2 housing developments on Pittsfield Township's Planning Commission agenda
Developers want to build apartments on a vacant plot of land off Ann Arbor-Saline Road, which was once planned to be a motel and restaurant building.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
The Oak Valley Apartments project — proposed for a vacant piece of land behind the northern portion of the shopping center anchored by Target — calls to construct 16 buildings with 192 total apartment units.
The plans were submitted to the township in late 2012 by a group of business partners who also own the northern section of the shopping center. Planning Commission considered the plans in March and asked the developers to make several changes, including reorienting two buildings on the site to better protect a wetland.
A concept image for the proposed Oak Valley Apartments on Ann Arbor-Saline Road.
Alexander V. Bogaerts & Associates
The Oak Valley Apartments complex would consist of 16 buildings with 12 units each, and each unit would include a two-car garage.
The developers told AnnArbor.com in December the units would be more upscale than traditional apartments, and would include wood floors, island kitchens, stone countertops and “generous” square footage.
The developers also revealed long-term plans in December to eventually redevelop the shopping center so it’s more pedestrian friendly and connects the residential and commercial uses on the property.
“One of the nice things about living next to a shopping district is if it had uses in the center that were walkable for people, you could just walk next door and have dinner. Right now, the shopping center is not configured for that,” Andy Jacob, a member of the development team, told AnnArbor.com.
The complex would have two access points off Oak Valley Road, and the developers added a storm water detention basin to the southeast corner of the site. A third access point is proposed for the southern end of the site, contingent upon improvements of the shopping center.
Three on-site wetlands on the vacant property would be filled in, except for a portion of the largest wetland. Pittsfield Township is requesting the developer provide usable open space in the form of a mowed path around the detention basis and wetland area.
A Pittsfield Township planning report is recommending approval of the plans subject to several conditions, including that the developers work to install a park/community space when the center is redeveloped. A wetland permit from Pittsfield Township and wetland approval from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality also are required.
Also on Pittsfield Township’s Planning Commission agenda is an amendment to Phase 5 of the approved Arbor Ridge Planned Unit Development.
Livonia builders wants to convert Phase 5 of the Arbor Ridge residential development from single-family detached condos to site condos.
Arbor Ridge Condo Association Facebook
The 70-unit Phase 5 of this 258-unit residential development, located between I-94 and Morgan Road east of Carpenter Road, originally was approved as single-family detached condos.
Due to changes in Federal Housing Administration guidelines that place limits on financing attached and detached condos, developer Livonia Builders wants to convert the project to site condos — where the individual condo owner is responsible for the lot and the house, but still belongs to a condo association that owns and maintains roads and common areas.
Lot lines were reconfigured to provide more usable open space on the site, and one unit was eliminated from the original Arbor Ridge Planned Unit Development.
A Pittsfield Township planning report is recommending approval of the changes.
Both requests will be considered at Pittsfield Township Planning Commission’s 6:30 p.m. meeting on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
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