Commission introduces conditional rezoning for 205 Washington for adult foster care; second reading set for Dec. 4

The Mount Clemens City Commission on a first reading introduced an ordinance to conditionally rezone 205 Washington from I-1 (Light Industrial) to RM-1 (Multiple Family Residential), setting a second reading and adoption for Dec. 4, 2017.

Neighbors said the proposed adult foster care use would be preferable to industrial uses. "I think it'll be an improvement over what it is right now," said Ruth Redford, a resident of 184 Washington, who added she believed the owners met with neighbors and made changes to the proposal. Laurie Furtick, who lives at 104 Parkview across from the site, said she agreed with Redford and expects the owners to keep the property up.

Planning staff told the commission that the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Nov. 8, 2017, and "passed a motion unanimously recommending that the City Commission approve this request," and that all related documentation was included in the packet.

Commissioners questioned details about parking, exterior renovations and resident amenities. Developer Dylan Ahasa said the project revised parking on Parkview, reducing spaces from about 11 to five and adding a landscaped area to buffer nearby homes. "We're changing the actual entry. We're adding a side porch. We're adding dormers," Ahasa said, describing planned exterior changes to make the building look less like a church. On interior accommodations, Ahasa said the design includes 2.5 single-stall bathrooms for 16 residents and larger accessible showers; he said the build-out must comply with state requirements and "that's more than what's required in the state of Michigan."

The commission moved to introduce the ordinance on first reading and scheduled the second reading and adoption for Dec. 4, 2017. The clerk recorded affirmative votes during roll call.

The ordinance is conditional and will be subject to a site plan and a conditional rezoning agreement; the Planning Commission recommendation and the developer's revised site plan are part of the project record. The commission did not adopt the ordinance on final reading at this meeting; further public input and staff review will continue before the Dec. 4 meeting.