ALDI approved

   On Thursday, Aug. 25, the Fenton Planning Commission approved the final site plan for ALDI grocery store which is proposed to be built between Target and the Fenton High School property.

   Applicants are requesting to build a 20,664 square foot facility.

   The area is 3.67 acres immediately east of the Shoppes of Fenton, which is the Target complex, and west of the Fenton High School stadium property. It is zoned general business/planned unit development. Fenton Area Public Schools currently owns the land. The proposed ALDI location will be split from the parent parcel.

   The submitted site plan shows the access driveway to ALDI would be off the Target driveway, not Owen Road. Applicants submitted plans for a 100-space parking lot and a retention basin. They are required to have a minimum of 91 spaces.

   “They are making connections to existing sidewalks and making the site walkable,” said Justin Sprague, vice president of CIB Planning, Fenton’s planning consultant.

   They meet the requirements under the zoning classifications. He said two signs are allowed on a corner lot. The dumpster enclosure and masonry wall will be built on the south side of the property, and they are also proposing a 29-foot light pole but were approved to go up to 30 feet.

   Sprague recommended approval with certain conditions relating to building design, lighting parking, the buffer zone and a few other topics. The city traffic engineer reviewed the plan and told the commission there were no fatal flaws and they do not require a revised analysis.

   Chris Grzenkowicz, representative for ALDI from the engineering and surveying company Desine Inc., spoke at the meeting and explained the facility design.

   “This is really a more modern design,” he said, comparing it to the ALDI in Livonia and Chesterfield.

   One commission member asked how much of the ALDI building will be visible if they’re standing at the neighboring football field. Grzenkowicz said they’re going to make the hill smaller and he estimated the building will be 8 to 14 feet above the eastern property.

   A few commission members asked if they plan to construct a fire hydrant, which the Fenton fire chief requested. Grzenkowicz said he’ll work out a solution with the chief.