The Chelsea Planning Commission on April 19 unanimously approved the final site plan for United Methodist Retirement Communities’ (UMRC) Prairie Cottages project and Healthy Smiles landscape plan for its new building and property at the old Chelsea Standard building.
They also appointed Peter Shaw as the new Planning Commission representative on the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) board.
Among the items on the revised landscape plan for the Healthy Smiles property (near the corner of M-52 and Old US-12) are nine conifer trees (white and Norway spruce) along the north property line to screen residential properties in Chelsea Village Place.
Last month, several residents asked the Planning Commission about plans for landscaping on the property expressing concerns about trees and brush that had been remove. Both had provided a barrier between their subdivision and the dental property.
“I think this is a nice effort,” said Planning Commissioner Sarah Haselschwardt. “They will hold their needles year round.”
A landscape discussion was also part of the unanimous approval of UMRC’s Prairie Cottages final site plan. Tom Covert of Midwest Consulting offered the planners an overview of phase one of the two-phase project, which will be built on the west half of the south side of the property.
Phase one is expected to have 41 homes, while phase two is slated for 13 homes, for a total of 54 units. There are three home types – planned are 11 one bedroom units with a den, 20 two bedroom as well as two 2-bedroom units with a den. And, homeowners will be able to personalize their space by choosing flats of plantings.
The plan calls for more than the required number of trees and 211 shrubs, which is 100 shrubs short of the requirement. There will be 57 additional trees that include 40 street trees, 9 trees on the northern property boundary and five in the central portion of the property.
Because of the potential impact of newly planted shrubs in phase one by the construction of phase two, they were granted permission to hold off on these shrubs until Phase two is underway.
All the homes will be barrier-free and pedestrian friendly with no ramps and both allow for aging in place, this way, UMRC has the ability to provide a continuum of care for residents in an area now rezoned to Medical Center District.
