Conceptual plans for a roughly 100,000-square-foot shopping center complete with outdoor promenade and dog park, just south of Meijer, were presented at the Oxford Township Planning Commission April 28.
Paul Aragona, president of the Clinton Township-based Aragona Properties, met with commissioners during a pre-application conference to discuss his proposal to build a community shopping center on the 11.47-acre parcel on the east side of M-24, between the Meijer driveway to the north and Market Street to the south.
A pre-application conference is a non-binding exchange of information between an applicant and the planning commission regarding a proposed development. It’s purpose is to allow the planning commission to provide initial comments and suggestions to the developer.
Aragona Properties has secured the option to purchase the 11.47-acre property, which is part of the Waterstone development.
Although no formal site plan has been submitted yet, Aragona’s proposed shopping center calls for a mix of various retail stores, 5,600-square-foot ‘theme restaurant,? 13,014 CVS/Pharmacy with drive-through, and 7,500-square-foot day care facility able to accommodate approximately 40 children.
‘It is not a big box development,? he told commissioners.
The ‘focal point? of the center would be a 35-foot wide outdoor promenade stretching across the entire front of the development. This promenade would include a kiddie park, dog park, fountain, benches, tree grates, bicycle racks, clock tower, hanging flower pots and seasonal banners and flags. The dog park would consist of a stone/brick walled area with a little decorative fence on top where people could let their dogs run free and play. Aragona noted a pet supply company is interested in being a part of this proposed shopping center.
The kiddie park would consist of non-movable cement figures that kids could climb all over.
Encouraging people to ‘linger and visit? with each other is the whole idea behind the outdoor promenade, according to Aragona. ‘A lot of us tend to see our neighbors when we’re doing things like shopping,? he said.
Giving people opportunities to socially interact in the shopping center is ‘of great importance,? Aragona said.
‘We need them to feel more comfortable in visiting these places,? he said. ‘We wish them to stay longer. We wish them to involve themselves a little bit more in the shopping experience and the social aspects that come with it.?
Aragona said the outdoor promenade combined with the retail stores? varying facades and differing architectural features will work together to create a ‘downtown kind of a feel? with a ‘public square.?
Aragona made it clear he wants this shopping center to utilize the outdoors as much as possible with other features like cafe seating and pedestrian pathways running in all directions across the entire site.
‘Pedestrian activity is encouraged, accommodated and welcomed,? he said.
To make the traffic flow entering and exiting the site safer, the proposed center will have ‘no direct connection? to M-24, according to Aragona. Vehicles will access the site from either the Meijer driveway to the north or Market Street to the south.
To extend the outdoor season as long as possible, portions of the sidewalk area, such as in the kiddie park, would be heated to melt snow/ice and enable year-round use. Awnings would also be extended over the part of the sidewalk to shelter shoppers from the rain and other elements.
Planninng commissioners asked some questions and made a few minor suggestions, but overall were very pleased with what Aragona presented.
‘This is the closest thing to what this planning commission has been asking for (on this property) for a very long time,? said Planning Commissioner Pat Fitchena, who also sits on the township board. ‘With a few little tweaks here and there, I think you’re right on the money.?
‘I think this is the closest thing we’ve seen to what the original concept plan for Waterstone had in it,? said Planning Commission Chair Don Silvester.