After the St. Joseph Township Planning Commission voted against recommending a Planned Unit Development at the Nye’s Apple Barn property in February, the township board of Trustees opted to not immediately take up the issue due to unresolved questions from developers.
At Tuesday’s regular planning commission meeting, board members agreed to schedule a special meeting next Tuesday, March 21 at 6 p.m. to inform developers why the commission voted against recommending the PUD.
In a statement released prior to its March 6 meeting, the township said ” when a project is denied, due process entitles a petitioner to be made aware of the reasons for a no vote, in accordance with the ordinance. Identified no vote reasons, allow the petitioner to better understand the justification for denial and give the ability to revise the project plan, if so desired. If the petitioner chooses to present a revised or new plan, they are required to re-submit the project plan which would require a new public hearing.”
At February’s planning commission meeting and public hearing on the proposed development, board members expressed concerns the plans were not what they envisioned when they saw the site as a potential mixed-use development.
“I’m not sure this site plan as presented fits the intent of the neighborhood mixed use section of the zoning ordinance,” said planning commission chair Ben Baker. “I feel it’s not including a mix of housing types and a variety of retail services and other uses that would be neighborhood-focused … [and] being a vibrant, safe, attractive and walkable pedestrian environment.”
This is the second time the PUD has been considered by the planning commission. The first time, the plans were tabled after issues with the application from developers. The most recent plans included multi-family housing units, two restaurants, a gas station and a bank – all of which would sit on the 12-acre property at 3151 Niles Road, just off I-94, Exit 27.
