Garfield Township planning commissioners will review several housing-related projects, a proposed new headquarters for YouthWork on Cedar Run Road, and a site plan for the redevelopment of Macy’s at their 7pm meeting Wednesday at Garfield Township Hall.

Housing Projects
Planning commissioners will discuss several projects Wednesday that could bring a significant increase in rental housing to Garfield Township.

The board will host a conceptual review – an early informal conversation between planning commissioners and developers to share feedback before a formal application is submitted – for a new multi-family development called Creekside Apartments at 4040 Creekside Drive next to the West YMCA. Two potential layouts show either 68 or 72 units on the 11-acre parcel, though the apartment complex would be concentrated on just part of that site as much of the property “contains wetlands and is unbuildable,” according to a township staff memo.

Peter Faber and Kevin Einfeld highlighted those natural features as amenities in a letter to planning commissioners, calling the property “a haven of natural beauty” and a “serene setting.” The duo said the proposed development is “our response to the community's pressing need for more housing options,” with convenience and accessibility “at the heart of our plans” owing to the site’s proximity to the YMCA and Buffalo Ridge Center.

“The apartments will feature two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with an approximate size of 1,075 square feet,” the project partners wrote. “We're aiming to create spaces that are comfortable, functional, and inviting.” Faber and Einfeld pointed to their multi-family project River Birch Apartment Homes in Gaines Township as an example of their plans for Creekside Apartments, saying the “design and finish level of our new development will closely mirror that of River Birch.”

Staff noted the site’s current zoning and Future Land Use designation both support multi-family residential development. If the project proceeds, developers will need to identify the buildable and non-buildable areas of the site and obtain a wetland delineation, among other requirements in the application process, staff said. Connections to water and sewer will also need to be established. Faber and Einfeld said their plans include “comprehensive utilities, ensuring access to water and sewer services. We're also designing a storm water retention system that respects and complements the natural surroundings.”

Also Wednesday, planning commissioners will consider granting a one-year approval extension for an 80-unit affordable housing complex planned for the northwest corner of Garfield and Hammond roads (pictured, site and map). The board originally approved the special use permit (SUP) for the project, called The Village at Garfield, in August 2023. Outlook Development said its plans are to build five two-story buildings with 16 units each – including a mix of two-bedroom and three-bedroom units – on the roughly 13-acre parcel, which fronts both Garfield and Hammond roads surrounding the Marathon gas station.

The SUP requires substantial construction to be completed on the project within two years. However, developers can seek a one-time, one-year extension from the township under certain conditions. Outlook Development wrote that “the project has been dealing with budget overruns that we have nearly worked out with MSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority),” adding that the team hopes “to start construction in the next 6-8 months depending on the weather” if the township can grant an extension.

Planning commissioners will hold another conceptual review Wednesday on a proposal from property owners on Duell Road to create a two-unit duplex in a building most recently used for a dog grooming business. The site, located next to a separate 20-unit apartment building under construction, would be converted into two 924-square-foot units with two bedrooms and one bathroom each. The board will discuss options with the property owners to move forward, which could include rezoning or a parcel combination with the adjacent development.

YouthWork Headquarters
Planning commissioners will review an SUP application and consider scheduling a September 10 public hearing for a proposed new headquarters for YouthWork – a program of Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan – at 5855 Cedar Run Road. YouthWork was previously located at Twin Lakes Park, but following the transfer of the park from Grand Traverse County to Long Lake Township, the site is “no longer available to them,” according to the SUP application.

The five-acre parcel on Cedar Run Road “consists of an existing residence and farm outbuildings with open space and farmland, previously utilized as a single-family residence,” according to the application. The YouthWork project aims to provide housing for up to four young residents, workshop space, tools and equipment storage, office space for staff, and a learning hub and classroom. The project also describes space for a small barn, the GoatWork herd, a chicken coop, a greenhouse, native flowers and trees, and a growing area/nursery that will help cultivate “products involved within the conservation projects in northern Michigan and will provide a green buffer to the neighboring uses. Preservation of land, vegetation, and topography is essential to the nonprofit, as conservancy is a main goal of the group,” the application states.

Staff identified some areas of the application that will need more information or clarification, including parking, ingress/egress, landscaping, and storage of hazardous materials (flammable materials and herbicides). However, the application is substantially enough complete that planning commissioners could consider scheduling the September 10 public hearing – the next step in the approval process – and allow YouthWork to address those incomplete items by that meeting.

Macy’s Redevelopment
The new owner of the former Macy’s space at the Grand Traverse Mall could receive a township green light Wednesday to proceed with redeveloping the site. Daniel Stern of Lormax Stern appeared before the board earlier this summer to outline his plans for the site, including subdividing the space into multiple tenant spaces he said would host a variety of national brands – including bookstore, apparel, and gourmet food store companies. Stern’s site plan is recommended for approval with some conditions attached, including addressing landscaping, snow storage, sidewalk connections, and stormwater inspections. A planned outlot building – which Stern said would be a fast-casual Mexican drive-thru restaurant – will be required to be reviewed under a separate future site plan application.