Nobody at Monday night’s Wayland City Planning Commission told residents they didn’t have valid concerns and worries about a proposed project to more than double the number of apartment units for Village Green Apartments.
Though citizens vigorously protested plans to construct 56 apartment units in seven buildings near the corner of Oak and Forrest streets, it was Lori Castello of Professional Code Inspections who had to tell them the bad news — The apartments “are uses permitted by right,” according the city’s master plan and according to the property’s zoning designation of R-M (multi-family residential).
Thus, the Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve the site plan for the project as submitted by RedstoneHomes and project engineer Michael Baker of Nederveld.
The citizens, who live on Forrest nearby outlined objections based on increased traffic, potential increase in crime and possibilities of flooding because it will disturb wetlands in the area.
Castello tried to soften the blow by saying, “We will not issue a permit until we get approval from the DPW and Department of Environmental Quality.”
And Commission Vice Chairman Sam Dykstra told them there’s a silver lining because, “We have engineers around here to take case of these problems (if flooding troubles arise).”
Nancy Vandevoord, a neighbor, noted the Rabbit River Trail is adjacent to the site and said, “I don’t want to walk the trail and see apartments and LED lights… (They (developers) know what covering up wetlands has done.”
She added an endangered species of turtle that lives in the area now will be threatened even more.
Mark Flight, and his wife, Mary Ellen, spoke at great length about flooding possibilities on their property near the corner of Oak and Forrest streets. He produced petitions bearing signatures of area residents opposing the project.
Mary Ellen said because the Rabbit River is nearby, “I don’t know where that (excess) water is going to go… our back yard will be flooded… Our sump pump already runs continuously until June.”
Rob Herrema, who has a business just to the north of the proposed project, said, “My major concern is that the site is low lying and the increased amount of water will have to run somewhere.” He added, “I’m concerned this will increase population density and we’ve already had problems with vandals in the last two to three years.”
Tim Rose, who lives on Forrest and is a member of the City Council said Forrest runs north to south uphill, so water naturally will settled near the corner of Oak and Forrest. He also expressed concerns about increased traffic on Forrest, where too many motorists ignore a stop sign at its intersection with Walnut.
City Water Superintendent Ben Batchelder agreed that backup problems are likely to affect the area near the corner of Oak and Forrest, but he didn’t expect it to happen often and when it did, city crews would act quickly.
The Planning Commission voted to include four conditions be met before any permits are issued.
In another matter, commission members unanimously approved a site plan submitted by Chris Rison to construct a pole barn at his transport business at the corner of 133rd Avenue and 10th Street for use by a fleet of passenger vehicles. Rison now must receive approval for a variance request from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
COVER PHOTO: Project engineer Mark Baker explains the Village Green Apartments expansion plans to members of the Planning Commission.
