Another mixed-use PUD sought for Hall Road
The Wedge development planned for Golden Corridor west of M-53
Two weeks after approving a massive redevelopment of Lakeside Mall, the Sterling Heights City Council is expected to consider another mixed-use project off Hall Road.
The Wedge at Sterling Heights: Shoppes and Apartments is nowhere as massive as Lakeside, but it would fill in vacant property along M-59 if approved by the council.
Sterling Heights’ planning office said the proposal “can be transformative” for the city. Planners have been encouraging developers to provide for mixed-use developments to provide a more unique and distinctive blending of uses.
“The proposed (planned unit development) is a high quality development, providing a higher end rental product with a variety of unique recreational and amenity spaces and a variety of convenience commercial uses,” Jason Castor, city development director, wrote in a memo to the council.
Developer Waad Nadhir is submitting the project on behalf of BOSC Realty Advisors, LLC, for
a mixed-use planned unit development on 10 acres of land situated on the south side of Hall Road, west side of Sterritt Street, which is west of the M-53 Freeway.
Nadhir wants to include residential and commercial uses throughout the six buildings that would make up the project. It would be constructed in two phases, with the commercial being built first.
The Wedge would include: The applicant’s updated plan has “some significant modifications,” according to the planning department. Most notably, a proposed grocery market has been eliminated and the residential buildings have been decreased from five to four stories.
There is a list of 13 modifications and property setbacks that must be worked out if the project is to proceed. For example, the commercial zoning district prohibits freestanding fast-food building and drive-thru lanes from being located within 300 feet of residentially-zoned property. The plan proposes situating one building and its drive-through lanes about 43 feet and 22 feet, respectively.
The developer previously sought city approval for the project. About two dozen residents spoke during a public hearing and most were opposed to the Wedge plan, citing concerns over building height, green space, noise, light pollution and traffic, among other things.
Since then, the developer has revised the plan, dropping a proposed grocery market primarily because of traffic concerns.
According to city officials, the planned unit development purpose is to streamline issues such as zoning, possible variances and more. This grants flexibility toward spurring innovation and land use efficiency while also keeping in mind the Master Land Use Plan, according to city officials.
City Council will review the plan at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Sterling Heights City Hall, 40555 Utica Road.