On Monday, January 14, the Pleasant Prairie Plan Commission considered and approved Preliminary Site and Operational Plans for Meijer Distribution, Inc. Meijer sought approval to begin mass grading and installation of footings and foundations prior to Final Site and Operational Plans being approved. Meijer purchased a property, located on State Highway 31 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, that is currently used as a wholesale grocery distribution center by SuperValu.
Meijer is proposing to build a 253,677 square foot expansion. Preliminary plans call for the addition to be constructed on the north side of the existing building at a height of 89 feet and of a similar exterior material. The expansion will house a High Bay Automated Storage and Retrieval System in addition to welfare areas and associated truck docks. The existing facilities include: office space, a dry grocery warehouse, a refrigerated warehouse, a tractor/trailer maintenance and service building, a guard house, energy center and fueling station.
The facility is expected to operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week with varying degrees of activity. The existing facility will close in May of 2013. Meijer anticipates their operations at the center will begin during the fall of 2014. Once operational, the facility is expected to employ up to 486 full-time positions (including third party labor) and 42 part-time positions (including third party labor). Truck traffic is projected to make between 90 to 110 trips per day with the potential for future trips to reach 218 per day at peak times.