Planning Commission Approves Costco Site Plan
MIDLAND, Mich. — Costco Wholesale in Midland is one step closer to reality.
The Planning Commission has approved the site plan for the membership-only, big-box warehouse on the southwest corner of Bay City Rd. and Rockwell Dr. The vote was unanimous. The plan now moves to the Midland City Council for final approval.
The proposed site includes a 157,682 square foot retail warehouse, a tire facility, and a small, eight-pump fuel station.
“The [City] staff has found the site plan, by and large, meets City requirements for things like set-back distances, landscaping, preliminary storm water and other ordinance requirements,” City of Midland Director of Planning and Community Development Grant Murschel told the commission.
For site plan reviews, the commission is tasked with ensuring that plans for new city projects meet strict ordinance requirements, such as exterior lighting, parking lot landscaping, and the presence of bicycle racks.
During a public hearing on the site plan review, the commission heard a presentation from Ted Johnson, president of TJ Design Strategies, the development manager for Costco’s properties in the Midwest.
“It’s been great over the last few months to work with both [Grant] and [City of Midland Community Development Planner] Nicole [Wilson] on this project, on modifying the site plan with site conditions,” Mr. Johnson told the commission. “The first plan we submitted to the City was totally different, but we had done no due diligence, and then we started to learn more about the site, learn some of the constraints, and that’s how we got to the plan that’s in front of you tonight.”
The site plan received favorable comments from City residents during the hearing.
“If this petition is approved, Midland becomes poised to see renewed opportunities for businesses of all sizes and types,” said Gary Gordier, a resident and the former IT director for the City of Midland. “Every place I’ve lived, I’ve had the good fortune to see Costco come in and build new stores. Every time this occurred, there was a flurry of increased business activity and opportunities inside the entire community.”
Midland Business Alliance President & CEO Tony Stamas also spoke in support of the plan.
“We’re excited for Costco to join our community. We view the business as a great addition, not only to our community, but for the region. We believe having Costco here will help to grow our area as a retail draw for a significant area of the state of Michigan,” Mr. Stamas said.
Some commissioners as well as a citizen had concerns about the heavy traffic that Rockwell Dr. would see. Mr. Murschel indicated that the City would look to put a traffic signal at the intersection in the near future.
“We’re glad to see Costco coming in as neighbors, the jobs coming into the community, we think that’s a positive thing,” said Kurt Nitschke, a lieutenant fire inspector and career paramedic whose wife is the manager of Arlington Manor, the mobile home park adjacent to the site.
Mr. Nitschke said had some concerns about the heavy traffic on Rockwell Dr. and the safety of the park’s residents.
“My biggest concern, and I’m sure this will probably be addressed a bit more, is the traffic flow and the safety,” he said. “Rockwell [Dr.] does not have a turn lane. It is two lanes, one in each direction … I just think a left turn lane would increase the safety for everyone’s concern.”
During the commission’s deliberation, Chairman Greg Mayville echoed Mr. Nitschke’s concerns about Rockwell Dr.
“It looks like a very solid site plan to me,” Mr. Mayville said. “I did not pick up on my trips through there the no turn lane on Rockwell, that’s something — how could we look to address that? I think that’s a real concern.”
Mr. Murschel told the commission that that issue was on the city staff’s radar and that there are plans to put in a turn lane on the north and south sides of Rockwell, at the intersection.
“That’s something that City Engineering noticed as well, as part of the traffic analysis,” he said. “I can say that they’re looking into having that be a part of the mitigation for this particular project.”
Michael Westendorf is the chairman and executive editor of Chemical City Paper. As Executive Editor, he leads the City Paper’s news coverage and editorial team.