Arbor Hills Crossing Site Plan Postponed

At its June 7, 2011 meeting, the Ann Arbor planning commission postponed action on site plan approval for Arbor Hills Crossing at 3100 Washtenaw Avenue. The  property at the southeast corner of Washtenaw and Platt is owned by Campus Realty. The plan calls for demolishing several commercial buildings and constructing a 90,700-square-foot retail and office center with four buildings and 310 parking spaces on a 7.45-acre site. Retail space would primarily include smaller stores that would be visible from Washtenaw Avenue.

The city’s planning staff recommended postponement, citing several unresolved issues: (1) a formal decision from the Michigan Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) regarding a traffic signal at the Washtenaw/Platt intersection; (2) approval from the Washtenaw County water resources commissioner; and (3) resolving issues related to a 23-foot easement along Washtenaw Avenue, including which parties will be involved and what mechanism would be used to handle that easement. In addition, several commissioners raised other issues they’d like to see addressed before the site plans come back to the commission for approval.

Separately, the developer has filed a brownfield plan for the site that’s currently being considered by the city’s brownfield plan review committee. The plan would allow for a TIF (tax increment financing) to reimburse the developer for removal of contaminated soil, caused by an auto repair shop previously located at the site.

In 2006, the city had approved a site plan for a retail development at that location, but it was never built.

This brief was filed from the planning commission’s meeting in the second floor council chambers at city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]