Boardman Township Trustees overrode the recommendation of their zoning commission and voted unanimously on Monday to approve a zone changes that will allow construction of a Meijer supercenter at the intersection of Lockwood Blvd. and Rt. 224.
      On May 22, the zoning commission voted 4-1 to reject the proposed project, while the Mahoning County Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the project.
      About 45 persons attended Monday’s hearing on the matter, and only a handful of residents voiced concerns about the proposal.
      Meijer needed a zone change on about 4-plus acres of land to allow traffic onto the proposed site of the project off Lockwood Blvd.
      Chris Jones, real estate manager for Meijer, said the company plans to build a 159,000 sq-ft super center, investing upwards of $20 million in the project. Once completed, the Meijer store would employ about 250 people, Jones said. The proposed store will be located on a 39-acre site, only 17 acres of which will be developed.
      Al Bogna, vice-president of Carnegie Management, said that Meijer has been working on the Boardman location since Jan., 2017 and said 22 acres of land at the site will be donated to Boardman Township through a conservancy easement.
      “We will not clear the entire piece of land,” Bogna said.
      Jones said development of the site will leave at least an 800-ft. buffer between the development and residential areas.
      “The conservancy easement is bound by a 62-page agreement that does not allow commercial development,” Bogna said, adding “Going forward, in perpetuity, the [easement] will be passed on to Boardman Township, nothing can be built in that area.”
      The site of the proposed development has been owned by Mercy Health and Trustees were told the site does not fit into the future plans of the health care company.
      John Burgan, local Realtor who was the lone member of the zoning commission to voice approval of the project, said he learned there are several options on the property and the Meijer proposal “is the best option.”
      Meijer officials disputed claims that development of the site would cause traffic problems.
      “With the recent loss of Toys-R-Us, hhgregg and Sears, traffic will decrease,” Bogna claimed.
      He addressed drainage concerns saying the project will include construction of two surface storm water ponds, “and perhaps some underground system.”
      Among the handful of persons expressing opposition to the project was Rick Detwiler, who said he resides in nearby Oakwood Village, a condominium development.
      “Meijer is a good company, but this is not a good spot for you,” Detwiler said, expressing concerns over truck traffic and drainage issues.
      Boardman Road Superintendent Marilyn Kenner responded that “Trucks won’t be on Lockwood Blvd.”
      About Meijer
      Meijer is a multi-billion dollar retailer, the nation’s 19th largest privately held company with more than 65,000 employees across six states. It has corporate offices in Grand Rapids, Michigan, plus manufacturing facilities, distribution centers and over 200 stores across Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Wisconsin.
      As the pioneer of the ‘one-stop shopping’ concept, Meijer provides customers with low prices, quality foods and a broad selection of national and Meijer brand items.
      Meijer first opened during the Great Depression when Hendrik Meijer, and his 14-year-old son, Fred, fulfilled a need in the community. With a focus on customer experience and respect for employees, they evolved a small grocery store into a one-stop shopping experience, the nation’s first supercenter.
      Today, brothers and co-chairmen Hank Meijer and Doug Meijer lead the privately-held company, along with a handful of experienced business leaders, including Co-CEO and Vice Chairman Mark Murray and President Rick Keyes.
      Construction of the Meijer project will not get underway for at least a year. Prior to construction, the company must go before the Boardman Township Site Plan Review Committee for a hearing on required green space and landscaping.
      Trustee Thomas Costello suggested at Monday’s hearing the company ‘mound’ property lines to enhance the border of the proposed site with residential areas.