Chelsea Motors special land use application was unanimously approved with conditions by the Chelsea Planning Commission on March 20.
Steven Tauriainen applied for the special use permit for used car sales at 1445 S. Main St., which is currently zoned Restricted Commercial (C-4) and is irregular in shape. Previously, the ZBA granted several variances for the property, which most recently was the home of Heim Gardens.
Although the address is on South Main Street, the property is bordered on the west side by Old Manchester Road. Since the property is located along S. Main Street which is also state route M-52, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) approval for a change of use in needed.
The paved parking lot along the Old Manchester Road side extends all the way to the street so as part of the special use permit conditions, Chelsea Motors will need to remove the additional pavement to create a buffer with the street. The removal of pavement also includes the construction of a sidewalks, green space and possible street trees along Old Manchester Road.
However, upon the recommendation of city staff, the Planning Commission asked that the trees not be planted instead other species of greenery be used. This change is due to the location of an existing city gas main, tree root systems that could buckle the nearby sidewalk, and possible damage caused by salt and snow plowing.
Also, because Main Street (M-52) is a state road, any change in use also requires that the applicant submit a special use permit for their review prior to being given a permit to operate. The Planning Commission also requested that because there are two driveways off Main Street, that the southeast one be removed, but the final decision will be up to MDOT.
Planners also discussed and tabled the proposed Gestamp amended landscape plan, which includes changes to the berm that runs between the property at 5800 Sibley Road and Timbertown Park.
Christopher Jurkoshek, a representative from Gestamp told the Planning Commission that the “topography of the berm” had been modified and the grades and slope have been decreased.
He said a significant number of trees had been added to the amended plan, which will help to visually block a current gap in the border between the two entities. The applicant was asked to have his landscape architect stagger the species to fill in the gaps. Currently, balsam firs and October Glory maples are proposed.
