Kroger gas station construction starts again on Carpenter Road now that permits are finalized
Construction of the new Kroger gas station on Carpenter Road started recently - but township officials just gave the store its final approvals.
The gas station - with five, two-sided pumps - was proposed in late 2009 for an outlot in front of the store in Carpenter Plaza, where a National City ATM operated for several years.
When PNC Bank took over National City, the outlot became available, and Kroger - which is building its business model into operating gas stations near its grocery stores - decided to build.
Pittsfield Township officials weighed the plans in the spring and at a June Planning Commission meeting, and “essentially finalized” them, said planner Paul Montagno.
The site was fenced off in recent weeks, the ATM was removed and various other site work - such as excavation to install the gasoline tanks - began.
However, the Kroger Co. and its contractors didn’t have actual permission to begin the work.
“It was a miscommunication,” said township Planning Commission Chair Matthew Payne.
Township zoning enforcement staff halted the work until the planning commission could finalize the conditional use permit for the location.
That occurred Thursday night.
That permit “basically says the use is harmonious with the surrounding area,” Payne said. Meanwhile, other essential permits have been issued by the township's building department.
A Kroger spokesperson did not return calls for comment.
Kroger store employees have been telling customers that the gas station should be open sometime in October.
Meanwhile, according to earlier planning commission minutes, the gas station will realign some of the traffic patterns it its section of the shopping center’s parking lot to improve traffic flow.
About one-third of over 2,500 Kroger stores across the U.S. have gas outlets, generating about 10 percent of its $7.2 billion annual revenue, according to corporate reports.
The Kroger fuel center will compete with a Speedway and Marathon, both at Carpenter and Packard, and a Meijer fuel center on Carpenter north of Ellsworth.
Paula Gardner is Business News Director of AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2586 or by email. Sign up for the weekly Business Review newsletter, distributed every Thursday, here.
Comments
jns131
Sun, Sep 19, 2010 : 8:28 p.m.
I only get certain things at Kroger. Everything else is either Wal Mart or Meijers. Wal Mart I can find at half the price of certain items then anywhere else. This is also why we joined Sams Club. I can get certain things there with a huge savings. Daily things I use I can use in bulk. Otherwise? Miejer or Wal Mart. This includes gas. Things are not getting any cheaper.
fishface451
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 11:54 p.m.
I don't understand this decision at all...I think it's all been said already, but I have to put my two cents in. Saving money on gas is always great but it's really busy down there already and there are MORE than enough gas stations. I refuse to shop there any longer...their food prices are terrible, I can get 1/3 more food for the same price at Meijer. I think I'd rather wait the lines and the traffic out there from now on. Sorry Kroger, you've lost my patronage.
jgold47
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 11:40 p.m.
@krc - where do you think Shell and BP get their gas from? Almost all gas in Michigan comes from independent wholesalers who generally get their gas from Marathon/Ashland. Gas stations are like fast food franchises, they are independently owned and are simply buying a brand name. This is why I personally thought the whole BP boycott was a joke as all you were hurting was small independent gas station owners.
BrianR
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 7:41 p.m.
C6: No, the Marathon at Packard/Platt has NOT reopened. In fact, the property was sold yesterday at auction. Here's a link to that story: http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/day-3-ex-gas-station-sale-tops-washtenaw-county-tax-foreclosure-online-auction-results/
jns131
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 7:13 p.m.
Gas in Cincinnati was 2.79. We used our Kroger card and got 10 cents off the price. I am thrilled to see a Kroger gas station in our area. We spent a week in Tennessee and that was the cheapest gas around. Looks like Pittsfield got it right. There is one being built in Westland as we speak. Sams Club right now is 10 cents cheaper if you are members.
1bigbud
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 4:19 p.m.
Pittsfield Township is starting to resemble Ann Arbor Nope Its starting to look and act like Southfield A sub of Detroit They play whos got the money- whos got the money Watch who gets the rent paid for in cash (Southfield) Who gets the cars paid for in cash (Southfield) The Planning Commission are planing ok We need what
goblue18
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 11:27 a.m.
As if the traffic isn't already bad enough along this stretch... I live basically across the street from where this new station is going up and it is only going to make getting in and out of anywhere along this stretch of Carpenter that much more difficult than it already is, particularly at rush hours. The last thing we need is another gas station right here when even the Marathon on the corner has had great difficulty surviving under various owners/management. I was very disappointed when approval was granted to build the station.
krc
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 11:20 a.m.
Even with the incentive to get a dollar off per gallon at this new station, I won't go there. Know why? Because every time I see a tank truck offloading gas at one of these places, there is no signage on the truck, which means the gas could have come from anywhere and could be full of gunk that would contribute to the breakdown of my engine. I only get gas at places where the trucks advertize the source. Shell and BP are the only two I've seen. Shell has a deal where I get 10 cents off per gallon with my Kroger card. I'll stick with that because I trust the source.
stunhsif
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.
I look forward to saving on my gas when I shop at Kroger. Buddy down in Atlanta says the saviings are quite significant if you buy groceries at Kroger.
mannyredline
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 9:58 a.m.
Driving in that parking lot is already difficult. There are bad pot holes when you enter from Packard. Exiting by turning left onto Packard during rush hour is dangerous and next-to-impossible. Some store doorways are only a few feet away the street, leading pedestrians to inadvertently walk into oncoming traffic. The stop sign near Discount Tire finds drivers not seeing traffic approaching from Home Depot. Drivers who stop in front of stores are shouted at for being in the fire lane. There are lots of tough customers there and things will only get tougher.
rcastentman
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 8:49 a.m.
Pittsfield Township is starting to resemble Ann Arbor in terms of bureaucracy. I mean, where else would one need a permit to ensure "the use is harmonious with the surrounding area". And the "stop work order" is consistent with how government deals with the public and with developers...saying it was a "miscommunication". This was simply an "opportunity" to grab another fee and flex some muscle. Whatever happened to working with people?
C6
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 8:37 a.m.
Sarah, thanks for updating me and confirming the Marathon station is open once again. To perhaps answer your question, my guess would be that most of all the Marathon station will be "at risk" against the additional competition from a Kroger gas station. I think the Meijer station will continue just fine, since they have their own customer loyality discount program and the store to help draw those customers in. They certainly have additional competition already, from the three stations to their south at Michigan Avenue, where I think Sam's Club sets a low price target. The Speedway station at Packard has generally been one of the lower priced suppliers in the area, even when they didn't have the direct competition from the Marathon across the way. When I lived in Ann Arbor I would fuel my winter car there often, even though they don't have the 93 octane fuel my summer car runs best with. I think competition from Kroger will help to keep Speedway at lower prices and I think they will continue to do just fine too. And of course Kroger will do fine too, with their customer loyality program and the grocery store to help draw in the customers.
tdw
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 7:41 a.m.
What many people fail to realize is that when you use your Kroger card you can save money on gas with your points
Sarah
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 7:28 a.m.
C6, yes, it has reopened, which is convenient for me, occasionally! So we'll have 4 gas stations between the corner of Carpenter/Packard and Carpenter/Ellsworth. Is that a sustainable number?
C6
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 7:06 a.m.
Is that Marathon station at Packard and Platt open once again? It had been closed for quite some time, but from the sounds of it has reopened. I moved from that area and Ann Arbor earlier this year, and don't go through that intersection very often now that I'm not shopping at the subject Kroger.
1bigbud
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 7:01 a.m.
miscommunication, Thats how you spell Planning Commission
15crown00
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 5:51 a.m.
do these commissions know what they r doing?