By Emily Chesnic
It has been five years since Northfield Center Township officials learned of Meijer’s commitment to bring one of its big box stores to the community, with some of the final loose ends of the project – including nailing down traffic improvements – now being tied up.
“Final approval was just received Monday [Feb. 1] on the TIS [Traffic Impact Study] submitted to ODOT [Ohio Department of Transportation], pending a couple of minor comments,” said Zoning Inspector Don Saunders. “We are waiting as to whether Meijer will move forward now that the road configuration is approved.”
In November 2015, Meijer – based in Michigan – announced it would construct a superstore in the Northfield/Macedonia area, putting a contract on 25 acres of land on state Route 82 in the township, behind the Spitzer Chevrolet dealership. At that time, Meijer said it would purchase the land, across from Crossings of Golden Link shopping center, from Spitzer, the property owner.
Meijer – a privately-owned and family-operated company – has said it would spend about $20 million on the project, bringing about 250 new jobs to the township, with the Northfield location being part of a larger plan to expand into Ohio. Meijer currently has 356 supercenters and grocery stores throughout the Midwest – in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
In 2015, the plans called for a zoning change to allow for the construction of a 190,000-square-foot retail building on Route 82, with the store to offer groceries, a garden center, pharmacy, pet department, apparel and shoes, home goods, office supplies, electronics, toys, and more.
That change, requested by Spitzer, to rezone a portion of the land from residential to commercial, was not granted by the township – in response to the recommendations of the Zoning Commission and township residents’ concerns. The issue ultimately went to court in 2019, with Spitzer winning the case and the zoning change permitted.
Following the zoning change hurdle came further concerns regarding how a large retail store would impact existing traffic issues on state Route 82.
Meijer had to complete a TIS to turn over to ODOT for review to determine what improvements are needed to move traffic safely in the area, with ODOT officials receiving that study in January.
ODOT now is awaiting answers to a couple of questions regarding the study but confirmed the study has been approved.
According to ODOT, Meijer is responsible for the costs for the roadway improvements.
The following are the TIS recommendations:
Intersection of state Route 8 and state Route 82
• Extend the southbound right turn lane on Route 8 to 350 feet.
• Construct an additional 300-foot left eastbound turn lane on Route 82 to get to Meijer.
• Extend the northbound dual left turn lanes on Route 8 to provide 550 feet for holding more vehicles.
Intersection of State Route 82 and Golden Link Boulevard
• Separate the northbound share left turn/through lane to become an exclusive left turn on Golden Link Boulevard, adding a center lane for traveling through, with the existing right lane remaining only for making right turns.
• Separate the southbound shared left turn/through lane on Golden Link Boulevard to have an exclusive left turn lane, adding a center lane for traveling through, with the existing right lane remaining only for making right turns.
• Construct a 225-foot westbound right turn lane on Route 82.
Intersection of state Route 82 and Giant Eagle Drive/Meijer Drive
• Construct a 225-foot eastbound left turn lane on Route 82.
• Construct a 225-foot westbound right turn lane on Route 82.
• Convert eastbound right turn lane to a shared through/right turn lane on Route 82.
• Construct an access driveway, consisting of three lanes, with two lanes being for egress out of the shopping area, heading on to Route 82, with one lane for turning left and the other for driving straight or turning right. The third lane is for going right only.
Woolpert Inc., representing Meijer, could not immediately be reached to provide comments on the approved study. Meijer has not yet responded to a request for remarks on when the company will move forward with the road improvements and retail store.
