If attorneys can work out details, a condominium development proposed more than a year ago in Springfield Township can get out of the courts and back on the planning board.
After a closed session on Jan. 13, the Springfield Township Board gave ‘conditional approval? to a proposal from Pine Valley Development Inc.
‘We believe it addressed virtually all the concerns that prompted the denial,? said Clerk Nancy Strole, referring to the October 2003 denial of a special land use permit for 23 single-family condominiums on about 41 acres off Davisburg Road between I-75 and Bigelow Road.
Developer Bruce Burksey challenged that denial in Oakland County Circuit Court, but late last year approached Supervisor Collin Walls to explore the possibility of a settlement. After speaking with other township officials and consultants, Walls submitted a list of ‘suggestions? to Burksey.
That led to a revised concept plan, submitted by Burksey and discussed by the board at the Jan. 13 meeting. Among the compromises were:
? An increase in open space from 19 acres to 25 acres.
? Open recreational space from more than five acres to 7.89 acres.
? A reduction in the number of units from 23 to 22.
? The addition of a conservation easement over the wetland, wetland buffer and hardwood forest open space areas.
? An eight-foot high masonry sound wall along I-75 rather than a previously-proposed berm.
‘He has accommodated almost every one of our suggestions and plan modifications,? Walls said in his memo to the board.
The ‘almost? was evident in a list of eight conditions added by the board’s vote to approve. Conditions include a requirement for protection of existing evergreen trees and several details concerning road and drainage issues.
Such areas were debated by both township officials and residents during the October 2003 public hearing which preceded the board denial.
The special land use will allow the development to be planned according to the ‘cluster? concept, which allows for units to be closer in exchange for larger contiguous open space.