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Politics & Government

Meijer Opposition Will Have A Chance To Voice Concerns

Village administrator Jeremy Smith says concerns will be vetted through public meetings, hearings.

Residents opposed to the Meijer store project because of traffic and safety concerns will have an opportunity to have their voice heard throughout the process, Village administrator Jeremy Smith said on Thursday.  

"Concerns from the public are aways taken into account," he said during a phone interview. "There are a series of meetings where people get a chance to have staff look at their concerns and … we do our best to take them into account." 

The store, to be located at Highways K and 164, will be about 200,000-square-foot complex that will consist of grocery, retail and pharmacy. The store plans to hire 200 to 250 employees and will also include a gas station on the premise. 

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A flier opposing the project was circulated throughout the village and the Town of Lisbon last weekend, according to Sussex Sun. The paper also noted that an opposition meeting was to be held Wednesday night at the Pauline Haass Library. It is unclear whether that meeting occurred. 

An message sent by Sussex.Patch.com to an email address on the flier was not answered. 

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The flier indicated that residents are concerned with the large retailer coming to town because of the "impact will have on (the) quality of life because of increased traffic, increased crime, noisy semi-trucks making night deliveries, increased taxes to pay for roads, sewers and the need for additional police." 

The company has about 200 stores in the Midwest and plans to open three other stores in the Milwaukee metro area.

"This is not unique to Sussex. There is an organized campaign going on in every community that Meijer is attempting to come in to to stop them," Smith said. "We don't know if it is a competitor of Meijer … but there's someone from out of our area attempting to impact Meijer's capabilities of advancing into this market place." 

Village leadership and officials will be not be swayed by an outside force to stop competition, Smith added. 

Smith noted the Plan Commission, Architectural Review Board, Tree Board and Village Board will play a role in shaping this project. Public hearings will also be scheduled throughout the process.  

"The developer has expressed a great interest in trying to address concerns as well," he said. 

The paper also said the "flier points out that the proposed gas station and grocery/household goods stores are slated to be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." 

Smith said that Sussex is home to several businesses that are open 24 hours a day. 

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