COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The City of Coldwater Planning Commission approved on a 6-3 vote a special use permit request on Monday night for a proposed 40 unit senior residential development at 32 Railroad Street.
The special use permit must meet several contingencies that were recommended by the city staff which cover such items as soil erosion, stormwater, signage, sidewalks and landscaping.
Planning Commission members disagreed over an additional contingency centering around access for a neighboring business which led to three of the members voting no to the project.
North Arrow Development, along with Francisco Hernandez and Rosa Bravo, were asking for a Special Use Permit for the site of Los Tequilas restaurant which has been on the market. The building has been a restaurant for several decades, and was originally constructed as a freight depot for the rail line.
There were initial concerns that the former freight building would be torn down, but City Planner Dean Walrack said developers changed their minds and Chris Block from North Arrow Development said they listened to the concerns.
Block said this would be North Arrow’s first development in Michigan. The proposed development will make use of the existing restaurant building as a community room, with the east portion of the building serving as five apartment units.
A new three-story 35-unit building will then be constructed to the east of the lot facing Division Street. A site plan has not been prepared yet.
Developers are seeking senior housing tax credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. MSHDA is scheduled to award their next round of tax credits in October.
