Soon, there could be no need for Oxford residents to drive to Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills or the Rochester area to do their shopping.
It appears all the stores are heading here in droves.
Plans for three shopping centers are coming before the Oxford Township Planning Commission this month at the Feb. 9 and 23 meetings.
A conceptual site plan for a 81,865-square foot shopping center will be presented to commissioners by the Bloomfield Hills-based JFK Investment Company during a Feb. 9 pre-application conference.
‘I was there in front of that planning (commission) over a year ago showing a mixed-use (plan) and they said no more residential,? said Joe Kosik, Jr., a manager at JFK Investment Co. ‘They wanted commercial. They need commercial in town.?
Kosik is certainly no stranger to Oxford.
‘We’ve known the area for a long time,? he said. ‘I built Oxford Mills on the south end of town some years ago. M-24 is a growing area.?
JFK Investment wants to develop 9.46 acres (directly across from Kalloway’s Restaurant and Pub) of a 25-acre parcel zoned for commercial use on the east side of M-24, south of East Market Street and just north of the village limits.
Kosik said the remaining acreage will eventually be developed into ‘commercial? properties ‘when there’s a level of interest.?
‘We’re starting out on what I call the smaller end to get a few things going,? he said.
The conceptual site plan shows three large retail buildings on the east side of the property with square-footages of 24,740; 17,800; and 7,100.
Adjacent to the 24,740-square-foot building, the plan shows a 24,360-square-foot ‘sideyard.?
‘That’s for a potential tenant,? Kosik said. ‘For TSC, the tractor service company . . . That building and the sideyard is all theirs.?
TSC stands for Tractor Supply Company, a Tennessee-based firm that is the largest retail farm and ranch chain in the United States with more than 550 stores in 34 states including Michigan, the nearest one in Lapeer.
‘The typical Tractor Supply store has 15,000-24,000 square feet of inside selling space with a similar amount of outside space used to display agricultural fencing, livestock equipment and horse stalls,? according to the company’s website www.mytscstore.com.
‘Hobby? farmers and ranchers are TSC’s main customers as it sells pet and equine supplies, animal feed, power tools, riding mowers, lawn and garden products and more.
When asked about other potential tenants, Kosik said, ‘I’m not saying anything on that until I know where I’m going with the township. I haven’t tried to lock anybody in because we’re still not sure what the township is going to want me to do there.?
A total of 325 parking spaces are shown to accommodate customers.
On the west side along M-24, the plan shows two outlot buildings ? a 3,105-square-foot ‘restaurant? to the south and a 4,760-square-foot ‘bank? to the north.
‘We’ve talked to several banks, there’s interest,? Kosik said. ‘I have not completed any deal with a bank. That may or may not stay a bank. But it’s shown that way for now to start the process.?
‘Restaurants that have been contacted have been everything from fast food to national restaurant chains,? he said. ‘Could be any of those or a combination. Don’t know yet.?
In other potential development news, two public hearings regarding proposed shopping centers are planned for the Feb. 23 planning commission hearing.
One is to receive comments on a proposed preliminary site plan submitted for a retail facility called ‘Oxford Crossing,? being developed by Mike Koza, of Livonia.
Located on a 1.916-acre parcel along the south side of Ray Road, next door to the Meijer gas station on the east side, Oxford Crossing is a proposed 15,360-square-foot retail facility with the potential to hold up to 11 tenants.
A total of 80 parking spaces are shown on the plan.
The public is also invited to comment on the proposed final site for the ‘Promenade at Waterstone.?
Located on an 11.47-acre parcel on the east side of M-24 between the Meijer drive to the north and East Market Street to the south, the 91,847-square-foot ‘life-style shopping center? is meant to be a ‘physical, aesthetic and functional extension of Oxford Village,? according to its developer, Aragona Properties, of Clinton Township.
The proposed final site plan shows four retail buildings on the development’s east side with square-footages of 16,120; 19,771; 23,096; and 9,000.
On the west side along M-24, the plan calls for a 5,100-square-foot retail building, a 5,860-square-foot Chili’s Grill & Bar, and a 12,900-square-foot CVS/Pharmacy.
Running north-south straight through the heart of the shopping center will be a 37-foot wide outdoor promenade along the east side’s store fronts containing outdoor cafe seating, fountain, ‘doggy park,? benches, clock tower and children’s play area.
Numerous sidewalks in all directions within the development are meant to provide ‘easy and safe pedestrian arrival by foot or bike.?
Nearly 500 parking spaces will accommodate drivers.
Oxford Township Planning Commission meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and take place on the second floor of the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center at 28 N. Washington Street.