Planning Commission recommends City Council approve Villas of Pebble Creek PUD amendment

The Farmington Hills Planning Commission on Dec. 19 recommended that City Council approve an amendment to Planned Unit Development Plan 2 (2021) for the Villas of Pebble Creek, a redevelopment of the former Sarah Fisher site at 12 Mile and Inkster submitted by Robertson Brothers Homes.

The recommendation, made at the commission’s public hearing, would convert the site to a detached condominium community totaling 79 units — 75 age‑targeted ranch condominiums and four single‑family lots along 12 Mile — while preserving and rehabilitating the site’s historic chapel as a community building. The parcel cited in the hearing is 22‑213‑476‑008.

Applicant Tim Locker of Robertson Brothers Homes told the commission the plan reduces previously approved density, reuses historic materials and donates land for a sanitary lift station the city plans to build in 2025. Locker said roughly 40% of the site will remain as open space and that the project is aimed at downsizing buyers, an important segment of demand in Farmington Hills.

Planning staff summarized the site breakdown as about 17.15 acres for detached residential use, 2.85 acres for the split single‑family lots and approximately 11.5 acres of natural preservation (roughly 36.5% of the site). Staff also noted the application requests relief from several ordinance standards, including a reduced exterior side setback to Cheswick (proposed 30 feet vs. required 50 feet), elimination of the western buffer, and a reduced lot width for the four split lots (proposed 111 feet vs. 140 feet required).

Commissioners discussed several design elements, including whether to permit four curb cuts on 12 Mile or treat the split lots as a separate future application. Commissioner comments ranged from support for the four lots and the reduced density to suggestions that staff consider shrinking lot rears to expand preserved natural area when the item goes to City Council. The applicant said the four lots meet the minimum lot area and that including them now avoids returning for another amendment.

Several technical items raised by engineering and the fire marshal — including sewer connection method for the four 12‑Mile lots, the design and alignment of a proposed boulevard entrance, and fire‑department turning radii — were identified as conditions to be resolved before the PUD agreement is finalized. City staff and the city attorney explained that many engineering details will be worked out at the PUD‑agreement stage and through required interoffice reviews.

During the public hearing Scott Griffin, representing the Hickory Oaks subdivision, said neighbors have met with the applicant, affirmed a landscaping agreement and expressed support for the revised plan.

A motion to recommend City Council approve the PUD amendment passed after the commission added language endorsing the boulevard proposal and an extended driveway to Lot 71 to reduce pavement. The recommendation is subject to resolving all outstanding items listed in Giffords Webster’s November 13, 2024 review and the city engineer’s and fire marshal’s interoffice correspondences to the satisfaction of staff.

The Planning Commission’s action is advisory; City Council will take the final vote on the PUD amendment and associated modifications to the PUD agreement.