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At their upcoming virtual meeting on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., the Peninsula Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed development for Seven Hills Road. The developers are seeking a special use permit to further develop the office/retail space currently located at 13795 Seven Hills Road, north of Devils Dive Road. The property is commercially zoned.
This meeting will take place on Zoom, and the public may tune in and/or make public comments via the Zoom app or the dial-in phone number. To join using the Zoom App on a computer, tablet or smartphone, click the following link shortly before 7 p.m.: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89262394603
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To join by dialing in via telephone, call (312) 626-6799, followed by the Webinar ID: 892 6239 4603, followed by the # key.
You may also email comments to Peninsula Township Planner Randy Mielnik, [email protected].
According to the meeting packet, which you can see in its entirety on the Peninsula Township website here, “The project is helmed by five long-term residents of the Old Mission Peninsula: Jordan Valdmanis, Brian Peace, Troy Daily, Jeff Fedorinchik and Jay Milliken, who share a love and dedication to responsible growth and development. The intent of Seven Hills is to create a focused, well-curated experience rooted in local commerce and exceptional hospitality.”
The developers are currently under purchase contract with the existing owner, and the project will entail both existing buildings and new buildings.
In their special use permit application, the developers note that the space will be transitioning from previous industrial, manufacturing and commercial/office services to a more community oriented use, including mixed retail, hospitality (food, beverage, lodging), health and wellness, a farmer’s market, art gallery and studio, and outdoor recreation.
The lodging component includes a two story, 10-unit motel on the west side of the parcel.
According to their application, “Our proposed development conforms to regulations of the zoning district. As it currently sits, the only potential non-conforming zoning item for this property is the stated five acre minimum lot size requirement for Motel/Tourist Court, Section 8.10. Under the new zoning ordinance DRAFT, section 6.15, our proposed plan meets all qualifying conditions.”
Their Mission Statement from the packet notes that they plan “to create a well curated, community center for Old Mission Peninsula residents and visitors to gather, socialize, shop and dine. Optimal geographical location, centrally !ocated among many Old Mission landmarks, Seven Hills will add value to the community through highly aligned offerings.”
Here is the site plan included in the meeting packet. Seven Hills Road is located on the right side of the site plan.
The meeting agenda also includes a public hearing for Zoning Amendment #200 – Accessory Solar Equipment, a public hearing on the Zoning Ordinance Update (continued from previous Planning Commission meetings), and a discussion regarding the Master Plan Update.
Thoughts on the Seven Hills development or other items on the agenda? Sound off in the comments section at the bottom of this story.
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I don’t want to see a motel on Old Mission. It doesn’t fit in with our landscape or agriculture
That was my gramma and grammas property, is their old homestead still there?
I don’t want hotels or motels on OMP either. There are plenty in town…
I think a motel is a great idea. It is very hard to house guests currently. A motel would be a very limited amount of people. I would also welcome a retail, health and art center. We need a gathering place with coffee etc.
Against a motel on OMP and their plans for development. There are B&B’s already on the peninsula where guests can be housed. We have an art gallery at the Tavern. Their plan will create much more traffic at an already dangerous intersection where seven hills accesses center road. Our small community can barely support the current market/grocery in the winter months. Bad idea!
I am totally against a motel. How can we stop them?
Bravo to these young OMP boys for thinking into the future . It is their future, they are young , vibrant and willing to fill some gaps as needed by the next generations . It seems like a great spot to be able to linger and be a part of the community . OMP can’t be all about the wineries , since that traffic pandora has already been opened. Seems more like a place for locals and granted a few guests in a small hotel .
An existing commercially zoned property that is currently completely underutilized!! I am all for a remodel that will offer a new place for locals to gather, shop and dine? YES PLEASE!! Says they are decreasing the building footprint and adding more green space! YES! And 10 rooms tucked on the back of the property in an existing building… why not? I drive by here daily, didn’t even know the back building existed! Can’t even see it! And not sure how 10 rooms could possibly effect traffic? 10 cars? If anything, will offer people a safe place to stay the night while they enjoy the gorgeous peninsula. I am all for working within our current zoning to better serve the community!
A coffee shop along with the existing high quality art studio and shop sounds good to me. I was surprised by the motel proposal.
John Haine said it perfectly.
If the Peninsula by-laws won’t allow VRBO’s so it can preserve the Peninsula/Township why would they allow a 10 room Motel?
VRBO’s have offered many families to enjoy the Peninsula and bring income to Businesses but now the Ordinances are being unforced. So all these families can not visit or stay on our Beautiful Peninsula so way would we let a MOTEL !
It is in one of the few commercially zoned districts on OMP. I like the coffee shop and art gallery (Tinker Gallery is already there) still thinking about the small motel.