A large retailer is seeking approval of its site plan at next week’s East Lansing City Council meeting.
Costco Wholesale’s site plan for 5800 Park Lake Road, the former Four Winds Golf Course, was approved by the planning commission. A public hearing for the site plan and brownfield plan is set for the Dec. 6 meeting.
The warehouse will be 157,000 square feet with an adjacent gas station, director of planning, building and development Tim Dempsey said. It will also feature a tire center within the warehouse.
If the plans are approved by the council, Meridian Township also has to approve the site plan because of a requirement of the annexation of that land from the township in 2001.
The zoning changes in the proposed project have to be approved by the township.
“Originally that land was in Meridian Township, then under the annexation in 2001 it became part of the city,” Dempsey said. “It still borders a Meridian Township neighborhood.”
After East Lansing approves the site plan and brownfield plan, Meridian Township’s planning department will have to approve it.
Peter Menser, senior planner in the department of community planning and development for Meridian Township, said they aim to make the process move quickly.
“We’re going to try to turn it around as quick as possible,” Menser said. “Our typical process is 30 days.”
Once approval is given, the project will begin in the spring and finish by fall 2017.
This Costco will be the 14th in Michigan, according to a Meridian Township memo. Menser said the township and the city are looking forward to the warehouse.
“We’re excited about it and we’re working closely with the city of East Lansing to make it possible,” Menser said.
City Manager George Lahanas said a Costco Wholesale would add to the city’s local economy.
“Costco would be a great addition to the retail offerings already in the City and the region and is an amenity frequently mentioned by our residents,” he said via email. “They would also add about 150 well compensated jobs that benefit the entire region.”
