A divided vote opens the door to expansion

The Northfield Township Board of Trustees voted 5-1 earlier this month to approve an expansion of the Chestnut Hills apartment community near Whitmore Lake, north of Ann Arbor. The decision allows Chestnut Development, a Howell-based builder, to add 106 new apartment units to an existing complex that already houses more than 200 residents.

The vote settled a months-long debate over the project's design, its impact on local infrastructure, and whether the development fits the character of the area.

What the expansion looks like

The new units will be built on approximately 26 acres northwest of the existing Chestnut Hills buildings. The location sits south of Five Mile Road on land west of Whitmore Lake Road, north of North Territorial Road.

According to plans presented to township officials, the expansion will include 22 buildings, each containing four or six apartments. The developer proposed architectural changes in response to earlier community criticism.

Allan Pruss, owner of Monument Engineering Group and part of the development team, told the board that building elevations would be staggered to avoid a monolithic appearance.

"So we don't have a long-looking facade."

Exterior colors and siding textures will alternate across buildings. The developer also agreed to add cupolas to the roofs of all buildings in Chestnut Hills, including the existing structures.

A dissenting voice

Not everyone was satisfied with the changes.

David Gordon, a member of the township planning commission, had voted against recommending approval in early June. He remained opposed at the trustee vote.

"They are equally ugly and they are unpopular with the community," Gordon said.

Pruss maintained that the revised plans met the concerns the township raised during preliminary reviews. Additional landscaping was added to soften the appearance along Whitmore Lake Road. Existing trees will remain and more will be planted, with garden beds installed throughout the site, according to Pruss.

Infrastructure questions

The expansion also raised questions about whether existing utilities can handle the added demand.

Township officials determined that an existing 8-inch sewer line under Whitmore Lake Road does not have sufficient capacity for the additional units. The plan calls for upgrading it to a 12-inch sewer line, according to Pruss.

Chestnut Hills is currently served by private wells and an on-site water treatment facility built during the project's first phase. Michigan state environmental officials have indicated that the wells and treatment facility can accommodate the increase, the developer told the board.

Why it matters to Ann Arbor-area residents

Chestnut Hills is located roughly seven miles from the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor and sits along US-23, a major commuter corridor. Rents at the community start at $2,350 per month for two- and three-bedroom units, according to the property's listing.

The approval adds to a growing conversation about housing supply in the Ann Arbor region. The development sits in Northfield Township, just north of the city limits, where land remains available for large-scale residential projects.

Residents who oppose the project have expressed concerns about traffic, density, and the aesthetic impact on the Whitmore Lake corridor. Supporters point to the need for more rental housing in a region where demand has outpaced supply.

The township's vote clears the way for Chestnut Development to move forward with construction on the 106-unit expansion.

Blockquote: "It's not my way, it's the Michigan Municipal League's way," — unrelated quote from Caro mayor story, not relevant. Removing.

The project remains subject to building permits and inspections as construction proceeds.