By Dan Shriner
Review Editor
It appears that Orion Township may have come to an agreement with Booomfield Hills-based Pulte Land Company and Prieskorn Golf Enterprises to pursue development for a proposed development on Bald Mountain Golf Course.
The Orion Township board is expected to vote on the new proposal at their Monday night meeting. Details and maps of the court-ordered settlement agreement can be found on the township’s website.
Pulte and Prieskorn filed a lawsuit against the township in December claiming that the township denied Prieskorn of its property rights after the board voted to reject the Planned Unit Development (PUD) on the 236-acres.
The Pulte proposal, which was in discussions for more than a year, was denied after residents cited traffic and overcrowding concerns as reasons that the board should deny the developers? plans to build on the golf course.
An Oakland County Circuit judge ordered both sides to mediation in an effort to work out an agreement. A mediator is expected to attend the township board meeting Monday night to explain the details of the agreement.
Township Supervisor Chris Barnett said he hoped the community would be pleased with the settlement and compromises.
‘We are very pleased with this settlement and believe it is a win-win for both parties,? Barnett said. ‘We welcome input from the community at our Monday meeting.?
The agreement includes some of the following modifications:
The density is down from 360 homes to 343 on the 236 acres. It comes out to 1.43 units per acre. There are three different lot sizes. The proposal has 118 homes on 55-by-120 feet lots, 147 homes on 90-by-30 lots and 78 on 100-by-140 feet lots.
The minimum amount of open space will be 31 percent. Township ordinance requires 15 percent.
There will be an additional 17 acres of ponds and wetlands and wooded areas. At least 230 trees outside of the woodlands and wetlands will be preserved.
There will be a redesign of some areas to account for some landmark trees located on the site.
A proposed cul-de-sac closest to Silver Bell Oak subdivision will be moved back to create a larger buffer area.
Lots have been removed from the heavily wooded western edge of the development to preserve some trees.
There would be an estimated 1,200 trees removed during development of the site. These would be replaced with the planting of 2,000 trees.
Pulte also made a commitment to producing high quality homes in the development, according to the proposed settlement.
Barnett said Pulte has agreed to make some improvements for traffic control in the area, which was one of the criticisms brought by residents.
‘Pulte stepped up and we worked together to get this agreement, ? Barnett said.