Commission postpones Autumn Ridge apartment phase for design revisions, masonry and sidewalk concerns

The planning commission voted to postpone final action on SP‑D‑8057, the Autumn Ridge Apartments phase that proposes two eight‑unit buildings (16 units total) at 250 Lots Road. Patrick Sloan reviewed staff’s six recommended conditions including recorded easements and a private road maintenance agreement, crosswalk signage and a stop sign on Douglas Drive, revisions to Lots Road landscaping to meet ordinance standards, increasing masonry coverage (staff asked for stone to constitute at least 50% of the total façade area and vinyl siding limited to 25%), and obtaining variances for front/side yard setbacks prior to township board review.

Applicant Benjamin Tobin said the proposed composite siding materials are thicker and more durable than older vinyl products and that the design team would pursue changes to increase stone coverage where feasible (for example, enclosing utility closets in stone and adding stone to broad east/west facades), but he noted structural and construction constraints related to first‑floor framing and stone veneer weight. Commissioners suggested several design changes—move buildings closer to the street to reduce front‑lot parking, provide continuous concrete sidewalks across driveway crossings rather than asphalt, and adjust the crosswalk location closer to the intersection for safety. The commission asked the applicant to return with revised architectural elevations and the outstanding technical items; commissioners unanimously voted to postpone action to a future meeting.