Council Reviews Gateway Project

Image: The empty lot where DTN is proposing to build “The Gateway”

City Council last night reviewed the plans presented by the developer DTN for their proposed “Gateway” project, a planned “four-story, mixed-use building with approximately 6,434 square feet of non-residential space including a bank with a drive-through, 39 two-bedroom apartments and structured parking.”

The lot where this project would be built is at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Delta Street, just west across Delta Street from the original Biggby location and just east of the West Village Two townhouse condos.

During public comments at the start of the meeting, Debbie Astrein of 372 West Grand River spoke about concerns she and other West Village condo owners have about DTN’s plans. In a written statement to Council and in oral remarks, Astrain said, “Please understand that I am in favor of this property being developed. I just hope that this property will be developed without diminishing the privacy, safety, security or enjoyment of the residents of West Village Two or others in our adjacent community.”

Astrein said that the way the traffic flow is planned is likely to cause significant cut-through traffic that will negatively impact the West Village Two condo owners, whose master bedrooms face the back lot where traffic will be diverted.

The specific history of the property has resulted in the ability of the developer to produce this cut-through without permission of the current condo owners. Additionally, when the people who bought the townhouses originally were sold their units, they were told that the building that would be on the lot in question would be smaller and different. Instead of having 39 apartments likely to attract students, there were to be 19 condos with restriction against rentals on the three top floors. Those plans did not materialize.

Astrein also objected to balconies on the west side of the proposed structure because of the potential for noise. Astrein expressed frustration with the way the question of the west-facing balconies had played out:

“There is a discrepancy in the staff report regarding balconies that face west. There are clearly nine balconies visible on the west elevation rendering. On page 5, #7 of the staff report, it clearly states that no balconies face west, in the direction of the townhomes. When I posed the question at the first planning commission meeting, both [Planning staff] Darcy Schmitt and the project architect clearly stated that no balconies face west.”

But, “At the second planning commission meeting, Darcy and the architect both stated that there are balconies on the west side of the building.  I called Darcy the day after the second meeting because I was confused.  She told me there are balconies but they would be 80-100 feet from the property line. I found the inconsistency very upsetting and objectionable, especially since DTN agreed that they would eliminate balconies facing west with the original proposal.”

During discussion of the proposal, Councilmember Ruth Beier asked about removing the balconies on the west Side. Planning staff Darcy Schmitt said that would make it hard to attract non-students to the rental apartments. DTN’s Colin Cronin said DTN would prefer not to remove the west-facing balconies from the plan but will do so “if it is a deal breaker.” He said the balconies are about four by six feet.

There was much discussion about ways to change the traffic flow to minimize the impact on the West Village 2 condo owners. Revisiting the traffic plan at this point could trigger requirements for additional reviews by the Transportation Commission. Planning staff was asked to consider alternative ways to work the traffic flow.

The project is set to have 44 parking spots for the residents of the 39 two-bedroom apartments. Ordinarily code requires 1.5 parking spots per two-bedroom apartment, so this project would represent an exception. Staff’s belief is that proximity to campus means some residents will not want cars. DTN’s Colin Cronin, said parking would involve additional charges, so that there would be a financial incentive to renters not to have a car.

DTN wants to use tax increment financing (TIF) for this project, a complicated issue because of the complex history of this development area. Beier asked Schmitt to provide Council with information on the TIF history of the area.

Councilmember Kathy Boyle expressed her disappointment that this project was not planned as senior housing, as, she said, the location is ideal for senior housing—across from Valley Court Park and the farmers’ market, near Peoples Church. She said she thought it would be a better fit for the location next to the West Village townhouses.

A public hearing has been set for this project on April 21, but it is possible at that time, Council will defer further discussion of it and a decision on it pending receipt of more information.

Part of the property at issue is in an historic district. According to Schmitt, getting a certificate of appropriateness for that part of the project will happen after Council approves the project and it will be “just a technicality to approve it.” In other words, it will not be required to be historically in keeping with the original area, which once contained houses along Grand River Avenue.