MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Meridian Township Planning Commission met on May 13 to discuss a Special Use Permit request for the excavation of a floodplain of Smith Consolidated Drain to construct a deck, approximately 4300 square feet, at 4100 Okemos Road Delta Dental headquarters.

Meridian Township Principal Planner Peter Menser presented an overview of infrastructure changes such as deck piers and beams installed in the floodplain, and the deck being near Smith Consolidated Drain, running through the north side of the Delta Dental property.

A landscape architect, representing Delta Dental, informed the Planning Commission that this project has been approved by the Ingham County Drain Commission as well as the reason Dental Dental requested to build this deck.

"Delta Dental Executives recognize that there is a growing trend in flexible work space and they want to do what they can to accommodate that and modify their work environment as they understand it's important to their employees work life quality."

This project has also been approved by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) now called Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).

"It seems like a wonderful addition to this building," said Planning Commissioner Peter Trezise.

The Planning Commission will be meeting on May 20 at 7 pm and expected to vote to approve this project.