Germany-based global discount grocer Lidl has proposed opening a new location in Cypress, which could be among the first stores to open in the U.S. At Monday’s Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees meeting, the board unanimously voted to consider a second letter of non-objection to Harris County Commissioners Court on the construction of a store near Woodard Elementary School, which is located at the corner of Cypress North Houston and Barker Cypress roads. Steven Freeman with Kimley-Horn and Associates, a design consulting firm working to advance the project, was in attendance Monday. “The grocer is Lidl,” he said. “They’re a worldwide grocer that has 10,000 stores in 27 countries. They’re making their entry into the U.S., and they’re looking forward to being here to serve this community.” Lidl announced plans for a U.S. expansion in 2015 with plans to construct a $77 million U.S. corporate headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The grocer is a direct competitor with another Germany-based discount grocer, Aldi, which already has multiple Cy-Fair locations. Aldi has more than 1,600 locations across 35 states, including about 30 stores in the Greater Houston area. The company expects to open its first round of U.S. stores in 2018, including locations in New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas. Lidl expects to open 100 stores no later than 2018, according to Reuters and the Associated Press.