Rumors concerning a proposed Home Depot in Springfield Township turned out to be true ? for a short period of time.
The home improvement retail chain decided to withdraw their formal proposal before it even reached the township planning commission agenda.
A Feb. 14 letter from Greenberg Farrow Architecture Engineering Development to township Building Director Leon Genre was included in the March 10 township board packet.
The letter referred to comments from the township’s planning consultant, Carlisle/Wortman Associates, in reaction to a formal site plan proposal for the area just south of the Springfield Town Square center on Dixie Highway south of Davisburg Road.
‘It is still apparent by their comments that The Home Depot continues to be an undesired commercial venture at this location,? wrote architect Michael R. Klingl. ‘At this time, Home Depot has decided not to proceed with their proposal and request that it be removed from the agenda.?
The site plan application, asking for about 120,000 square feet of store space with an additional 29,000-square-foot garden center would have been on the Feb. 21 township planning commission agenda.
Springfield Township Supervisor Collin Walls said conversations about the store’s attempt to locate near the new Kroger store started ‘about three or four months after the rumors started.? Serious conversations began around October 2004, Walls said, with informal consultations among various officials.
Walls did not necessarily agree with the contention that The Home Depot is ‘an undesired commercial venture,? but did not apologize for defending the township zoning ordinance.
‘The administration had reviewed two or three different plans before they submitted their official plan,? Walls said. ‘We made sure they were aware of our standards and regulations.?
The store plan was ‘standard size,? Walls said, but he gave credit for ‘non-standard architecture? which attempted to meet township criteria for the Dixie Highway corridor. He cited Hosler Pontiac and Springfield Town Square as new developments which meet those standards.
Officials had been tight-lipped about the chain’s attempt to locate in Springfield Township.
‘I don’t talk to people about things until a plan is submitted,? Walls said, because in most cases informal conversations do not lead to hard proposals.
The 10-acre site is still zoned C-2 commercial, however, and Walls said it was always intended to be connected with the Kroger development. Storm drainage and sanitary infrastructure are already in place for additional commercial development.
‘It’s more than conceivable,? Walls said. ‘It’s going to happen.?