MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - “After several meetings we have reached an agreement with the City of East Lansing regarding the Costco development. The agreement will go before the Township Board for discussion,” stated Meridian Township Manager Frank Walsh. "We appreciate the positive attitude from the City of East Lansing. Trustee Ron Styka and I worked extremely well with Mayor Mark Meadows and City Manager George Lahanas."

Costco approached the City and the Township a few months ago about building at the former Four Winds Golf Course site on the corner of Park Lake Road and Saginaw Highway. Representatives stated in a neighborhood meeting held on June 2nd that they had spent 4 years looking for a site location in the Lansing region and they felt this site was the best location. But in order for Costco to build, the City of East Lansing and Meridian Township must come to an agreement beforehand due to an Urban Cooperation Agreement they’ve had on the property since 2001.

Terms of a new agreement needed to be reached to amend the Urban Cooperation agreement in order for Costco to build. Those terms were reached this week and will go before the Meridian Township Board for discussion at their June 21 meeting. For both communities, this means a taxable business on a site that has been empty since approximately 2003, according to Mark Kieselbach, Meridian Township Community Planning & Development Director.

In regards to the terms of the agreement, East Lansing has agreed to allow Meridian Township to have final approval of the site plan including all aspects of development. Part of the site plan includes a conservation easement. Around 33 acres will be placed into a conservation district permanently. In addition, the developer will bear all costs for any road improvements, enhancements or expansion.

If Costco meets the state requirements for a brownfield , and if the City of East Lansing grants a brownfield, the total amount of the Tax Increment Financing shall not exceed $1,000,000.

East Lansing has agreed to extend the tax sharing component of the 2001 agreement through December 31, 2039. This gives Meridian Township four (4) more years of revenue sharing from the parcel.

The Meridian Township Board will discuss the terms of the agreement at the June 21, 2016 meeting located at the Township Hall 5151 Marsh Road, Okemos, MI.