DAVISON TWP., MI - A portion of a nearly 20-acre parcel at the corner of Lapeer and Irish roads in Davison Township will see new development after a previous truck stop plan didn't pass muster with residents.
The plan by Sylvan Lake-based Jonna Properties approved by township planning commissioners this month includes a 1,930-square-foot Taco Bell building and 8,850-square-foot shopping plaza featuring five storefronts.
Charm Healy, township planning and zoning administrator, said the developer plans on beginning work later this fall.
The development's site plan has been approved by the planning commission, but a final administrative review still needs to be completed before construction can begin.
Laith Jonna, founder of Jonna Properties, said they've been working on the development for some time and drew interest with other businesses located in the area including Meijer and Menards and its location off the interstate.
The company describes itself as "a family-owned and managed real estate development company that specializes in acquiring, developing, managing, and leasing community shopping centers in Southeast Michigan," according to its website.
The shopping plaza would the have the same design as the Cardinals Landing plaza, which shares a parking lot with the Black Rock Bar & Grill at the corner of Irish Road and Court Street that opened in October 2017.
Healy said the owner of Black Rock in Davison Township sold the parcel to Jonna Properties approximately 18 months ago after deciding to relocate the restaurant on the north side of Interstate 69.
Jonna commented they will develop the infrastructure for three out lots on the parcel, including utility work and road access for the possibility of additional businesses that decide to move in over time.
"We're in conversations (with) a cell phone business. We've talked to a coffee shop," he noted. "We're talking to a Mideast restaurant, Pita Way. We're talking to a nail salon and sit down restaurant."
Discussions also previously took place with TJ Maxx for a new location, but Jonna stated the timing was not yet right.
"Once people come, the traffic and action begins happening, they'll start coming," he said of new businesses, adding "Any time we get a project going it's always exciting. It's success at that point."
The parcel saw plans for a Love's Travel Stop and Country Stores in 2014, but residents expressed concerns about potential crime and extra traffic with two gas stations and a convenience store already located near the busy intersection.
Properties developed by the company include the Long Lake Plaza in Troy, Breckenridge Square in Macomb Township, Pine Cove Plaza in Commerce Township, and Independence Town Center in Clarkston.