Michigan Real Estate News

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Single-Family Zoning Issue Divides Ann Arbor City Council

The Ann Arbor City Council is embroiled in a debate that has turned ugly. The city is poised to end single-family zoning, say several council members. Others disagree. The council voted to make it easier for more than 20,000 homeowners to put up a secondary home. These structures are sometimes known as carriage houses or granny flats. Removing additional single-family zoning restrictions could potentially increase affordable housing and reduce segregation and urban sprawl. However, the council disagrees on how to accomplish this goal, as well as how aggressively to pursue it.

Milford Postpones Rezoning Request

The MIlford Township Planning Commission voted to postpone a rezoning request for the Kensington Ridge housing development. The 851-unit housing development requires the rezoning of 335 acres of property. The property is located at the southwest corner of Maple and Milford roads. Residents expressed traffic flow concerns. The commission will hear the issue again in April following discussions between planners and the applicant concerning density at the north end of the development, changes to the road access to Maple Lakes, and a water supply plan.

J.C. Penney Updates Store Closure List

J.C. Penney has updated its store closure list. The company was one of the largest retailers to apply for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection during the pandemic. It announced that it was closing 242 of its stores in May 2020. Since then, the retailer has delayed the closing of 15 stores that were scheduled to be shuttered in March 2021, extending the closing date into May. In doing so, the company added 18 more stores to its closure list.