70 Homes and 27 Apartments Possible Near Ferndale High School
Ferndale, MI – The Ferndale Planning Commission is expected to discuss a Planned Urban Development (PUD) on Pinecrest just south of Ferndale High School at their Wednesday evening meeting.
At this point, the project calls for 70 single homes and 27 multifamily homes.  Plans are still in discussion and could be revised based on Planning Commission requirements.
According a memo from Environmental Sustainability Planner Erin Quetell, the 20 acre property plans would include a proposed greenway along Pinecrest consisting of an 8′ concrete walkway and trees, plus natural wooded areas preserved at the southwest and
southeast corners of the property.
There is contamination on the site including “laboratory wastes, residues, glassware, foundry sands, and containers as well as Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and suspected solvent and other hazardous liquid dumping… Contaminants found on the site include arsenic, lead, mercury, Volitile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PNAs).”  Developers will be seeking Brownfield funds to remediate the site.
The PUD includes two parcels.  The north parcel is currently zoned  R – 1 (Single Family Residential) and south parcel is M – 1 (Limited Industrial).
According to the memo, a community meeting was held in December, with neighbors asking questions, including about contamination on the property, construction and traffic flow. In Quetell’s notes from the public meeting, developers stated it would cost about $100,000 per lot for the land and remediation, making lower-price homes not possible.  Note, this has been updated.  A previous version of this article stated the homes would be $100,000.  We apologize for this error.
Wednesday’s meeting is for further discussion.  The meeting begins Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 6:30pm in Ferndale City Hall.  Once the developer (Pinecrest Holdings, LLC) and the Planning Commission are comfortable, the next step would be a public hearing on the PUD at a future Planning Commission meeting, and then approval would be needed by City Council.
For more of the site plans CLICK HERE.