Costco's effort to build a warehouse store near Ann Arbor could take a major step forward Thursday when the Pittsfield Township Planning Commission votes on the development request.

The Planning Commission vote follows actions earlier this month that resulted in approvals of the new master plan revisions, which as of Monday are in a 63-day public review process before they're finalized.

While Costco has been talking with the township staff and officials about their request and submitted necessary documents and plans to build the store near the northwest corner of South State and Ellsworth, township officials said the master plan must be finalized before any decision could be made.

That caused some concern among the Costco development team, including Jackie Frank, who spoke at a planning meeting in March about the delays associated with the master plan process - which started in 2009 - and he urged the township to act.

Since then, Supervisor Mandy Grewal said, the township has been pursuing final rezoning plans with Costco so that the property can be "shovel ready" when the master plan changes are adopted.

The Costco plans took shape in early 2010, with officials providing details on the chain's intent to build locally by late April.

Meanwhile, an update on the Costco road improvements for the South State/Airport Boulevard area of Ann Arbor - just south of the I-94 interchange - will be presented at the Washtenaw County Road Commission on Wednesday.