New Meijer coming to town?

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - If you build it... they will come. A new highway may be the spark to bring a popular retail superstore to West Lafayette.

Residents could see a new Meijer open along with the new U.S. 231 bypass. An exact date in unknown at this time. However, the targeted land is near Menard's on U.S. 52.

Meijer is moving right along with the process. Representatives were at Wednesday night's Board of Zoning Appeals meeting.

Meijer was asking the board for certain variances. For example, the retail store wants more square feet for signs. But the board voted down the variance in a four to three vote. It was brought to the attention of the members that other stores in West Lafayette, like Walmart and Menard's, never received variances for their signs.
    
The board did approve a smaller parking lot and more loading berths for Meijer.
    
Ryan O'Gara with the Area Plan Commission wrote the staff report. He said the new Meijer is planned for the intersection where the new U.S. 231 will meet U.S. 52.

"It's been our understanding from our office that they've been waiting for the road project to move along and be completed. Now that it's well underway they're now ready to begin that process and get serious about building," O'Gara explained.

O'Gara said Meijer rezoned in the late 1990s. The next step for Meijer would be applying for building permits.