Residents of Meridian Township will have a chance to hear and comment on a proposal to rezone property and bring a movie theater to the area.

The East Lansing-based Eyde Co. has asked for the property’s zoning to be changed from residential to commercial. After the zoning change Eyde Co., in cooperation with the Neighborhood Cinema Group and J.D.N. Development, would bring a 16-screen movie theater, a Kohl’s Department Store and 10 to 15 more stores to Meridian Township near the Meridian Mall, 1982 W. Grand River Ave.

Mark Clouse, corporate counsel for Eyde Co., said the development company is ready to get the rezoning finished and move ahead with its plans.

“The theater group is extremely anxious to get moving forward,” he said. “We can have a movie screen here by holiday season 2001, and that’s what we’re hoping for.”

Township supervisor Bill McCullough said people have had mixed reactions to the proposal.

“I’ve heard some positives, and I’ve heard some people that aren’t real pleased about it,” he said. “I don’t think many people would like to live in a single-family residence behind those two stores.”

Resident Julie Brixie said the rezoning proposal should be subject to many more public hearings to get residents’ views on the subject. Brixie is also a member of Meridian BiPartisan Leadership, a group formed in March that is formally opposing the rezoning plan.

“The rezoning proposal violates the township’s master plan,” said Brixie, who is a township planning commissioner and running for a position on the board of trustees. “It would add a huge amount of traffic.

“It will threaten the viability of our other businesses in the area, including the mall.”