Three East Bay Township Developments Up For Approval

East Bay Township planning commissioners will review three proposed developments tonight (Tuesday), including a possible 912-unit residential development on the Elmbrook Golf Course property, expanded uses at the Lakemore Resort on west Arbutus Lake, and a new 92-unit Avid hotel planned for US-31.

Developer Joe Locricchio – who first tried to redevelop the Elmbrook Golf Course site in 2018 before his purchase option on the property expired in 2019 – is again approaching East Bay Township with a proposal to build a residential neighborhood on the golf course site. Locricchio is asking for township approval to rezone the 228-acre site from low-density residential up to medium density in some sections and high density in others – the latter primarily encompassing 35 acres along Hammond Road. The rezoning would allow up to 912 units total to be built throughout the sprawling site, with a mixture of housing possible along with “significant open lands” and resort/recreational amenities, according to project documents. Elmbrook Golf Course remains open for business for the foreseeable future until any deals are finalized, the owners note.

Locricchio's application states that “the proposed residential community would boost the population within proximity to the East Bay Corners core area, making it an even more viable and sustainable commercial and service node for the community.” Public water and sanitary hookups are available to service the development, and surrounding properties host similarly dense subdivisions, making the rezoning request a fit with both the character of the corridor and the township’s master plan, according to the developer.

Township staff also expressed support for the plan in an application review, agreeing that the requested density is compatible with surrounding neighborhoods. Staff indicated they did not find any “anticipated negative physical impacts to surrounding properties” due to the rezoning, as Locricchio agreed to setback and landscape screening conditions to shelter nearby existing homes. “Investment in residential development as proposed would likely have a positive impact on surrounding property values as the overall value of the Elmbrook property would be increased with this type of development,” staff found.

While staff are recommending planning commission approval of the request – which would then go to township trustees for final approval – several residents wrote in expressing concerns about the project. “Neighbors – and us included – do not want to trade our current backyard view of a beautiful wooded area for sprawling apartment buildings and parked cars,” wrote Justin Sailors, a resident in adjacent Verndale neighborhood. “We are deeply concerned about light pollution, density of buildings, (and) height of the buildings within the property’s rolling hills. We are concerned about the owners bulldozing very mature trees that would take decades to regrow.” Michael and Sheila Kovalchik, who also live in Verndale, expressed concern about multiple other developments already planned in the area – including another Locricchio project near the corner of Townline and Hammond roads – and how the cumulative addition of hundreds of new housing units would impact traffic and roads.

“At times during the day it’s dangerous to turn into our sub as well as trying to get out,” they wrote. “The Elmbrook property would have to enter and exit from Hammond, an already traffic-laden road with current studies seeking solutions. Townline Road is an abomination, and our understanding is there are no plans for improvement.” Several other residents also wrote in to share concerns with township officials over traffic, noise, and other impacts from a major influx of sudden new growth along the Hammond corridor.

Another development that has generated significant feedback from neighboring residents will appear on the township planning commission agenda tonight. Lakemore Resort, the former Mac’s Landing Resort on west Arbutus Lake that is under new ownership and in the midst of renovations, has generated backlash from neighbors who have questioned the township approval process that green-lit the project in 2018. A higher intensity of usage on the site – including rental cabins, hot tubs next to the lake, rented motor boats, and plans to hold events on the property – have prompted extensive back-and-forth discussions between developers and the township in an effort to clarify what uses are or aren’t permitted on the property.

Planning commissioners tonight will consider approving an updated site plan for the property that better spells out those details. In a memo to the board, staff noted that the developers didn’t include details on adding an event tent in the updated plan, so events won’t be allowed unless developers return for approval – a process that could require them to get a transient activity permit for any future events and/or limit the number of allowed events on the property. Staff also noted boat usage on the property likely exceeds the legal limits – the resort purchased nine small motorboats for guest use – and said anything beyond three average-sized pontoons would need to use a public boat launch. There are also two outstanding zoning violations – a hot tub on the property and a patio near the beach – for which developers will have to go to the board of zoning appeals to seek a variance, staff said.

Finally, planning commissioners will consider approving a site plan tonight for a new four-story, 92-room Avid hotel planned for the former Wendy’s property on US-31. The restaurant building will be demolished to make way for the 50-foot hotel, which would be the fourth Michigan location and the first site north of Zeeland for the midscale Avid brand. Planned on-site amenities include an indoor fitness center, indoor pool, lounge, outdoor seating, small convenience market, and a ‘grab-and-go’ breakfast. Lake Michigan Hospitality 31 LLC is listed as the development group for the project, with Bowers + Associates of Ann Arbor overseeing architectural and design services. Staff are recommending approval of the site plan, noting the developer has addressed some concerns raised at a previous meeting about tree removal and neighbor impacts. According to the staff review, the developer will preserve 31 trees on-site and remove eight, with plans to plant 18 more trees including five white pines, six red maples, and seven honey locusts. A six-foot fence is also planned for the rear of the property to shield residential neighbors from the hotel.