Concerns prompt developer to pull back on Crown Point plan

Plans for a 228-unit town home community in Crown Point have been temporarily postponed following concerns from city planners and neighboring residents.

The project, known as Walkerton Park, would occupy 35 acres of farmland and natural areas directly west of Interstate 65 and north of a proposed highend retail development just south of U.S. 231.

Joe Lenehan, of Olthof Homes, appeared at a public hearing Monday before the city’s Plan Commission requesting preliminary plan development approval for the community.

However, after hearing the concerns voiced by residents from the neighboring Pentwater subdivision and commission members, Lenehan asked for and received a deferment of the approval request.

He said he will go back to Olthof and see what the “some of the give and take” might be.

“We are certainly always willing to take a look at things like that and try to offer some solutions,” he said.

Those solutions would have to address density.

“The development is planned to get the most housing out of 35 acres,” said Patti Tubbs, who lives in Pentwater just east of the proposed development.

She said the development offers little or no green space and the pocket parks being planned there are too close to the homes or cars.

Tubbs urged the commission to have Olthof redesign the space and take into consideration areas for teens and children to play and possibly put in more mixed housing like singlefamily homes and villas like in the Hamilton Square subdivision directly north.

“It looks like we are trying to develop land for development’s sake instead of improving Crown Point,” she said.

The farmhouse-style development Lenehan called the “trendy development” now and geared toward millennials would consist of six-unit buildings with amenities that include and outdoor patio/ kitchen space for gatherings and a dog park to go along with pocket parks.

Walkerton Park is estimated to be about a five- to six-year project built in phases.

Plan Commission member Scott Evorik said he likes the project but would like it to be reduced from six units per building to four, which would reduce the number of homes but add more green space.

Fellow city planner Dan Rohaley said at more than six units per acre it’s the density of the project that concerns him.

“It’s like putting 10 pounds of peanuts in a 5-pound bag,” he said. “Way too many units.”

Seven Pentwater residents spoke out against the project during the hearing and two letters of remonstrance were submitted prior to the meeting. In addition to density, residents were concerned about traffic and the impact on local schools. Pentwater was also built by Olthof and some of the residents told the board there has been a lack of communication with the developer regarding issues in their community.

Commission member Michael Conquest told Lenehan that the board always gets a little concerned when they hear from homeowners about the lack of responsiveness from a developer.

“You guys have always had a good name,” he said. “Maybe that is something to work on.

The request by Lenehan to defer the matter was granted in a 7-0 vote.

Lenehan, who could be back with new plans at the June meeting, said Olthof was meeting the demographic and what the city’s comprehensive plan calls for as far as use there.

“I think in the end it will be a really great community.”