Planning commission recommends approval of 180‑unit Viva Bene senior housing development with conditions

The Canton Township Planning Commission on a 7‑0 vote recommended approval of a preliminary planned development district for Viva Bene, a proposed independent‑living community of 180 age‑restricted units at the southwest corner of Ford Road and Gorman Road.

The recommendation followed a public hearing, a presentation from township planning staff and comments from the project sponsor, Avenue Development. Patrick Sloane, Canton Township planning staff, described the proposal as 140 units in a three‑story main building and 40 attached cottage units arranged in 17 two‑unit buildings and two three‑unit buildings, across about 17.25 acres. Sloane said the project is proposed as housing for the elderly, which the ordinance treats as a special land use in the R‑1 and R‑3 districts, and that staff’s packet showed several requested modifications to the zoning schedule and to building standards.

The project team, led by Matt Quapas of Avenue Development, described Viva Bene as an independent‑living community intended to emphasize health and social programming. “We are focused in this model on being proactive about your health and wellness,” Quapas said. He added the developer’s market analysis showed local demand for independent‑living units and that starting rents are targeted at roughly $1,700 per month for base units,…