Still No Vote on Blossom Ridge Rezoning Request

The Oakland Township Planning Commission again did not vote Tuesday evening on a from Moceri Development that would allow the company to build , a proposed continuing care senior living community that would be constructed on the northwest corner of Adams and Dutton roads.

“We made a lot of progress tonight, but we’re not done with this discussion by any stretch of the imagination,” Planning Commission Chairman James Carter said.

Moceri is requesting to rezone roughly 42 acres on the northwest corner of Adams and Dutton roads from Medium Residential Density (MRD) to Multiple Family Residential Density with Planned Residential Rezoning Overlay (RM-PRRO) for the purpose of building .

The application review process raises three major concerns with both residents and the Planning Commission, which can vote to recommend or not recommend the rezoning request to the Oakland Township’s Board of Trustees.

Increased traffic

The Planning Commission hired a national traffic survey agency, the URS Corporation, to review a prior traffic study was conducted by Parsons Brinckerhoff at the expense of Moceri.

The new study found a few errors in the previous study, but confirmed the overall results: traffic at peak hours of the day is not greatly affected by senior citizens.

The study showed that seniors average 3.48 trips during a weekday, compared to an average of 9.57 weekday trips by single residences.

Population density

The proposed rezoning would exceed the maximum density outlined in the township's Master Plan.

Oakland Township resident Ron Heniz suggests a more “Oakland-Township-like” plan, with some more space between units.

“It’s not a nursing home,” Oakland Township Planning Commissioner Janine Saputo said. Saputo said she believes many seniors prefer to live in their own homes and buy the services if they can afford them, and then possibly move into a nursing home – not an assisted living community.

Carter believes it would be an attractive prospect for many seniors, and reminded all those in attendance that the land will not remain undeveloped and that some housing development will likely be there eventually.

Rural character

The parcel is presently wooded with some wetlands, and some residents are worried that Moceri's development could be an eyesore.

One concern is the significant reduction in the amount of trees on the parcel, though the applicant is required to account for every tree 6 inches or more in diameter.

"If it’s done, it would be a quality type of development," Oakland Township Planning Commissioner Barbara Wolack said.

The Planning Commission will continue discussing the rezoning request at its next meeting on Jan. 3. A final decision may not be reached again because at least one commissioner will be absent for the meeting.

For more Blossom Ridge coverage, click here.