Residents, developer clash over style changes

Residents, developer clash over style changes

KRISTYNE E. DEMSKE C & G Staff Writer
Published: December 31, 2008 issue of the Shelby-Utica News

SHELBY TOWNSHIP - Dozens of residents descended on the Dec. 16 Board of Trustees meeting, angered at proposed changes to the condominium development they live in that could bring about a totally different style of housing for the last 15 of more than 150 units. "The board needs to address the residents' fears that this proposal is going to further damage the already shrunken value of our homes," said Mike Grobbel, a member of the board of directors for the condo association and a resident in the development. "Those of us who have purchased a condo in the Manors (at Central Park) bought there on your promise that it was to be a collection of 167 two-and three-bedroom, visually similar, all ranch-style condos."

The township Board of Trustees announced that it would hold off on a decision to approve building modifications to the Manors at Central Park until after a January meeting they're planning between the board, Lombardo Homes and residents of the Manors who are not pleased with how the development is proceeding.

"We have a lot of questions and we want to hear all sides," said Supervisor Richard Stathakis. "This is a critical issue and we don't want to run into a decision without having all the facts."

The Central Park Planned Unit Development is located north of 22 Mile Road and west of Van Dyke Avenue.

Residents say they're concerned that the developer has changed its plans in other parts of the development, constructing two-story buildings where plans called for one story, and changing the color and material scheme in their development that would prevent the uniform look from extending to the 15 undeveloped lots.

Grobbel said the board needed to justify its actions and explain the reasoning to residents if the 15 lots would be varying from that uniform design.

The units already built in the development are detached duplex units consisting of a two bedroom ranch with an optional one-half story for a third bedroom. Residents were concerned because the revised designs were for detached, two-story single family homes.

The Manor units also did not provide for much more than a small deck or patio behind the units, and the rear yard spaces proposed for the single-family homes are less than 20 feet deep. Planning commissioners commented that this would not be big enough to accommodate outdoor play equipment, pools or other features usually seen in single family homes. Single-family homes in other parts of the Central Park development have at least 30 yards of rear depth.

But Lombardo Homes did agree to reduce the number of models available from 11 to five to make the development look slightly more uniform.

Greg Windingland, a spokesman for Lombardo Homes, said the changes would only apply to 15 units in the Manors, and agreed that they may not build the two-story unit in the Manors section.

"We think that this is a reasonable request," he said. "(The changes do) meet with the standards of the (Planned Unit Development) and the residences across the street from it."

In addition, he said residents voiced concerns before about the exterior maintenance of the single-family homes weighing down the condo association's budget. He said homeowners would handle the costs.

However, Grobbel said, actually, the association would rather handle the costs of the exterior maintenance of the units to ensure it lives up to the standards of the rest of the development.

"The best way to ensure appropriate appearances and yard and exterior building maintenance on these 15 units would be for the Manors Association to continue to have the financial responsibility for it," he said.

Stathakis said all the concerns could be addressed in the January work session, when the board would have an opportunity to hear from both residents and the developer at the same time so that they could make a reasoned decision on the changes.

"We're not trying to push or not push the project forward," he said. "We just want to get everybody in one room. I think … (there are) points that could be offered up to make this acceptable to both sides."

A public work session is scheduled for Jan. 7 at 6p.m. in the board room of the township municipal offices at 52700 Van Dyke Ave.