Livonia council reviews Meijer-townhome planned development; staff asked to secure timeline and surety
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Summary
Council members pressed developers and staff on timing and guarantees for a planned 75,466 sq. ft. Meijer and a 102-unit townhome phase at 33500 W. 7 Mile, discussed traffic signal timing under Wayne County jurisdiction, and sought assurances that residential construction will follow retail as agreed.
The Livonia City Council spent extended time discussing a planned general development for 33500 West 7 Mile that would include a 75,466-square-foot Meijer grocery store and a 102-unit multifamily townhome project.
Council members and staff focused on two central issues: a requested modification that would allow the grocery store construction to proceed independent of a requirement that at least 30 percent of dwelling units be built first, and the timing and location of a traffic signal on Farmington Road, which is under Wayne County jurisdiction. "Paragraph 1.2 ... essentially states that the construction schedule of the 2 phases of this development, the residential and the retail, would occur independent of each other," planning staff said, adding an August 2026 deadline for issuing permits for the residential phase.
Why it matters: the site is a large redevelopment of a longtime retail property and will change traffic patterns on Farmington Road. Council members repeatedly said they want protections to make sure the residential phase follows through after the retailer completes its work.
Planning staff told the council the county—which controls Farmington Road—has determined a traffic signal at the northerly driveway is warranted and the revised plan shifts that driveway and makes the south approach right-in/right-out only. "That determination has been made by Wayne County, which has jurisdiction over Farmington Road," planning staff said.
Several council members requested stronger assurances from the developer that the townhome phase will be completed. "Can we move that back to maybe, like, December 31, of 2026 just to give them that span?" Councilman Donovan asked, and he suggested the council require commencement of construction, not merely permit issuance. Planning staff responded that they would seek a bond or other form of surety to ensure the residential phase starts on time.
Developer representatives from Shostak Brothers said Meijer intends to begin demolition as early as March and would demolish both the former Kmart building and the adjacent westerly retail building. "They would be demolishing both the Kmart ... as well as the westerly retail building on the adjacent site," David Johns of Shostak Brothers told the council. The developer said Meijer expects to be under construction through spring 2026 with the goal of opening later in 2026, and that the townhome component would likely begin about 15–18 months after key milestones. "We're talking August or December of 2026 ... late '27 mid to late '27, early '28 based on the timelines that we're asking for," the developer said.
Council members asked how the vacant portion of the site would be managed if townhome construction lags behind the retail work. The developer said it would likely leave pavement and the building pad in place on the westerly parcel to limit erosion, and that the site would remain a construction zone while Meijer builds. The developer also said it would consider perimeter fencing if the city requires it.
No final vote on the planned general development agreement was recorded at this meeting. Council members directed staff and the applicant to negotiate conditions, including a form of surety and clearer commencement requirements for the residential phase, and to return language for the council to consider at the formal voting meeting.
Ending: The council asked staff and the applicant to work out the conditions and said they would revisit the agreement at the upcoming voting session; no adoption or formal amendment was finalized at this discussion.
