Troy council approves Somerset West PUD with 120‑foot buffer after weeks of resident concern

Troy City Council on June 9 approved a Planned Unit Development (PUD) concept and the Phase 1 preliminary plan for the 40‑acre Somerset West project — the redevelopment of the former Kmart headquarters site — but amended the plan to require a 120‑foot buffer between the new development and the single‑family neighborhood north of Cunningham Drive.

The project, presented by the applicant team and planning consultant Ben Carlisle, is to be anchored by a University of Michigan specialty medical facility of roughly 200,000–250,000 square feet. The concept plan submitted to the council sets maximum allowances across the full PUD of up to 500,000 square feet of office, 300,000 square feet of retail, a 250‑room hotel and 750 residential units. The University of Michigan parcel is described by the applicant as a roughly 17‑acre block within the site and would be developed first.

Ben Carlisle, the planning consultant working with the applicant, described the PUD process and told council the project team and planning commission had worked through land‑use, circulation, open‑space and public‑benefit elements. The Troy planning commission recommended approval, 9–0, at its May 13 meeting.

Developer remarks: the applicant’s representative, identified in the meeting transcript as Forbes (Forbes/Frankel team), described the University of Michigan facility as a “quarter‑million square‑foot” specialty care center and told council, “we will be in the ground, and we'll be bringing jobs, consumer spending, a great brand to this community.” The applicant said the medical facility work was moving quickly and that the team intended to prepare the rest of the site for phased development after the medical building was underway.

Buffer dispute and amendment: the northern portion of the site is controlled by a prior consent judgment that currently imposes a 140‑foot setback from the residential property line. The PUD concept brought forward by the applicant proposed a 100‑foot internal building setback; several residents and council members pressed for keeping or increasing the buffer. Resident Mary Ellen Barton asked council to “not amend the consent judgment and to uphold the 140 feet.” After discussion, the developer publicly signaled willingness to accept a larger buffer than 100 feet, and council amended its approval to require a 120‑foot buffer in the concept development plan.

Formal action: Council member Hodorick moved to approve E‑1, the Somerset West PUD concept plan and Phase 1 preliminary plan; Council member Chanda seconded. Council then voted to amend the CDP to require the 120‑foot buffer, and the amended plan carried on recorded votes with all present members voting yes.

Why it matters: the project would redevelop a long‑vacant 40‑acre property at the northwest corner of Big Beaver and Coolidge and is expected to introduce a high‑profile medical facility for Oakland County plus mixed‑use development along Big Beaver. The consent‑judgment status of some parcels means future changes will require agreement among multiple parties.

What’s next: the University of Michigan medical facility parcel is expected to proceed first; other parcels in the PUD will come back to the planning commission and council for preliminary and final development approvals as specific uses and building plans are developed.