SCIO TOWNSHIP, MI -- Developers are proposing to build a commercial and residential complex just west of Ann Arbor.

Jeff Harshe and Greg Copp of Ann Arbor-based MAVD are hoping to build on 300 North Zeeb Road in Scio Township in a project dubbed “North Zeeb Commons." The plan includes office, commercial, hospitality and residential development on 30 acres, according to Harshe.

The project would include multi-family residential space on the eastern portion of the site, retail space along the western side, a hotel and office building, sidewalks for pedestrian access and a pathway parallel to the I-94 exit ramp, Copp said at a Nov. 25, 2019 Scio Township planning commission meeting.

The developers are asking the township to rezone the industrial site to planned unit development, which offers more flexibility in regulating property development.

Commissioners voted to table the proposal in a 5-0 vote.

The site formerly housed the headquarters for University Microfilms, Inc., according to MAVD, which acquired the 70-acre property in 2012, but is focusing on developing 30 acres in the near future.

Copp and Harshe are resubmitting a proposal to the township, taking community feedback into account.

“A lot of it is traffic-related and we’ve been working with the (Washtenaw County) Road Commission and MDOT for almost a year on putting out a traffic study,” Copp said.

Copp anticipates a traffic study will be finalized this month.

Several residents of the area opposed the plan.

Ann Arbor residents Beth Lawless and Rob Pattinson cited light pollution as a concern, according to meeting minutes. Lawless said the property is in her “backyard” and worries the lights will impact her home. She said she would like to see some form of development, but proposed the project be considered on Jackson Road instead.

Pattinson said traffic would be an issue near his driveway if a traffic circle is installed, and he complained that the development would lack green space.

Residents also cited environmental concerns. Megan Batkins expressed concern about potential metals contamination at the former microfilm production site. Harshe said the firm is working on asbestos remediation in the building on the site.

“We’re working with a consultant on making sure we take care of all that properly,” Harshe said.

He said cost estimates for the project are also in the works.

“I don’t have an estimated project cost right now. We’re still at the front-end of it," Harshe said.

Commissioners sought additional information on the development and the area’s traffic patterns, according to meeting minutes.

It was unclear when the proposal will be discussed next, but the developers hope the planning commission will bring it back to its agenda in February.

“As Ann Arbor-based developers, we looked at different possibilities of developments to put there,” Harshe said. “We really want it to be successful... We’ve been looking at it for a long time. Just recently, we felt like we landed on a plan.”

These new Ann Arbor businesses opened in 2019

These Washtenaw County businesses shut down in 2019