Hastings Meijer one step closer to development
Posted By: News Channel 3 on June 9, 2026. For more information, please click here to read the source article.
A huge development in the City of Hastings is one step closer to becoming a reality, after the Hastings City Council gave their stamp of approval during Monday night’s meeting.
The construction of a Meijer Supercenter and gas station is being considered just west of Hastings, near the intersection of M-43 and M-37. But before shovels can ever hit the ground, approval must be given at a local level. Another step in the process was taken when city council unanimously approved all three agreements needed for the project to move forward.
First, approval on an amendment allowing for the sharing of urban services between the city and Rutland Township.
An agreement dating back to 2012 requires that urban services districts be contiguous and not address private parties’ direct financial contributions toward utility extensions, according to Assistant City Manager for Hastings, Hana Jaquays.
Next, approval was given on Public Act 425, which allows two or more local governments to transfer land to one another for economic development.
Lastly, an agreement known as the “4 Way Agreement” was given the green light, which allows for public utility services to be extended to the Meijer property, including both water and sewer services.
“Essentially this allows the city to own the newly constructed infrastructure, even though it’s within the right of way within the township area,” said City Manager Sarah Moyer-Cale during Monday’s meeting.
As for where the community stands on the project, Owner of Mustard Seed Greenhouse and Produce, Mike Webb, said there are some mixed emotions.
“There’s some excitement. There’s some nervousness,” said Webb. “Meijer is going to change this community forever. And some people don’t like that, they’re used to their surroundings.”
The greenhouse Webb owns happens to be right across the street from where the Meijer will go, if it earns all the right approval moving forward. From a business standpoint, Webb said he is all for it.
“I’m pretty excited about it,” said Webb. “You know, being right across the street brings in a whole new level of traffic that’s free to me.”
But Webb said he can see both sides and knows, either way, a big corporation coming into a small town is bound to change things forever– from the decrease in wildlife to the increase in traffic.
“I see the deer grazing, I see the bald eagles. So that’s going to disappear,” said Webb. “You know, a traffic jam out here is two cars behind a tractor.”
But still, Webb is remaining hopeful that as one business enters, another business grows.
“If we can get by that first year of construction and then get the benefits of it,” said Webb. “People are just going to come in here naturally curious, and I think long term we’ll benefit from that.”
There is still a long way to go before anything is set in stone. Rutland Township will be voting on those same three agreements during a meeting Wednesday night.
If all agreements are approved at both meetings, Jaquays said the Joint Planning Commission would review site plans and vote on final approval at their June 17 meeting.
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