Sunday, August 13, 2006 | Hometime Life – Observer & Eccentric Newspapers

McKenna Planners Map Future Downtown New Hudson

By James Mitchell – STAFF WRITER

It's a zoning map on top of a zoning map, and a circle within a circle. The goal of both is to plan and build a downtown in New Hudson.

This long-term vision intermingles homes and businesses and encourages people to walk through a community speckled with trees and landscaped grounds.

Last week, Lyon Township officials gave tentative approval to the Town Center Overlay District, confirming the boundaries of the dream vision held for a downtown area surrounding the six-pointed intersection of Pontiac Trail, Grand River Avenue and Milford Road.

Among the first priorities is the elimination of that multi-pronged intersection, to be replaced with a traffic roundabout that will be the centerpiece of a walkable downtown district. The outer edge is expected to be the so-called "ring road" that surrounds the intersection area. Until now, the ring road had only been complete on its northeastern arc, from Milford Road just south of I-96 and curving south across Grand River Avenue before meeting Pontiac Trail.

Although no timetable has been established for these projects, planning consultant Chris Doozen of McKenna & Associates said that the acceptance of the overlay map marks the first step toward getting the various ideas turned into reality.

The new zoning map allows developers to bring their ideas to the table, Doozen said. The zoning overlay doesn't automatically change the zoning of any parcel within the downtown district, rather it allows for more intensive use if special restrictions and guidelines are met.

As well, current businesses that do not meet the future plan will continue to operate under their current designation, but redevelopment would have to conform to the new zoning.

Lyon Township Supervisor Lannie Young said that the town center was designed to encourage pedestrian-friendly retail shops and higher-density residential plans.

"The whole idea is to promote growth in the New Hudson district," Young said. "As soon as we get the ring road done, the properties within it will escalate to a certain dollar value that won't be appropriate for single-family residential. The idea is to eventually have a little downtown."

Although one project is soon expected to request site plan approval — a retail and restaurant plan to replace the former P.B. Putter's at Milford Road and Grand River Avenue — Doozen said a plan as sweeping as the creation of a "downtown" area will take years to develop, and that completion of the ring road and roundabout will have to lead the charge.

"It won't happen overnight," Doozen said. "But as the ring road gets developed and the roundabout gets installed, I think you'll see more development activity in New Hudson." Doozen said he expects those road projects to be complete within five years, sooner perhaps on the ring road.

James Mitchell is a reporter for the South Lyon Herald. Reach him at 248-437-2011 or at jamitchell@gannett.com.