Village of Merrill
148 S. Saginaw Street
Merrill, Mi. 48637-0485
Phone: (989) 643-5660 Fax: (989) 643-5445
September 8, 2016
Re: Assisted Living Facility
In 2015, in cooperation with Saginaw Future, Village Council members initiated a goal to investigate providing senior housing in the village. The council appointed an ad hoc committee to pursue developers and building site(s). The committee consists of Village President, Gary Siler, Clerk, Janice Wazny, Street Administrator, Tom Mayan and Steve Jonas from the Saginaw Future. Attempts failed to entice a senior apartment development for a host of reasons. In the spring of 2016 a developer, DeShano Construction of Gladwin, MI, came forward with an offer to build an assisted living facility in our community referred to as Phase One. They also agreed to pay 50% of the cost for any required infrastructure improvements/additions. They have built several assisted living facilities in Michigan, primarily in the rural areas. Independent Living, duplexes with garages or similar type housing, was also planned and referred to as Phase Two.
The committee originally focused on vacant property in the plat, Fleming Addition to the Village of Merrill, adjacent to the elementary school for Phase One since it had been previously approved for a 16 unit condominium project and had been re-zoned to R-2 to accommodate the condominium project. Phase Two was planned for future construction on property south of Phase One. This would have placed all senior living in the same proximity and would have essentially complied with the “2002 Conceptual Residential Development Plan” developed by the Village, Township and School and has been on display at the village offices. A number of issues were addressed and resolved in the process.
That site for Phase One is on hold. Property owned by the village, at 346 North Midland Street, is being considered at this time. The committee met with the developer, Tuesday September 6th. He views the new site on Midland Street as a potential acceptable building site. The council will be informed of the proposed site change and the committee will recommend the village proceed with a re-zoning request for this parcel. If permissible, the re-zoning request from R-1 to R-2 will include stipulations limiting the scope of the proposed facility. The proposed development is for assisted living and will not include memory care. The committee will also recommend the council along with township, school, Saginaw Future and the general public pursue the possibility, location and implementation of Senior Independent Housing as originally planned in Phase Two.
Additional information may be obtained by calling the village office and/or visit the village website at www.merrillvillage.com. Look for future announcements in the Saginaw Valley News which is the village’s legal publisher for public hearings and other official notices.
VILLAGE OF MERRILL
“The Village of Merrill is an equal opportunity provider.”
To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building,
14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington , DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD).