Angry residents and an irritated village council lashed out at the developer currently in charge of the unfinished Atwater Commons condominium complex.
Still, developers were granted a little more time to take care of the issues.
In question at the council meeting on Oct. 14 were an unsightly sales trailer abandoned by previous developers, shoddy, unfinished roads and a missing light pole, problems residents say have been ongoing for years.
‘These are not maintenance issues, these are contractual issues with the issues. These people are here tonight, and we represent them,? said Councilmember David Churchill.
Around 30 residents came to voice their concerns at the public hearing.
‘When we moved in, that was a highlight for me, that this would be a nice area in front,? said Andrea Curtis, who lives in the complex with her husband. ‘We live directly across from the sales trailer. It’s been five years and there’s no timeline. I’d like to see a timeline.?
What the council had to decide was whether developers violated the Planned Unit Development (PUD) agreement made with the Village of Lake Orion, and, if so, whether to draw on the developer’s $150,000 line of credit so the village could arrange for the work to get finished.
In the end, the council decided not to go ahead with it. Yet.
Instead, they warned the Aspen Group/Atwater, L.L.C., Gulf Atwater, L.L.C. that if they don’t come before the council with concrete plans to fix the problems, that is just what they will do.
John Schandevel, a represenative for the developers, said the economy was to blame.
‘Michigan’s economic downturn and the dramatic loss of real estate values has plagued our homeowners, builders and developers,? he said. ‘These challenges, unforeseen at the time of the PUD approval, have forced the developer to suspend construction.?
Gulf Atwater is not the original developer. They assumed responsibility of Atwater Commons only after the bankruptcy of Neumann Homes.
Still, the council wants them to get the work done.
‘I understand the economic situation, however, you made a deal with these people,? said Council President Rob Reetz. ‘These people and the village are expected to live with this? The residents didn’t pay to live how they’re living now.?
Village Manager Paul Zelenak didn’t know why the developers weren’t more prepared.
‘I’ve been in contact with Mr. Schandevel for almost five months. I’m very surprised he has not retained any type of counsel at all regarding this. We talked about the development, what needed to be done, and what items were not completed as part of the original plan. I’m very disappointed that we don’t have anything before us that says when this will get done?
Zelenak went on to say he was also surprised that the developer hadn’t come forward with specific dollar amounts and a timeline to finish the work.
‘Our police department has to deal with safety issues in the area,? he added.
While the line of credit the council can draw from is $150,000, the council estimated that the work would cost around $30,000.
The council approved a motion granting Schendevel and the developers more time’until the next meeting’to set a timeline and compile the costs for the work.