Plymouth condominium community proposed for 120-year-old church site
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, is located at 1100 Ann Arbor Trail in Plymouth
The 2.25 acres of Plymouth property that have been the home to First Church of Christ, Scientist (1100 W. Ann Arbor Trail) for more than a century is on the cusp of being developed into a 20-unit townhome/condominium complex called Brookside Village.
Champion Development Group is scheduled to unveil a revised Planned Unit Development presentation before the Plymouth Planning Commission Wednesday, outlining alterations it has made to its PUD since its initial presentation July 19, 2023.
Since first appearing before the planning commission for an informal presentation on March 30, 2023, the developer — after gathering feedback from commissioners and Plymouth residents — has reduced the number of townhome units from 30 to 20 (three of the units that will be constructed along Ann Arbor Trail will be stand-alone condominiums that will match the existing homes on the same side of Ann Arbor Trail, the developer revealed).
Champion’s updated PUD has also provided for more parking spaces and proposed enhancements to the Tonquish Creek and adjacent trail that it asserts will “produce an improved environment that will affect all properties that utilize this public amenity.”
The existing First Church of Christ, Science campus consists of two structures — one 8,000 square feet, the second 4,200 square feet.
Spurred by declining church membership
The church’s membership has declined to such a degree that it does not require the larger of the two church buildings, Champion explains in its presentation.
“The need for the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Plymouth … at this time is to develop a new structure with parking that is appropriately sized for the present and future population of the Church family,” Wednesday’s planning commission packet explains. “This can be accomplished on around one-third of the existing property land.
Champion has entered into a contract with the Church to develop a project suitable and harmonious with the Church family, the adjacent Plymouth community and the Plymouth Master Plan, the presentation included in Wednesday’s planning commission packet explains.
The property will become divided into a Church section and a Townhouse section, with the new church facility sized at approximately 3,400 square feet.
Developer: Public benefits numerous
To meet the public benefit requirement in the PUD, the developer has increased the size of the parking area by the church “to provide for additional potential parking for certain neighbor use or events,” the presentation says.
“The net effects of all these substantive revisions are that this updated PUD scope addresses the most prominent concerns including: reducing density, providing for a single-family appearance along Ann Arbor Trail, providing expanded parking options and providing significant enhancements to the Tonquish Creek and Trail,” Champion asserts.
“All while maintaining the ability of a 120-year-old Church community to remain in Plymouth. And finally, converting a large portion of Church property into a new residential use will bring significant new revenue to the city.”
The planning commission meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at Plymouth City Hall.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
