The two-phase demolition of the current LaFontaine Chevrolet dealership in Dexter is expected to begin in March following the unanimous approval of a combined preliminary and final site plan by the Dexter Village Council Monday night.

General Manager Matt LaFontaine said the new $7 million dealership at 7120 Dexter-Ann Arbor Road could be completed in as little as 10 months.

The plan includes removing the current structures and replacing them with a 32,000-square-foot commercial building, office, auto repair shop and car wash.

The dealership will have an environmentally friendly design and will seek LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, said Gary Laundroche, project manager for Bloom General Contracting of Redford.

He said Bloom Contracting built a "green dealership" in Highland that was well received in the community.

Laundroche also said the dealership's car wash would be designed “to recycle 90 percent of the water it uses and the 'wash water' is 100 percent recycled.”

The car dealership would likely be the second building in Dexter to receive LEED certification. The community center at the Cedars of Dexter will probably be the first, said Allison Bishop, village community development manager.

The site plan for the new LaFontaine Chevrolet dealership building on Dexter-Ann Arbor Road in Dexter.

Lisa Allmendinger | AnnArbor.com

LaFontaine said he expects to add about 50 to 100 new jobs following the dealership's completion.

The first phase of the development will include the demolition of the current body shop on the east side of the site. The second phase will do away with the used car trailer and existing sales building and includes changes to the west side of the site.

The dealership and the village will work together to design a public art feature at the corner of Ryan Drive and Dexter-Ann Arbor Road. LaFontaine agreed to donate $5,000 toward a piece of public art.

Council member Paul Cousins said the village’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee plans to “put a call out for ideas” for the public art piece and would bring the designs back to the Village Council for approval.

The council voted 5-0 for the combined plan without much discussion. Council members said the new dealership design would be a “great improvement” for a prominent corner and gateway into the village.

Council members Donna Fisher and Joe Semifero were absent from the meeting.

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Lisa Allmendinger is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Dexter stories, visit our Dexter page.