Not so fast, Pooler — Lidl is still pursuing locations on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton

Just because Pooler is opening a 19,054-square-foot Aldi and possibly a Lidl, a competing German grocer store, doesn’t mean Hilton Head Island and Bluffton are out of luck just yet.

Anne Cyran, senior planner at the Town of Hilton Head Island, said Tuesday morning that the Lidl proposed for the new Sea Turtle Marketplace shopping center is still going through the design review process.

Because of the grocer’s particular architecture and design, Lidl will be making some changes to its corporate standard and run a different design by town staff before resubmitting plans to the Design Review Board, according to Cyran.

The Lidl planned for Buckwalter Place in Bluffton is a little further ahead.

Heather Colin, director of growth management for the Town of Bluffton, said Tuesday afternoon that the final development plan for the grocery store is in the process of being approved.

The plan was reviewed at the town’s Development Review Committee meeting Oct. 25 and looked at again by town staff Oct. 31 after comments made at the meeting were addressed by the grocer, according to Colin.

“The next step for the applicant, once they get that in hand ... will be to submit for their building permits,” she said.

This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 4:14 PM with the headline "Not so fast, Pooler — Lidl is still pursuing locations on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton."