GRIFFITH | After failing last year with plans to build at the northeast corner of Cline Avenue and 45th Street, Walgreens is trying again right across the street.

The Plan Commission has granted the firm a July 9 public hearing on the request.

The developer, who is not the one who appeared last year, is seeking a one-lot subdivision and rezoning of property near the southeast corner of the same intersection. If approved, it would go next to an existing 7-Eleven store that sits at the corner.

Michael Regas, of Gray Canyon Companies Inc. in Chicago, said designs for the 14,550-square-foot store are not complete yet. No groundbreaking or grand opening dates have been set.

Regas' attorney, Steve Kennedy, of Munster, said a traffic study will be presented at the hearing to "show that there will not be any negative impact" from the project.

The 1.6 acre site includes four existing houses on 45th and one on Cline. Gray Canyon has options to purchase the properties, Kennedy said.

Entrances are planned for both Cline and 45th Street, Kennedy said.

There is an existing right of way along the south edge of the project for a road that will never be built, Kennedy said. Although it is not critical to the project, he said the firm might ask the town to deed it to the project.

There was fierce opposition from residents over last year's proposal, largely because of the location, the traffic congestion and the fears the building would devalue surrounding property. More than 750 residents signed a petition opposing the construction; it was eventually abandoned.

"There should be less of a problem" with this proposal because there are only a couple houses nearby, along with a church that will be buffered from the business, Kennedy said.