Student housing is proposed for a former College Township mobile home park. Residents have concerns
A new student housing project is proposed for College Township, but some residents are concerned about how the development could affect their neighborhoods and a nearby nature preserve.
Slated for the former Hilltop Mobile Home Park, the Aspen Heights Squirrel Drive land development project proposes two, four-story residential buildings and some commercial space. The plan, which was submitted to the township in November, was reviewed at last week’s planning commission meeting where dozens of community members expressed concerns.
The project — proposed by Texas-based developer Aspen Heights Partners — includes 262 units with 651 beds. Though the majority of units will be student housing, 28 units will be designated workforce housing to comply with township ordinances.
With Oak Ridge Avenue adjacent to the proposed site, some residents voiced concern about traffic, lighting, noise and sight-lines into their homes from potential Aspen Heights residents. While the plan has been designed according to township ordinances, Aspen Heights East Division President David Helfrich said the developer wants to work with the community and ease residents’ concerns.
In addition to a 300-foot easement to mitigate noise, Helfrich said the plan is designed so that all amenities are enclosed, including courtyards that point toward College Avenue instead of residential neighborhoods to mitigate noise. Lighting will be designed in accordance with township ordinances and guidelines.
“We try to be thoughtful,” Helfrich said, adding that the developer considers overall community impact when drafting plans.
While the developer is working to determine traffic impact and any potential impact to water pressure, some residents are also worried about Thompson Woods Preserve and how the township plans to protect the refuge.
“I’m less concerned about traffic. I’m more concerned about providing access for the students living (in) this development,” Bruce Pincus said. “What is the access that’s going to be given for the students to walk from this location to campus, to ride their bikes from this location to campus that will not take them through the preserve and will not take them through my neighborhood?”
The development plan has yet to be recommended to the township council, but commission member Ed Darrah told council members in an update last week that Aspen Heights Partners have been working with township staff to make headway on the proposal.
While Darrah added that the developer has no authority over Thompson Woods Preserve and that community concerns do not impact the proposal, councilman Paul Takac said he thinks it’s too early to assert that the preserve shouldn’t be a point of concern.
“Overall, it looks as though the developer is meeting all the guidelines, all the ordinances that are in this zoning area,” Darrah said.
Another public meeting will be held before staff refers the plan to the council; Darrah estimates the proposal will be presented to council members next month.
“As noted, the developer has been very cooperative, and we do have a responsibility to mitigate impact to adjacent properties, so I think we will be spending some time on that subject,” Council Chair Eric Bernier said.
