Ann Arbor area Menards: Rezoning request considered for store on Jackson Road
The Scio Township Planning Commission considered a request Monday night from Menard Inc. to rezone property on Jackson Road.
The Wisconsin-based home improvement chain is looking to build a roughly 160,000-square-foot store on the southeast corner of Jackson and Staebler Roads, just west of the Meijer store at Jackson and Zeeb.
Menards wants to build a store on Jackson Road in Scio Township
Source: Facebook
Menards is under contract to purchase 62-acres of the 165-acre site — which is known as the former Farmer Grant land.
The property was eyed for development in 2008 with the proposal of a $100 million mixed-use project called The Village at Honey Creek. That project fell through due to zoning issues and the crash in the real estate market.
The site was conditionally zoned in 2009, meaning it was dependent on the nature of the proposed development, said Scio Township Supervisor E. Spaulding Clark. With The Village at Honey Creek development, the property was a mix of commercial, light industrial and residential zoning.
Now Menards is requesting a straight rezoning to general commercial for the 62-acre portion, which is owned by Mel Vanderbrug and Don Colone, operating as Scio Properties LLC.
Township Planner Doug Lewan said the request, "generally speaking, is in accordance with the Township's master plan."
He added: "This is a location where we are looking for growth and density. This is in a location where we envision this type of use."
At the same time, Scio Township is looking to revert the conditional zoning for the remainder of the property back to its original designation: general agriculture.
The reason, said Lewan: When the property was conditionally zoned in 2009, it was under the assumption that if the conditions of the (Village at Honey Creek) project were not satisfied, the property “shall revert back to its former classification.”
“We believe this is necessary, and in fact, required in our ordinance,” Lewan said.
Several people spoke during the public hearing portion of Monday’s meeting, mostly about the zoning reversion of the property. Peter Jackson, who owns 30-acres of the property that Menards is not interested in, expressed concern over changing the property’s zoning in the event that Menards doesn’t move forward with its plan to build the store.
His property was the target of a senior housing development as part of The Village at Honey Creek.
“We don’t have a problem with what’s being proposed,” he said. But in the event the Menards doesn’t get built, “we would have undone (the zoning) we all spent a long time doing.”
Dana Dever, a local attorney representing the Grants — who still own some acreage on the site — also said he’s not opposed to Menards building a store.
His concern, he said, is the Grants’ parcel being reverted from the conditional zoning of multi-family residential zoning to general agriculture.
“I’m puzzled why we’re disrupting the two parcels to the south and making them very difficult to develop and sell,” he said. “I have three people looking at the site and it’s very likely they’ll propose residential (developments) within the next year.”
With the agricultural zoning, he may not be able to sell the property, he said.
The commissioners requested more information be provided on the history of the site before a decision is made on both Menards’ zoning request and the revert-back zoning.
Commissioner Celeste Novak said she’d like to “look for some alternatives” to reverting the zoning back to agriculture.
Although site plans for the Menards store are still in preliminary stages, the store would likely only account for 16 of the 62-acres the company is looking to purchase.
The rest is expected to be used for open space, buffering and other developments, such as restaurants or a small medical complex.
If the Menards rezoning request is approved, the applicant will still have to get special land use approval for the site, and then address issues such as the impact to neighboring communities, Lewan said.
The rezoning request will return to Planning Commission at its May 14 meeting.
Menards, which has 262 locations in 13 states, including nine locations in Michigan, filed a rezoning request with Pittsfield Township in 2010 to build a store at 4700 Carpenter Road.
The Pittsfield Township Planning Commission voted to deny the rezoning request from light industrial to commercial, and the Board of Trustees then voted to accept the recommendation.
Rezoning the land would not have been in keeping with the township’s Master Land Use plan, said Township Clerk Alan Israel at the time. A report noted issues such as the traffic and congestion the project could create and that it would set a precedent for commercial zoning on both sides of Carpenter Road.
After the request was denied, Menards confirmed it would continue to search for a location in Washtenaw County.
The company is also currently looking to build stores in Warren, Livonia and Kalamazoo County, and is in various stages of approval for rezoning requests and site plans for those stores.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
worldchamp
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 10 a.m.
It looks to me as though the Jackson Rd. corridor was built with business's in mind. You would think all of the people involved within the "Planning Commission" put a bunch of thought toward the construction of the roadway and the zoning of the properties that are adjacent to the roadway. Why don't they just go ahead with the plan that was initially put into place?
Mick52
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 10:10 p.m.
Scio Twp would be insane to turn Menard's down. It will create a boom in that area. I hope it is as big and stocked as the Jackson store. If so I fear Lowe's will go out of business. Menard's has much more variety of products.
russellr
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.
Every builder in Michigan hates Scio Township. They act like they want businesses to come here but in reality they do not want any building. They let the new boulevard come in to make it look good, but lets keep every business out. They do not understand that businesses pay taxes and hire people and give them jobs and health insurance. I am sick of my taxes going up every year to pay for the fire department because they refuse to let other businesses come to Jackson rd to help bare the burden. Oh yeah I heard they are closing the fire station in Scio. Please people vote these people out of office.
Psudolus
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 6:34 p.m.
That whole side of Jackson between Meijers and Baker needs to be torn down and rebuilt. It is an embarassment that Scio lets that look like Lincoln Park.
celeste Novak
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:07 p.m.
Actually, it is common practice at the planning commission meeting to take no action on the day of any Public Hearing which was read to the public at the beginning of the session. The commissioners did ask for more information to be presented at the next meeting when a vote may be taken.The action by the planning commissioners was not a vote of "delay" but one that is standard procedure for public hearings to have the project come before the planning commission at the next scheduled meeting. The township has new ordinance review procedures which are both expediting development while preserving open space and natural features. Celeste Novak, Scio Township Planning Commisssioner
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
Celeste, thanks for the comment. That will be corrected.
Hal Dotson
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.
I spoke to the Menards Rep as we exited the meeting and he will be back for the next meeting. This postponement of an answer for them is the Planning board being very thorough with their process. If the author had spoke with him she would have known that the planners are doing their due diligance and this is not a flat NO from the planners and Menards understands the process. Unmentioned in the article is the knowledge that Menards is also looking at property at I-94 and Belleville Road for another store location.
CobraII
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
Scio blew the COSCO deal & road commission could have used the money to buy new equipment. Now Scio is going to blow another deal. Thanks a lot!!! Guess I'll still be driving to Jackson to go to Menards.
CoolDexter
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
Just a few miles west of the Scio Lowe's is Hackney's Hardware in Dexter, one of Washtenaw County's great traditional family-owned hardware stores (along with Stadium Hardware, and a few others). Been there for decades, and they know their stuff. Yes if I'm looking for major appliances, new carpet or a fancy new bathroom sink I'll check in at the big box places, but most of my everyday hardware needs are much better met by places like Hackney's. Wider selection of fasteners, screws and other items too. Stop in a few times and they'll actually know you. Ask them where to find something, and they get it quickly, every time. Spend your money there and it goes to owners who live in the community (who'll spend it again here, often locally too). I'm not too worried about Lowe's facing additional competition. But if Menards opens a store in Scio, I sure hope folks don't stop doing their regular shopping at places like Hackney's. I don't want to live somewhere without cool local hardware stores. For me, it's mandatory.
William Flewidity
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 1:40 a.m.
Hackney has anything you could want! Amazing how much stuff is in that great little store. And yes, customer service ROCKS there!
Ron Granger
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:38 p.m.
It is very telling how the "big box" stores have handled fasteners. They are extremely expensive. They tend to force you to buy 5 of the same thing at a time, etc. Their selection is often missing critical fasteners (grade 5 maybe, or fine threaded whatever). They'll do what they can to kill the local competition, and then you have no alternative. We're fortunate to have good local hardware stores, and they need to be supported.
ViSHa
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
Off-topic question: does anyone know what they are building next to the bowling alley on Jackson, near the movie theater?
motorcycleminer
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
It's another car dealership for Mini's...only that brand ...good luck ...if its lasts a year I'll be surprised...might take on " smart " for 2 to offset their losses....
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
Cooper Mini dealership.
Judy Long
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 3:36 p.m.
Get your act together. We lost Costco, don't loose this one too. We need Menards!!!
SemperFi
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 3:05 p.m.
Working within a democracy is not always pretty or expedient. Listening to the voices of the people takes time. Making sure that the letter of the law is followed takes valuable time. The Scio board appears to be taking their offices responsibly and holding folks accountable to the existing laws. Just because a corporation comes along, waving a stack of money under their noses doesn't mean that they should change the rules for them. If it means "chasing them away" by trying to get them to follow protocol, then perhaps they shouldn't be here.
A2M3
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 2:36 p.m.
For those who don't think Scio can support two home centers in close proximity, may I point to Carpenter Road where both Lowe's and Home Depot thrive nearly side-by-side.
mjd12
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
Love Menards... Please bring it to Milan. We are on US-23!
Elijah Shalis
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
Does this area need yet another home improvement store! I lived in Lansing for a few years and went to the huge Menards there. Menards are very very ugly on the outside. They have cheap products on the inside. Worst of all their commercials are VERY VERY annoying and seem to run nonstop on tv and the radio. They should go back to the woods in Wisconsin.
Mick52
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
Baloney. I like to work with wood, and Menards has the same or better products and a many more selections than Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. At least the Jackson store does and I hope this one is about the same size.
justcurious
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
A lot of people who might have built a new house feel like they were burned on their current one by the housing debacle. Now they want to fix up their current home and enjoy it a bit while the market recovers. Yes, we do need more choices over on the west side of Ann Arbor. I could care less if the store looks "very ugly" on the outside, I won't be living across from it and I don't think anyone else will either. Do you think Meijer is that attractive? Or Home Depot? Not all people feel that Menard carries cheep products either..contractors seem to love them.
John Alan
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
Menard should be looking into elsewhere if they are serious. Nothing will happen in Scio Township. This township is amazing..... everyone owes them the second that one enters the office and gets to talk to front desk. Worse customer service that one can imagine. No one can get anything done in this township and Scio should be on top of the do NOT buy property or do not try to invest list. Very sad....
Sandi
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
OMG! When are people going to forget about Costco! I am very proud of my fellow Scio twp. neighbors for keeping our area a pleasant place to live. Clownfish said it all!!
Ron Granger
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.
How dare those officials actually try and comply with the laws as written! What, did they take an oath or something? I want to buy cheap junk now, it is my god given right! Ignore the laws! Businesses should be able to build whever they want! Sprawl baby sprawl!
SemperFi
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 3 p.m.
Excellent use of sarcasm.
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.
The funny thing is that if it were a Wal Mart, all the pro-Menards people would be screaming something about you can't build there because of wetlands or some rare amoeba lives there or think of the children or something.
Diane
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
WHAT!!!!! What is wrong with you people? Menards would be a great addition.
Rabid Wolverine
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
What do they have that you cannot find at the two Lowe's, 1 home depot, 1 TSC, many True Value/hardware stores around? I am just wondering why it would be soooo great? Perhaps I am missing something.
beenersue
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.
Come on already! We lost Costco and now maybe Menards??? The Dexter and Chelsea communites in particular need more shopping opportunities along this corridor. Please don't blow it with Menards!
David Paris
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
Thank you for the innocuous update Ms. Alfs, now- if we could only filter the faux outrage out from the comments...
clownfish
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
Too bad reality seem to have such a hard time on these pages. Costco was "chased out" by residents, particularly the residents on Wing Dr and the surrounding neighborhood. "The Twp" was doing their job, listening to residents. Sorry so many of you have a problem with representative republics. Had they allowed Costco, the residents would have done what some of you are calling for, run them out.
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
The other issue, as I seem to recall, was that Costco was insisting on multiple access drives to Zeeb Rd. and if you look around the rest of the area, you will see that's not how Scio Township does things. I believe Scio told them they get one entrance, and it will be the one that's already there (maybe at Metzgers, where there's already a light?). This is the topic during which I heard one Commissioner say they don't want to end up like the other side of town (Washtenaw Ave) where there are driveways every 50 feet and people turning left and turning form the left turn lane into businesses are conflict with each other and cause a big mess, I support the Township doing things in an orderly manner, keeping it inviting to shoppers, and avoiding having the place turn into an unnavigable mess.
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:20 p.m.
Scio Township has done a great job in making sure that development and related traffic pattern have proceeded in an orderly manner. There seem to be a lot of comments here, and during other Scio Township stories, about "chasing away" new big box stores, but they are being careful to make sure they don't turn into another overbuilt, traffic-snarled Washtenaw Ave mess. I have actually heard them describe it that way in the past. We live in the City but take a lot of our business out to Scio Township because it's easy to get around and they have what we need. Adding Menards does not provide anything anybody needs, Anything Menards has is already out there in one store or another.
Mikey
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.
the voters in Scio Twp need to remember the decisions made by their officials ... come election time
LarryJ
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:28 a.m.
If this store were built right across from Lowes, one of them will fail rapidly, leaving a big scar on the landscape. Any boost in employment would be very brief. Scio is right to reject this one.
William Flewidity
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:53 a.m.
Not true! Lowes and Home Depot are seperated by what, maybe 1/10th of a mile on Carpenter Rd in Pittsfield? They have been there for @ 12 years next to each other and both are doing just fine. Lowes is a joke and needs the competition!
Ross
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:49 a.m.
That's not true at all. Almost every Lowes has a Home Depot near it and vice versa. They intentionally site near each other to attempt to siphon off business, but most people pick one and stick to it. I think.
justcurious
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:27 a.m.
Sounds to melike everyone wants the Menard's there, but previous "deals" (Village at Honey Creek) are screwing it up. I hope this can be worked out. Also, I see no problem with having Menard's and Lowes in the same area. I don't want to see every clear acre built up with housing however. I think we have plenty of existing houses to sell, as as we baby boomers retire, more will be on the market. We would probably use both, as well as Fingerle and our great local hardware stores.
Carol Birmingham
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:15 a.m.
We predicted this would happen. We are so looking forward to Menards being built close to where we live. Lowe's needs some competition. We were disappointed when Costco wasn't built, now the same thing with Menards'. Really????
slug
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:07 a.m.
Costco II - When Bad Decisions Return
Elaine F. Owsley
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:04 a.m.
All other problems aside, isn't this going to be across the street from Lowes? How many home improvement businesses do we need?
say it plain
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
I agree with Rabid Wolverine, yikes, please, enough with the giant competing big box stores selling the same products at small differences on price... if it was some niche-y business and one sold a range of stuff that the other didn't, then that is one thing, but do we really need to have the same warehouse-competition for deals on shop towels on *both* ends of the town!?
Rabid Wolverine
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:59 p.m.
If the Lowe's on Jackson road has such high prices and horrible customer s ervice, drive a few miles to the one on Carpenter road. Or perhaps go down the streeet from that one to the Home Depot. There should be no demand for a store which carries identical products directly across the road from eachother. The primary reason why the lowe's/home depot have been successful next to eachother is that they feed all of Ypsi and most of Ann Arbor. There is no reason to try that same formula on the opposite side of the SAME town.
Dog Guy
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
Last week I bought concrete mix at Lowes in Kalamazoo for $4.19. On my way home I bought the identical item at this Jackson Rd. store for $4.98. This is a significant cost difference on ten sacks. Regardless of prices, it is great having two different hardware stores next to each other as we do on Stadium Blvd. What one doesn't carry, the other does. (But neither carries Quickcrete 5000.)
William Flewidity
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:50 a.m.
Menards would give Lowes some much needed competition. This Lowes has lousy customer service and pretty high prices compared to the other Lowes in Brighton and Pittsfield Twp. Without the Menards there, Lowes will continue to have a monopoly in Scio.
FredMax
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:20 a.m.
Tractor Supply House with a quarter mile too.
dexterreader
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:01 a.m.
Scio township has voted down other "logical" and good developments in the past .... restaurants, retail establishments, etc. Just ask Costco. It would not surprise me one bit if this does not come to fruition.
Les Gov
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 10:58 a.m.
Menards is trying to build in Belleville as well. With any luck Menards will get that store up and running and I can go there. http://www.thebellevilleindependent.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=488 Scio plays too many games and they may find Menards only building in Belleville.
mikeyb64
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:57 a.m.
Thanks for the link. That's even closer for me.
motorcycleminer
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 10:45 a.m.
Nature lover is right on ...Scio chased out Costco and its jobs and tax's now looks like the treehuggers that slid out of OZ into Scio want to nix Menards ..Jackson rd. in case they havent looked lately is a manufacturing and retail sales corridor..not trees and flowers ...I suggest comm. novak move to the woods and leave progress alone....
Halter
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
I bet, based on previous experience there, they find a way to MAKE it conflict with the master plan no matter what...
DennisP
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 11:02 a.m.
Actually, the reversion is being pushed by the Township Planner, Lewan. He says the Menards fits in with the master plan but that he thinks the rest of the land not being sold legally must revert because it was rezoned under condition it would be used for the 2008 development. Comm. Novak indicated she's interested in finding alternatives to the reversion. So, at least from the article, it sounds like she wants to find a way to make this work without violating the laws the Twp Planner says require reversion. Not sure, but I think they can easily vote to terminate the conditional nature of the original rezoning so long as it doesn't conflict with the master plan.
Nature lover
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 10:37 a.m.
Scio Township chased Costco away. Looks like they're doing the same thing to Menard's. I'm sure another township could use the income. Pittsfield is sure happy to have Costco.
clownfish
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
Scio Twp did not chase Costco away, the residents of Wing Dr did.
Halter
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 10:29 a.m.
Sure... Let's force development out of city limits because of the ridiculous Greenbelt ordinance.. And then make sure nobody can develop there either...don't look a gift horse in the mouth, cause the owner will take it elsewhere and we'll lose out on yet another income-generating company to someone else...