Trail Tree housing expansion approved by Coldwater Planning Commission
COLDWATER — With issues raised at the April Coldwater Planning Commission hearing resolved, Cambio Communities won approval to expand Trail Tree Village to the west in a unanimous vote Monday night.
The Southfield-based company recently purchased the modular home development off Michigan Avenue.
The company’s senior vice president of development, Kim Scott, told the commission, “There’s 76 additional sites planned for the expansion, which will equate to a total of 219 sites.”
A few changes were made to the expansion plan following neighborhood complaints.
Changes include moving an entrance off Seely Street away from Thompson Boulevard to the east. A dumpster will also be moved away from that side of the property.
“Homes placed around the perimeter of the community will be side set-in order to create a more residential aesthetic," Scott said.
The commission and residents asked for a buffer be planted between the newly developed standard construction homes on Thompson on the west side of the expansion.
Frank Rinaldi from Weidman Engineering reviewed detailed site plans, which showed three staggered rows of evergreens, eight to 10 feet tall, planted during construction on the project’s west and south sides. Initial planting will be 20 feet apart, so they grow together.
Three residents from Smith Street to the south requested the company construct fences along their property line to shield them and prevent trespassers.
City councilman Jim Knaack, who lives nearby, told the commission, “I just want to make sure that the city is doing everything that they can do to satisfy the people that are existing in the neighborhood, the ones that are being encroached upon a little bit.”
He added, “It’s not to stop the progression of the housing and the trailer park.”
Prior story: Trail Tree Village expansion approved in Coldwater
Commissioner Jessika Cole said, “We’ve already set forth our requirements for approval, which they appear to have met. I’m not sure if we could impose any new requirements upon them?”
She moved to approve the site plan with no more changes or conditions.
Commissioner Chris Stevens said, “In 1992 when the original development went in, we didn’t require fencing. We didn’t require any kind of landscaping. You can see directly through the park.”
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Planning Director Jake VanBoxel said the erosion and storm drain plans would be approved by staff as soon as the city consultant reviewed them.
---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Trail Tree housing expansion approved in Coldwater
