A request by Thomas Landgrebe to move forward with a Planned Unit Development (PUD) was recently approved by the Marshall County Plan Commission.
Landgrebe came before the board with a plan to develop land at 3919 Michigan Road putting in 30-60 shipping container homes.
He told the board that his plan was to market the homes to empty nesters as condominiums. He said that it would be a gated community. He stated that many countries have such developments and while he had no direct experience with starting such a community, he did have a background in developing property in similar work he had done with Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend.
One patron speaking at the meeting said that while other countries allowed the developments most states in the United States did not allow them.
Currently, a mobile home park occupies the land. Langrebe told the board that even if the PUD was not approved he still planned to buy the property.
A group of citizens spoke in opposition to the planned subdivision with a number of different concerns. Many of the concerns involved the way the current mobile home park is managed by the owner. Another was if the PUD would be “low-income housing” and the stability of the neighborhood in that case.
The possibility of property values dropping was another concern of those in attendance. Noise disrupting the “tranquility” of the area was also a concern with the neighboring property owners.
The main concerns had to do with infrastructure. Residents wanted to be certain of how the storm and sewage water would be handled as well as fire protection for the area.
Landgrebe told the board that he planned to consult with the fire department on the placement of fire hydrants at intervals within the community and that he had a drainage plan for the PUD.
The Plan Commission voted to allow the next step for the plan by a 5-3 vote. They also made the stipulation that before the project could move forward the county’s Technical Review Committee would have to sign off with the fire department on the plan for dealing with response to the area. Landgrebe will also have to provide the TRC with a verified plan to address the concerns over utilities and sewer.
