By Lisa Carolin
After months of waiting, Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC) received the approval they’ve been waiting for from the Chelsea Planning Commission at its Jan. 21 meeting.
After having its rezoning request tabled twice, the Commission voted 6-0 on two separate resolutions that give CRC permission to build housing for seniors on 54 acres of land that it owns.
The Planning Commission determined that the CRC’s rezoning petition conforms to the City of Chelsea’s adopted master plan and that the plan designates the property for senior housing and different levels of supportive services.
The Commission also found that the land use plan meets requirements and that existing and future development in the petition will be adequately served by the city streets and utilities provided as long as the main drive, all public and franchise utilities, and a pedestrian path are eventually extended south to Old US-12.
The tentative phases of the Area Plan include Cottage Development in 2017-2018, repurposing of Glazier Assisted Living in 2017-2018, renovations and additions to the Kresge Rehabilitation Center in 2018-2019, a Wellness Center in 2018-2019, and more Independent Living options in 2020 and beyond.
In addition, Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Chelsea, located at 1185 South Main St., also got the go ahead from the Commission in a 7-0 vote in which it was determined that the applicant’s changes to the approved final site plan qualified as minor changes. The changes include increasing the service department wing footprint by 316 square feet and replacing the approved brick and metal siding with all brick.
The Planning Commission opened the meeting with three public hearings, none of which received any comments. One of the hearings involved a zoning request from Golling to amend 4.16B of the Zoning Ordinance, C-4 Special Uses to permit the dealership to have a collision repair shop on the property. The Commission approved the request 7-0.
Commissioner George Olsen said that Golling CDJR is located in an area that is a “gateway to Chelsea” and asked if it is it possible that the collision repair could turn into a salvage yard.
Planning Consultant Carl Schmult responded that not only is Golling not allowed to turn the property into a salvage yard, but also it is also incumbent on Golling to keep the collision repair shop in the back of the building.
The Planning Commission unanimously passed two other zoning request changes that were the subjects of the other two public hearings.
One amends the zoning text of section 4.15 Highway Service Commercial District (C-3) by adding the text to section 4.15A Permitted Uses: “13. Any use permitted in the Restricted Commercial District.”
The other amended section 5.14 of the Zoning Ordinance, Commercial Design Standards, replaces with the words “Purpose of Standards.” It means that all commercial, governmental, community, public and private schools and office buildings in a commercial zoning district shall comply with commercial design standards that are adopted by the City Planning Commission.
