It appears plans to recreate an historic Oxford landmark may not come to fruition.
Last week, the Oxford Village Planning Commission failed to grant a one-year site plan extension for ‘The Oakland Building,? a three-story, 21,000-square-foot commercial project proposed by developer Chuck Schneider.
‘If that’s all the cooperation I (can) get out of these people, I don’t want to build a building,? said Schneider on Monday. ‘I’m putting the property up for sale … I’ve called the sign guy and (I’m) having him change the sign as we speak. It says ‘for lease.? In a few days it’s going to say ‘for sale.??
Had it been okayed, the extension would have been the project’s second.
Originally approved in January 2005, the building is meant to be a reincarnation of ‘The Oakland,? a grand hotel that stood in downtown Oxford from January 1889 to May 1971.
With its glorious Queen Anne Architecture, it was considered ‘one of the finest country hotels in Michigan? in its day.
Schneider planned to construct his new building on the hotel’s former site, a vacant parking lot he owns in the northwest quadrant wedged between the Healthy Smile Center and Sister’s Hair Care.
In a March 12 letter to the planning commission, Schneider cited five reasons for his extension request:
n ‘The north Oakland County economic climate has taken a dramatic downturn.?
n ‘Leasing activity has significantly diminished with many businesses taking a ‘wait and see? attitude.?
n ‘Three new projects are currently under construction with the potential for an ‘overbuilt? condition in the market.?
n ‘The bank’s attitude has shifted to a more cautious approach in view of the number of foreclosures they are experiencing.?
n ‘The DDA has not completed the proposed parking lot expansion for the northwest parking quadrant.?
Despite these reasons, the village planning commission could not agree on the request.
Three motions ? one to approve a six-month extension, one to approve a 90-day extension and one to deny an extension ? all failed in 4-4 votes.
The extension was ultimately tabled until the next meeting in the hopes of having a full board present. The commission is currently short a member.
‘It will come back on our agenda next month,? said Planning Commission Chairman Tom Schultz. ‘One of the big points was it’s been a while since the planning commission has seen it.?
When the site plan was originally approved two years ago, only four of the nine planning commissioners were members of the board at that time.
Some commissioners felt, in the interests of ‘fairness,? it would be better to ‘have it come back through (the approval process) so the current body can have an understanding of what the plan is,? according to Schultz. ‘That way everyone’s voting on it with the same background.?
Schultz said there was also some concern as to whether village zoning and ordinance changes made since the plan was approved would conflict with it.
‘None of the ones we’ve made would affect that building,? according to Schultz, who voted in favor of an extension.
‘I was okay with granting the extension,? the chairman said. ‘I’m familiar with the project. Nothing in the plans have changed.?
This whole experience left Schneider feeling extremely frustrated and angry since he’s the one ‘taking all the risk.?
‘What I’ve got is a bunch of ungrateful people who treat me like I’m some novice who doesn’t know what he’s doing,? he said. ‘I’ve redone 14 buildings in town. I’ve invested millions in this community and I go to the planning commission to ask them for a year extension to build a $3 million building in their town to increase their tax base and they want to jerk me around.?