German grocery chain Lidl targets Annapolis for U.S. expansion
The European grocery chain Lidl has selected Annapolis for one of the first locations of its expansion into the United States.
The discount grocer has applied for a zoning variance from Anne Arundel County to build a 36,185-square-foot store on Bay Ridge Road, just outside city limits. Zoning rules require the variance for a store larger than 25,000 square feet at the location.
The German company operates more than 10,000 stores in 28 countries in Europe and has been looking to extend its footprint on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
It is developing an 800,000-square-foot regional headquarters and distribution facility in Cecil County and has plans to open its first U.S. stores by 2018. In June, Aberdeen approved a site plan for a store, and published reports have listed Bowie and College Park as other spots under consideration.
If approved, Lidl would be the first new supermarket brand to open in the city since Fresh Market and Trader Joe's more than a decade ago. The first Harris Teeter location in the county is under construction in Severna Park.
Neither officials with Lidl's U.S. operations nor their representatives in Annapolis could be reached for comment Friday.
In an October letter to the county Office of Planning and Zoning, attorneys for the chain said they're working with the Annapolis Neck Peninsula Foundation. The group has expressed opposition to growth along the Forest Drive corridor, which includes Bay Ridge Road.
Attorney Charles Schaller Jr. of Linowes and Blocher in Annapolis said the community group and the company have worked to be sensitive to each other's priorities.
"Lidl has worked extensively with the Annapolis Neck (Peninsula) Federation in preserving as much forest or 'green space' while meeting county parking requirements and other site development constraints," he wrote.
Anastasia Hopkinson, vice president of the federation, said the group is generally happy to see a major chain such as Lidl interested in the site but said there are reservations about the size of the project.
"We're supportive of this type of development coming in, an alternative grocery site," Hopkinson said.
She pointed out that Lidl agreed to add a bike rack along with seating areas outside the supermarket. But the size of the store has created concern about loss of tree coverage and the addition of more pavement that will lead to greater stormwater runoff.
"We're chewing on that bone now," Hopkinson said.
"We want to see the footprint of the property to be as minimal as possible ... to have as much greenery left as possible."
The variance application does not outline how much vegetation Lidl would remove as part of the development. Schaller wrote that the property "contains mostly scrub and invasive vegetation with a few trees."
Hopkinson said it goes beyond just the potential for Lidl to clear away some of the area's natural forestation.
"In additional to our environmental standards, we also want a sense of place," she said. "Will it look like a really big object there?"
The property, owned by 12 members of the Samaras family, has been the focus of development efforts for years. When city officials updated its comprehensive plan in 2014, it flagged the area as one for potential growth.
The Samaras family originally sought to annex the property to Annapolis, but the plans for the store are being heard by the county. Ted Samaras, who has spoken for the family in the past, could not be reached for comment.
In requesting the 36,000-square-foot size, Schaller wrote that it is necessary to create a sales floor area big enough to make the supermarket economically viable. It would be located across Bay Ridge Road from the Bay Forest Shopping Center, where Giant Food has a 50,000-square-foot store.
"Lidl requires a sales floor area of 22,837 (square) feet in order to have a viable enterprise which in turn requires the building size to be 36,185 (square) feet," he wrote. "It seems reasonable and appropriate that a use variance be granted."
An administrative hearing is planned on the request Jan. 19.
Hopkinson said members of the federation will attend, but she did not know who would speak against the project.
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