COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The City of Coldwater Planning Commission made a positive recommendation to the City Council Monday night for the proposed rezoning of over 20 acres of land on East Garfield across from the Branch County Fairgrounds and the Dearth Community Center so that a 102 unit manufactured housing development can be located there.
A special use permit for the project was also approved with three contingencies. A final site plan has to be submitted, the property has to be transferred from Coldwater Township into the City of Coldwater through a 425 Agreement and the property is rezoned.
The development would be known as The Enclave at Tall Grass.
The petitioners from Farrell-Roeh of Littleton, Colorado want to rezone the land from Coldwater Township R-3 Medium Density Residential Zoning to City of Coldwater Double-A One Family Agricultural Residential Zoning.
Developers say there is an extensive need for affordable housing in the area and the existing Tallgrass community has no vacancies. Plus it has a waiting list of prospective residents.
One nearby property owner on South Jefferson hoped a buffer would solve the problem of trash from overfilled dumpsters at Tallgrass blowing into their yard. Larry Nelson from Farrell-Roeh said he was embarrased to hear about that and he will make sure the dumpsters are emptied more frequently.
The Planning Commission deadlocked 3-3 on a previous rezoning request in March of 2017 on over 10 acres of property at the same location which developers at that time wanted to turn into a proposed 55 lot manufactured home community. With the tie vote, there was no recommendation to the City Council.
In other business, the Planning Commission voted 4-3 to make a positive recommendation to the City Council on a request to rezone the property at 93 East Park Avenue from a residential zoning district to a C-1 Community Business District. Petitioner Talal Al-Abssi wants to open a small grocery and specialty goods store to serve the nearby Arabic neighborhood as well as the entire community. Concerns about parking were expressed and Board Chair Aloha Miller said she would like to see the store in a more commercial area. But neighborhood residents want the store on East Park and a petition with 31 signatures in favor of it were presented.
In addition, a request from the Dutcher Funeral Home to expand their parking lot led to a disagreement over landscaping and the number of trees that should be planted on the property. It was eventually decided to send the request to the Coldwater Z.B.A.. A revised site plan will then be submitted to the Planning Commission.
