It’s still a long way off from having final approval, but a developer’s plan to put 146 single-family homes on Lapeer Road north and south of Stadium Drive has come a little closer to being a reality.
Pulte Homes? concept plan and Planned Unit Development (PUD) eligibility for Villas at Cedar Creek was approved by Orion Township’s planning commission. The PC will recommend approval to the township board of trustees provided Pulte satisfies some conditions first.
Kevin Christiansen of Pulte Homes in Royal Oak said he has met with Lake Orion Schools administration about the project.
‘We’ve talked about the football field noise, the lights, and the traffic,? Christiansen said at the planning commission meeting on Nov. 2. ‘That will all be a part of our marketing, and disclosed to residents.?
Planning commission members debated whether the project actually had any substantial public benefit, a requirement to obtain PUD status.
Bald Mountain resident Cliff King said absolutely not.
‘If you don’t deny this, you don’t deny anything,? he said. ‘You’ll set a precedent where you have absolutely no basis for denying anything.?
King said he isn’t a fan of the township’s PUD ordinance in the first place.
‘I don’t like it because the township board interferes with (the planning commission) they appointed,? he said.
Pulte Homes has also requested a rezoning on the 63.29 acres of property on the east side of M-24, from Multi-Family Residential to Single Family Residential. That’s less than the density that property would currently allow. The project originally proposed 260 multi-family homes.
Christiansen said that fact alone could be seen as a public benefit. Another is the conservation easement he has agreed to, which would leave open space on the property.
‘We’ve got a lot of concrete in this area,? said PC chairman Robert Pote. ‘That would be a good idea.?
PC member Mark Crane said he sees a need in the community for this type of housing.
‘At this price point,? he said. ‘But is this a benefit??
Christiansen said the development will be geared towards young families.
‘There’s a demand for it,? he said. ‘This price point has been successful in other communities.?
Christiansen said Villas at Cedar Creek will follow the same standards of quality that Pulte Homes? other developments in the township, including Canterbury Woods and The Hills of Indianwood, have followed.
‘We really feel strongly that this is a good market for this site,? he said.
In addition to lower density, Pulte Homes has also discussed making improvements to Stadium Drive with the school district, Christiansen said.
Pulte Homes also plans to provide a system for dealing with drainage on the site.
‘These are all public benefits,? he said.