A construction project slated for completion in one phase over one year may now be pushed into two phase to be completed in 2012.
Terry Winter, a partner in Orion Pointe LLC, approached the village council during the public comment portion of their Jan. 25 meeting, asking to change Orion Pointe’s planned unit development (PUD).
The waterfront project includes four condominiums and an office building on S. Broadway and was originally set to be completed by April 1 this year. If Winter gets what he’s asking for, the office building will be completed April 1 with landscaping by June 1, but construction on the condos won’t be finished until June 1, 2012.
Winter said the tough economy has forced a new deadline.
‘We approached village staff back in October and said ‘we’ve got to be honest, we feel that we’re going to get delayed at least 18 to 24 months on being able to complete those units,?? said Winter. ‘Bank financing got a little squirrely; lenders required a lot more equity to complete the project and, quite frankly, reneged on some of the load documents. We just had to bite the bullet and keep moving forward.?
Village council members and some residents, however, aren’t too thrilled with the idea of an extension.
Lake Orion resident Mark Brancheau’s property is arguable affected most by the construction, as the project surrounds his house on three sides.
‘I could talk for five days about how living in construction zone has just been a nightmare ? not getting your mail, your easements blocked off, the noise,? Brancheau said. ‘The last two months, they’ve worked seven days a week. You’re never at peace.?
The resident said one of the main reasons the project was supposed to be completed in one phase was to have as little impact on surrounding residents as possible.
‘We’ve lived with it for a year. We just need to get this condominium done,? he said.
Brancheau also noted that the request to change this PUD looks eerily similar to other botched PUDs from the past.
‘Why would the village want another Atwater Commons? Hasn’t the village learned their lesson, yet? Why would you open this up to all sorts of problems, legally? Tax payers have to pay for this,? he said. ‘Symphony Homes, Newton Meadows, Atwater Commons ? how many PUDs can you screw up here? Now they’re going onto number four. This is enough. They have to get it right.?
Some councilmembers shared Brancheau’s sentiments.
Councilmember Douglas Dendel noted that, on the heels of Atwater Commons? unfulfilled PUD, the council should look into the request further before making a decision.
?[Orion Pointe LLC] hasn’t completed this on schedule and now they’re making changes just like the Atwater project,? said Dendel, adding ‘It’s because we just keep on folding and saying, ‘ok, we’ll make changes.??
Councilmember David Churchill said he could understand the developer’s financial difficulties and a deadline extension, but noted ‘The residents over there are going to be living with this for over two years. I want some input from them and make sure that it’s something acceptable to them before I sign off.?
The issue will appear on the village council’s Feb. 8 agenda to discuss approving or denying the developer’s request. Meetings begins at 7:30 p.m. and are open to the public.