developer were still working on the document Monday. An initial draft measured 13 pages, and the board has to review each item.
Kladder said it's still "very, very possible" the board will vote Wednesday night.
"We're hopeful, because the community needs some economic growth out here," Kladder said.
The initial phase includes a 214,000-square-foot Meijer store that would anchor up to 1 million-plus square feet of eventual retail space at the intersection of M-72 and Lautner Road, which will be redesigned with a traffic circle.
The project stalled in 2004 because of lawsuits over the project and illegal tampering in two townships elections by Meijer. Developers resubmitted the project late in 2009 and spent the last two years updating and revising plans and traffic studies while resolving township concerns.
"I think it's time for it to happen. And, hopefully, it will be great and people can walk there and shop there and say 'What a beautiful Meijer's,'" said township Clerk Dorothy Dunville, who joined the board in 2004. "It seems like a whole lifetime."
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Wayne Kladder Record-Eagle file
Final Meijer vote possibile in Acme
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