The Lowell Dollar Tree store is expected to move to a new location if plans before the Lowell Township Planning Commission are approved. The retailer wants to construct a nearly 10,000 square foot building just outside the city limits on Fulton Street.
That was one piece of business before the Planning Commission during its regular April meeting held last night. All commissioners were present for the meeting which was attended by four other individuals in the audience.
Dollar Tree Site Plan: Tabled for More Information
Reid Fawcett from Mobile, Alabama was one of those present during the meeting. He was representing the Dollar Tree project which he said would employ 10 people, including a full-time manager and assistant manager as well as eight part-time workers. The building site is 11750 Fulton Street, which is between the Creation Kingdom daycare center and Golden Dragon restaurant.
While part of the property is in the 100-year floodplain, no development will take place on that section of the site. The plans call for 46 parking spots, which exceed the 40 required by the township ordinance. The store will also need to clear some trees from the property to create a retention pond for stormwater.
“Why don’t we have the architectural plans?” asked Commissioner Greg Forde.
Fawcett replied that there was about a 2-3 week delay on Dollar Tree’s end to finish those plans. The architectural plans include elevations that show the design of the building, its height and signage.
During discussion on the project, questions were also raised about the construction of a sidewalk, including whether there was space given the site’s layout and how it would connect to adjoining properties. It was also noted that the applicant did not provide a photometric plan to show where lighting would be placed.
Planning Commission Chair Dave Simmonds noted that the commission could approve the site plan with conditions and let township staff conduct reviews of the missing information. “This is a big project,” he said. “Do we want to approve it with all these different conditions?”
“I’m not inclined to approve it,” Forde said. “We’re missing a lot of things.”
Fawcett said he thought Dollar Tree could provide the missing information before the commission’s May meeting, and commissioners voted unanimously to table the site plan until then.
Dollar Tree currently has a store on W. Main Street in the City of Lowell. Before he left, Fawcett was asked if the retailer would close that location when the new building was finished. He replied that he expected they would.
Other Commission Activity
Other items of discussion during the meeting included the following:
- Annual review of the special use permit for Equipment Solutions at 11797 Fulton Street. Commissioners noted there had been no complaints or issues with the property and voted unanimously that the owner did not need to return for future annual reviews.
- Public hearing for reader boards in Ag districts: Commissioners voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing for May regarding an ordinance change that would allow electronic reader boards in the Ag 1 and Ag 2 districts. It will also prohibit internal or external illumination of signs for home-based businesses and home occupations.
A representative of the township parks commission who was present noted that construction of a splashpad in the N. Grand River Riverfront Park is expected to begin this fall with the structure open to the public in 2024. That is a change from earlier plans which indicated the splashpad would be open this summer.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15pm. The next regular meeting of the Lowell Charter Township Planning Commission will be Monday, May 8, at 7pm in Lowell Township Hall.
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