BY JOETTE KUNSE
Special to the Clarkston News
The proposed Sashabaw Market Place Planned Unit Development was received with mixed reviews during the Feb. 27 Independence Township Planning Commission meeting.
About 75 residents attended with concerns including density of the development, relevance of a movie theater, traffic on Waldon and Walters roads, and the need for walkable spaces with “town character” or a central civic space or park.
Bill Scarborough, from Knob Hill Circle, questioned the density, water system and wells, and a tree preservation or environmental impact study.
Township planner Richard Carlisle said the township did not have a tree preservation plan or environmental impact study available.
Planning Commission Chair R. Brent Savidant said the plan had too much parking and asphalt, though the height of the project was appropriate and connectivity was good.
“The Planning Commission was not doing cartwheels over the plan,” Savidant said.
“This is an outdated design,” said Commissioner Sam Moraco. “There is no open space. The apartment pool is within 200 feet of the residences.”
He also was concerned about the high light dome over the area and clear cutting of trees because of the terrain.
Gilbert “Buzz” Silverman of Silverman Construction Company of Bloomfield Hills and Jim Eppink of J Eppink Partners presented the preliminary plan. Phase I would be 280 luxury apartments in 14 buildings. Phase II includes a movie theater, fresh food market, two restaurants, fitness center, and a bank or preschool. Phase III includes 46 homes ranging from $350,000 to $400,000 each, with some open space.
“We appreciate all the great people of Clarkston and the time the Planning Commission gave us,” Silverman said. “This is our initial proposal. We received a lot of information to consider in the plan as we go forward.”
The 68-acre development is bordered by I-75, Waldon, Flemings Lake and Walters roads.
Carlisle said this was the first plan in 15 years for this piece of property and the development seemed overpacked with too much parking. He added people seemed to be conceptually onboard but there was work to be done.
Trustee Ron Richie, who also serves on the Planning Commission, was concerned about the density of the housing, ability of fire trucks to move around the apartment complex, and more buffering and green space was needed.
Commissioner Brian Galley shared his concerns about the buffering and walkability.
Planning Commissioner David Boersma said “less is more.” He added the P.U.D. was not only for the people and business owners who lived within the development, but it should also benefit the entire community. He did not want to see all the asphalt that was in the plan and he didn’t want to see a development with miniature big box stores.
Tim Loughlin, planning commissioner, said, “We expect a lot more for a P.U.D. This was uninspiring in retail design.” He also shared his concerns about the amount of asphalt and the density of the apartments, and asked for a better design.
A Walmart store was proposed for the property in 2005, when the land was zoned single family, but the proposal was withdrawn. The land, located in the center of the township, was rezoned in 2006 to mixed use.
The developers will return to the Planning Commission for final approval, which will include public comment. If the development is approved, it will go to the Independence Township Board of Trustees.