GM Expansion Construction on Planning and Zoning's Agenda

A key component of plan to build its Chevrolet Colorado assembly line in is in the beginning stages of being approved by city officials. 

GM's plan add accessory structures, new paved areas and roadways on the southwest corner of its current plant will be reviewed by the Wentzville Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday.

The imrovements, if approved by the commission, will help in GM's future plant expansion, which is slated to be completed in August 2014.

If approved, the improvements would go on to the Wentzville Board of Aldermen, which would have to approve the measure as well.

Barring any setbacks, construction on the new GM building should begin in June.

The plant lost its second shift in 2009, but  on its van line in November and be the home of the Chevrolet Colorado mid-size pickup truck.

The addition will add some 1,200 new jobs to the area. Those jobs will likely come online in 2013, once the expansion of facility is complete.

The second shift on the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size van lines, which will include over 400 additional workers, began Jan. 3 of this year.

The Wentzville plant currently employs about 1,400 people.

Tucker said when all is said and done, GM will employ roughly 3,000 local employees.