By David Fleet

Editor

Goodrich-A rezoning request that drew the ire of some area residents during two recent village planning commission meetings has been withdrawn.

The village planning commission voted on Sept. 26 to postpone a request for 120 days to change the zoning from general commercial to multiple-family residential district on about 10 acres at 7293 South State Road just south of Yellow Dog. If the zoning change was approved or denied by the planning commission, a vote by the village council would have been the next step in the process.

The rezoning was presented by Hanuman Marur of Burton-based Trans Environmental Engineers. If the rezoning was OK’d, a multi-building apartment complex to be named Atlas Meadows Luxury Apartments was the proposal to be considered. The project was first introduced to the village planning commission on Aug. 22 and included a total of 120 units, each 900 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The buildings will be located on about 464-foot frontage along M-15, extending 946 feet deep. Due to the wetlands on the property, the front three acres will be left natural with a boulevard drive off M-15 through the wetland area.

The commission decided to seek more detailed information regarding infrastructure impact including drainage, traffic flow near the proposed structure, taxation benefits to the village and possible disruption of about three acres of wetlands that border the west side of the property following the Sept. 26 meeting.

Craig McAra, associate attorney at Gault Davison, PC of Grand Blanc, represented the developer Trans Environmental Engineers.

“We were disappointed with the negative response at the planning commission hearing,” said McAra. “As a result, that led us to reevaluate the plans (for the apartment complex). Right now the rezoning decision has been tabled for 120, however we will continue to evaluate the project and will move forward in the best interest of the community and with all involved.”

McAra declined to say if the zoning request would be back on the table or if another area of the community would be considered.

Adam Kline, village planning commission chairman, said requests to rezone are common in the village.

“In the near future we (the planning commission) will take a look at the village master plan,” he said. “The public will have a chance to chime in on zoning in the village. In the past, very few people have come to those meetings.”

“The property is currently zoned commercial, which means an industrial building or business can go on the property,” he said. “So how much better or worse is an apartment complex or condos in that area?”