Planning Commission recommends apartment plan

During a Jan. 10 Sterling Heights Planning Commission meeting, the commission voted 8-1 to recommend city approval for a planned unit development involving a new apartment complex, Marketplace Cove Apartments. Commissioner Gerald Rowe was the lone no vote.

The overall development site involves two parcels, at 8484 Brougham Drive and 35630 Van Dyke Ave. Since the proposal was previously revealed in November, developer Gallo Cos. made a few changes to it at the Planning Commission’s suggestion. Those changes included making the complex two three-story buildings instead of three three-story buildings, and lowering the number of residential units from 249 to 233.

In addition, the latest plan designates five units for commercial tenants at the southernmost building’s ground level. If the available space is still not leased after good-faith marketing and after 18 months since the building’s completion, the developer could work with the city on plans to convert the space to apartment units, officials said.

During the commissioners’ deliberation, Commissioner Geoff Gariepy said the developer “really bent over backwards” to change the proposal to better suit the city’s needs. Commission Chairperson Pashko Ujkic said an apartment plan would be better for the nearby community than a hypothetical hotel in that spot.

Rowe said he would vote “no” because he thought the development would be “too impactful on the residents” nearby.

The plan will still need to be approved by the Sterling Heights City Council in order to actually come to fruition.