By Lisa Carolin
Thompson’s Pizza may soon be expanding and there may soon be more villas to choose from at Silver Maples of Chelsea.
The Chelsea Planning Commission approved preliminary site plans for both projects during a Zoom conference May 19.
The approved preliminary site plan for Thompson Pizza is for a proposed 7,150 square foot restaurant with outdoor seating and parking at 20650 W. Old US 12 in Chelsea. The request was filed by A.R. Brouwer Company, LLC on behalf of KEMIKIDS/Thompson’s Pizza and includes tearing down a house that is there now.
The commission’s approval for the expansion is contingent on an agreement from the Bridgetown neighborhood regarding standing water as well as the applicant addressing specific site plan requirements including attention to parking spaces and a landscaping plan.
The capacity of the outdoor seating area has not yet been determined, and commission members expressed concern about noise with the residential neighborhood nearby.
Also approved was the preliminary site plan with contingencies for Silver Maples of Chelsea to construct 16 new villa units and a small maintenance garage at 775 S. Main St. in Chelsea.
The contingencies include meeting the required distance in certain parking areas and the replacement of trees as shown in the landscape plan.
In other business, the planning commission approved a one-year extension request for the Heritage Pointe Phase IIB final site plan, which will keep the housing project on hold so that the final site plan does not expire.
The new expiration date is May 20, 2021.
The commission agreed to table the Hardwood Solution Warehouse Expansion project as presented until the June planning commission meeting. The application filed by Vanston/O’Brien, Inc. on behalf of TLSH, LLC is for a combined preliminary and final site plan for a 19,760 square foot addition for warehouse use, construction of a new truck well, and other related site improvements at 640 E. Industrial Dr. in Chelsea.
Julia Upfal, community development director for the City of Chelsea, recommended tabling the proposal because the parking calculations included in the revised plans are incorrect and do not include the required parking space for the office area. Upfal said the applicant will pursue a variance for the parking request.
