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Auburn Hills council approves one-year extension for proposed Learning Experience childcare center
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Summary
The council granted a one-year extension of site-plan, special land-use and tree-removal approvals for a proposed 10,000 sq ft Learning Experience childcare facility at 2635 North Squirrel Road after staff said the original developer withdrew over retaining-wall costs; a church representative said a new developer has been found and a sale is expected soon.
Auburn Hills City Council voted on July 21 to grant a one-year extension of approvals for a proposed 10,000-square-foot Learning Experience childcare facility at 2635 North Squirrel Road, a project proposed by 5 Points Community Church.
Steve Connor, the city’s director of community development, told the council the church asked for the extension because the original developer decided not to proceed after construction estimates showed higher-than-expected retaining-wall costs. Connor described the design as still compliant with city ordinances and said staff had no objection to the extension request.
A representative for 5 Points Community Church told the council the church has found another developer and “expects to close on the sale of 2635 North Squirrel Road this month, most likely even this week,” and that the new developer had experience building other Learning Experience facilities in the state. Council members pressed staff and the representative on traffic and site-safety concerns, including the turn-configuration (referred to in the packet as the “pork-chop” turn). Ms. Rebecchi noted that the project would be built without that traffic modification initially, and that if it becomes a problem the developer would be required to return for changes.
Dr. Fletcher moved to approve a one-year extension of the special land-use permit, site plan and tree-removal permit for the Learning Experience. Mayor Pro Tem Hawkins seconded the motion. The council recorded the motion as passed with affirmative votes from the members recorded in the meeting transcript and one member listed as absent.
The extension preserves the council’s prior approvals while the church and its selected developer complete property-sale and financing work; staff said the design continues to comply with ordinances. The motion record in the transcript includes a garbled phrase about an expiration date (the transcript reads: "The approval shall expire on 07/15/2020 solution"); that date could not be confirmed from the record and is noted in the article as unclear in the meeting transcript. Council members recorded questions about site grading and traffic; staff said they understood the new developer had run the numbers and affirmed awareness of the site conditions. The file remains open for staff follow-up with the developer and for any required future council review should traffic or site conditions change.
