By Lisa Carolin
Final site plan approval was given to Main Street Park by the Chelsea Planning Commission at its Jan. 28 meeting.
The applicant and owner of the property is the Main Street Park Alliance, which has a public-private partnership with the City of Chelsea, which will assume ownership and operation when the park is complete. It is in the process of being constructed on three contiguous parcels with ID numbers 06-06-12-435-005, 06-06-12-435-008, and 06-06-12-435-015.
The site is currently vacant and the total project area is 2.817 acres. Proposed environmental remediation work is underway.
Carlisle/Wortman Assoc., Inc. recommended the planning commission approve the proposed site plan with conditions. Among them are:
- Applicant and City shall continue to coordinate with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to provide pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of Main Street and Van Buren Street near the proposed park entrances.
- Applicant shall apply for sign permits prior to the installation of any signs.
- Applicant shall address any outstanding issues identified by the city engineer or utilities department.
Following a public hearing where there were no comments, the planning commission approved a zoning ordinance amendment for kennels and boarding facilities.
Edits to the ordinance provision include:
- Description of pets in the definition of “Pet Kennels and Boarding Facilities” altered to use similar language to that found in Section 4.11, Keeping of Animals in Residential Districts.
- Only dogs permitted off-leash in the outdoor exercise area.
- Ratio of animals permitted in outdoor exercise area changes from 20 animals / 1 acre to 5 animals / 0.25 acre to match the ratio used in Section A.
- Following review by staff at the Chelsea Animal Recreation Center, the addition of a requirement for a double gated entry in the outdoor exercise area to help prevent animal escapes.
In other business, the planning commission approved its 2025 meeting calendar, scheduling work sessions for: Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2; and scheduled regular meetings for: Jan. 28, Feb. 25, March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov.18, Dec. 16.
