Public hearing held to consider rezoning related to development of Water Street's Family Dollar
Note: This story originally said the meeting is Wednesday. The meeting is actually on Aug. 28.
The City of Ypsilanti Planning Commission is holding a public hearing at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 to consider a Planned Unit Development rezoning related to the Family Dollar set to be located on the Water Street Redevelopment Area.
A public hearing will be held to consider a Planned Unit Development rezoning related to the development of .85 acres of the Water Street Redevelopment Area.
The meeting will consist of a presentation and public hearing regarding the rezoning of the site, which is currently zoned as a B4, General Business and Entryway Overlay.
The applicant is proposing to construct an 8,320-square-foot Family Dollar discount retail store, parking, sidewalks, related landscaping and a portion of Lincoln Street.
In May, the Ypsilanti City Council approved the purchase of .85 acres of Water Street’s 38-acre site. Core Resources will pay the city $210,000 for the land.
The $1.2 million Family Dollar store will be located on the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Park Street.
All citizens are invited to attend the meeting at 1 South Huron Street in Ypsilanti or send written comments to the Community and Economic Development Department.
Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.
Comments
PattyinYpsi
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 4:36 p.m.
My question, above, is a serious question to the person who reported on this story. Could you explain what, exactly, is supposed to be happening at this meeting? Since they're going to start building this thing in a few weeks, isn't the zoning already a done deal?
Chelsea Hoedl
Thu, Aug 15, 2013 : 5:37 p.m.
You're welcome. I'm glad Amy and I could help clear things up.
PattyinYpsi
Thu, Aug 15, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
Thanks for the replies. Maybe I'm too cynical, but it sure does sound like a rubber stamp to me. Maybe if 500 residents showed up and said NO! to this ill-conceived plan, city officials might reconsider. But I doubt it.
Chelsea Hoedl
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 6:59 p.m.
Hi Pattyin Ypsi, The meeting is meant to allow the public to hear a presentation, consider and make comments about both rezoning and the applicant's request to construct an 8,320-square-foot Family Dollar along with parking and landscaping. The Ypsilanti City Council has already approved the purchase of the land, but the site plan has yet to be approved.
Amy Biolchini
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 6:09 p.m.
Based on my understanding of the issue: The city of Ypsilanti has only voted on a purchase agreement and a letter of intent to build a Family Dollar on the property -- they have not yet voted on a site plan. The rezoning is likely a formality needed before the site plan can be presented to city council. A public hearing is a standard step in the process for the planning commission before they can put a rezoning resolution before city council. Officials initially expected construction to begin this fall -- barring unforeseen issues or site plan complications.
sttc
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 4:12 p.m.
i know a lot of people find having a dollar store on that site distasteful, but having it within walking distance of a lot of low income residents will be convenient for a lot of people, and i'd rather see something, anything on the site (that's paying taxes, no less) than just have the lot sit vacant for who knows how many more years.
sttc
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 7:50 p.m.
i like to think we're "better than" a long-vacant lot. look, ypsilanti is never going to be ann arbor, nor should we want it to be. sure, i'd love to see a cute little neo-urbanist development there too but that is just pie-in-the-sky dreaming. with this attitude many are taking, you'll never see any development there, ever. is that what you want?
Angry Moderate
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 6:24 p.m.
Tom - I guess we should put in a Whole Foods then. Those low income residents just don't know what's best for them.
tom
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 4:39 p.m.
It is about quality of life and living not quantity of whatever you get. We need to be better than a cheap "food" store; you are doing more harm by giving people the quality of food there. This whole project was not meant for this to be, it was to enhance not degrade the site. There are enough Dollar stores in the city bring something worthwhile. Even though this was a financial disaster for the city, I would rather have it a park. The people will have thier day and see what they say, it is our city not councils.
bigdrummer
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 1:27 p.m.
Maybe Beal would like to build something on Water St.? Of course, it'd probably be better then a Family Dollar!
Stupid Hick
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 7:20 p.m.
Fly, did you mean he might not get started for another 10 years?
flyonthewall
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 1:59 p.m.
But Big, he wouldn't have it completed for another 10 years!
NorthsideZak
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.
Why didn't the city GIVE them the rotting old furniture store downtown? Win, win, win.
Tom Perkins
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 1:08 p.m.
The meeting is on Wednesday, Aug. 28. We will be updating the story shortly.
Solitude
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.
Just make it so you can delete your post if you choose. Then people could re-post w/o the errors.
Kyle Mattson
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 6:27 p.m.
Unfortunately, it's not just a button Harry, but it is complicated back-end feature that we rarely use. We understand the desire for an edit option as we too make plenty of comment typos, but just roll what we have for now.
jns131
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 3:28 p.m.
I saw some men out there doing some excavation work. Poles and marking stuff. So I think it is already a done deal.
PattyinYpsi
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 1:07 p.m.
I'm confused. City council has already approved the purchase of the land, everyone's talking about how construction will start in a month or so, but there's a meeting to decide whether the parcel should be rezoned to allow Family Dollar to build there? What am I missing? Is this just a rubber stamp deal or what?
PattyinYpsi
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 1:05 p.m.
@Arboriginal: Too late. The public spoke and said exactly what you said, and our elected officials gleefully welcomed Family Dollar to the city. Because it will pay taxes.
Arboriginal
Wed, Aug 14, 2013 : 12:38 p.m.
Dear Ypsilanti. Please don't do this. Please. You are better than this. This property deserves more than this.