The idea of adding a small apartment building to the White House Village Shops development, located along M-24 between Crawford and Lincoln streets, is being opposed by some Oxford Village residents.
‘It feels like commercial development is being encouraged at the expense of our residential neighborhood,? said resident Mary Ann Schlicht, who’s lived on Crawford St. for 42 years.
Last week, the village planning commission held a public hearing regarding a request from the father-son development team of Chuck and Craig Schneider for a conditional rezoning of a portion of the White House site. If approved, it could potentially allow for construction of a proposed two-story, 5,616-square-foot apartment building.
Based on plans submitted to the village, the proposed building would contain five apartments. Three, one-bedroom units, ranging from 846 to 868 square feet, would be located on the first floor. The second floor would contain two, 1,252-square-foot apartments, each with two bedrooms.
The proposed building would be located in the southwest corner of the White House site along Lincoln St. It would be just west of the Oxford School of Music (125 S. Washington St.), which already has an apartment above it.
The White House property is currently zoned for Commercial Office (CO) uses. According to village planner Chris Khorey, of the Northville-based McKenna Associates, CO zoning allows for retail establishments, offices and residential use ‘in some contexts.?
‘But it does not allow buildings that are solely residential,? he said.
Hence, the conditional rezoning request.
Schlicht expressed her concern that the addition of an apartment building would mean more renters, ‘who traditionally lower the value of surrounding residential homes.?
She’s also worried about it generating ‘increased traffic on an already-busy street . . . not to mention increased crime.?
Two other residents also spoke against the proposed apartment building during the hearing.
‘There’s too many rental properties in the area,? said Debbie Cole, a Crawford St. resident for 22 years. ‘I know that’s the big money-maker right now, but I don’t think it’s a good thing for Oxford.?
She voiced her concern about increased noise and light pollution as well as ‘additional traffic congestion.?
‘I don’t think that is going to help our property values,? Cole said.
Cole also commented on the White House site’s lack of green space, noting there’s basically a ‘lot of asphalt? there.
Jane Charlton, a Pontiac St. resident for eight years, doesn’t believe the proposed apartment building is appropriate given the surrounding neighborhoods are filled with historic homes.
‘I don’t feel that it fits in with the character of the village,? she told the commission.
Based on citizen feedback and the fact that three planning commissioners were absent, the commission voted 4-0 to set aside any discussion and/or possible action regarding the request until the 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 meeting.