By Lisa Carolin
The Chelsea Planning Commission approved a motion to postpone action (7-1 Parker) on the Wolf Farms preliminary Planned Unit Development (PUD) application at its Sept. 15, 2026 meeting,
The commission’s motion was to postpone action on the Wolf Farms PUD application located on parcel ID #06-07-18-110-001 and direct the applicant to address the following items:
- Outstanding engineering comments identified in the engineers’ report dated Sept. 8, 2026.
- Outstanding items identified in the Chelsea Area Fire Authority report dated July 14, 2026.
- Provide a tree survey and demolition plan regarding the deviations that were discussed.
- Modify the plans based on the guidance that the Planning Commission gave on requested deviations.
- Provide an updated Traffic Study and stormwater narrative that is highlighted for the next review.
- Consider privacy mitigation for neighboring property owners.
- Realign the medical office buildings to be closer to the Freer Road frontage, with additional open space in lieu of removed parking spaces.
Wolf Farms is located north of Old US-12 and east of North Freer Road. The plan calls for a total of 172 homes with 61 single-family homes, 60 townhomes, and 51 attached ranch-style homes, plus roughly 80,000 square feet of medical office space on approximately 46.21 acres.
The property was annexed into the City of Chelsea in 2024 as part of a 425 Conditional Land Transfer Agreement with Lima Township, which had already approved a preliminary PUD for the project with characteristics similar to the current proposal. The applicant is required to follow the City of Chelsea’s standard PUD process, as outlined in Section 10.01.C of the Zoning Ordinance.
The vote followed a presentation by the applicant and a public hearing where close to a dozen people shared their concerns with the leading concern being increased traffic in the area especially by the high school as well as in the general area of Freer Road and Old US-12. Residents were also worried about increased loss of power once the infrastructure goes in, less privacy, light pollution, and questions about the need for more medical facilities among other issues.
In other action, the planning commission adopted the Tree Preservation Plan, and it now goes to Chelsea City Council for approval. The plan was developed over the past year with funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and guidance from focus groups and the planning commission. It is a policy document, not an ordinance, with the goal to preserve the trees and natural features that define Chelsea.
There were two additional public hearings at the meeting. One was a hearing about Heritage Farms Phases III-VI, which received no comments, and was then approved by the planning commission as a major amendment application to a Planned Unit Development (PUD), located on parcel ID #06-07-06-360-006. The amendment relates to dimensional standards and would raise the maximum permitted floor area ratio from 35% to 42% for 136 residential lots (Units 96-231), allowing additional home designs and structural options. None of the other approved site plans would change, and each home would remain subject to the approved setbacks and lot coverage standards.
The final public hearing of the meeting received no comments, and the planning commission did not vote. It was about an amendment to Articles 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 16; update related definitions, use-specific standards, access, landscaping, parking, signs, planned unit development, site plan review, nonconformities, amendment procedures, cross-references, and administrative and transition provisions; rename the T-1 and T-2 districts; update the Official Zoning Map legend and district codes; adopt an Article 5 Frontage and Transition Plan; and rezone the following parcels:
- 212 Buchanan St., parcel #06-06-12-130-008: Rezone from Downtown to R-1, Single-family residential
- 1515 S. Main St., parcels #06-06-13-450-011 and #06-06-13-400-002: Rezone from R-1, Single-family residential to new South Main District
- 6065 Sibley Rd., parcel #06-06-01-300-007: Rezone from T-1 to R-1, Single-family residential
- 1478 Old Manchester Rd., parcel #06-06-13-380-001: Rezone from T-2 to new Gateway District
- 20650 W. Old US-12, parcel #06-06-13-130-007: Rezone from T-1 to new South Main District
- 20702 W. Old US-12, parcel #06-06-13-130-008: Rezone from T-1 to new South Main District
- 920 S. Main St., parcel #06-06-13-140-026: Rezone from T-1 to new South Main District
