The Plymouth City Council members heard a presentation Monday night concerning a plan by Garden Court representatives to build an apartment complex on property adjacent to Martin’s Supermarket.
The plat of land has two lots just to the west of the store and Garden Court would like to build three buildings with a total of 36 apartments and an office building on the lot nearest to Berkley Street. The land is currently owned by a Marketing Development Corporation in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The project would include permanent supportive housing and low-income housing. Garden Court would partner with The Bowen Center to offer services to residents in that area.
Before the project can move forward, the zoning would need to be changed from commercial to multi-family residential.
If all moves forward, construction would not start until 2024.
The Plymouth Plan Commission recently voted 5-3 to send an unfavorable recommendation with one abstention after a lengthy meeting filled with discussion on the matter, but the motion could not get the six affirmative votes necessary out of the 11-member majority so it was not legally an unfavorable vote to the Plymouth City Council for consideration.
Garden Court President John Myers said eight sites were visited and this proposed property seemed to be ideal for the project with families close to stores, parks, trails, and the Plymouth Community School Corporation. He mentioned that the Martin’s Supermarket owners are agreeable to the sale of the property and there is a need for this type of housing.
Other residents and business owners in that area did not agree. Most of those who spoke believed that the parcels up for rezoning should stay in the commercial zoning to attract more business which is what the area currently supports. While others agreed there is a need, they did not want permanent supportive and low-income housing and the type of stigma it sometimes presents in that particular commercial district. There were also concerns about property values and potential tax abatements for this project.
After a discussion that lasted nearly 80 minutes, the Plymouth City Council members voted 6-1 to deny the rezoning request. Greg Compton, Duane Culp, Robert Listenberger, Jeff Houin, Shiloh Milner, and Randy Longanecker voted in favor of denying the request, while Don Ecker voted no.
