With 456 units, Woodview Commons is the first and biggest of the Scio projects. According to a member of the sales team who was reluctant to give their name, most tenants are “university grad students, young professionals, or seniors downsizing.” By the holidays, more than half the units had been rented. | Photo by Mark Bialek
While Ann Arbor is rapidly urbanizing, single-family homes on large lots remain the norm in its western neighbor. But last year a huge multifamily neighborhood opened south of Dexter, other projects are preparing to break ground, and more are in the planning process. If all are approved, Scio could gain more than 1,000 rental units.
As the township’s newly elected trustees and officials moved into their roles late in November, they agreed to divide responsibilities temporarily, to maintain consistency and efficiency as the newcomers settle in. Veteran trustee Kathy Knol, a retired attorney, is supervising zoning, planning, and land use—a challenging assignment, since developers are beating a path to the Scio offices, and the township is bracing for a comprehensive study of its master plan next year.
The current plan, adopted decades ago, designated a single commercial corridor along Jackson Rd. Scio contracted with the City of Ann Arbor for sewer and water to serve it. “With the exception of the southeast corner of the township and the Loch Alpine Sanitary Authority, the rest of the township relies on wells for water and individual septic systems,” Knol points out.
Much of Scio’s development is shaped by the availability of wastewater treatment—and it’s limited, Knol says. “Our engineer estimates that Scio has between three and eight years before we reach maximum capacity.” In the meantime, however, major developments are underway.
The first and biggest is Woodview Commons, with 456 units on ninety acres south of Jackson. That’s huge by Scio’s standards, but almost routine for the developers, Soave Enterprises, Hunter Pasteur Homes, and the Forbes Co.—they’re also putting more than 400 apartments on the site of the former Northville Downs racetrack.
Preconstruction promotions began last February, and Woodview Commons began welcoming residents last summer. All the units are rental, starting at $1,820 for a 636-square-foot unit and rising to nearly $4,000 per month for townhouses.
High-density projects like this are years in the planning. When U-M summer interns discovered fifty-two blue heron nests in a Scio nature preserve at the back of the property, the developers agreed to redesign the complex to buffer the area.
“A huge blue heron nesting area is a significant natural feature in our community,” former Scio supervisor Will Hathaway says. “Blue herons are not a legally protected bird, but Scio is committed to protecting them as much as possible.” The developers built a pedestrian walkway at the back of the property around the preserve.
Related: Preserving Scio
From Jackson Rd., the development doesn’t appear as big as it actually is—the property runs deep, with four architectural designs and rental options. Beech (one bedroom, one bath, 636 square feet) and Pine (two bedrooms, two baths, 1,109 square feet) are “stacked-flat apartments;” Aspen (two bedroom, two baths, 1,253 square feet) offers “ranch home apartments,” and Ash “townhouse apartments” have two or three bedrooms and three baths in 1,730 square feet.
A small clubhouse holds a workout room and sales offices. Nearby are two pickleball courts and a swimming pool.
According to a member of the sales team who was reluctant to give their name, most tenants are “university grad students, young professionals, or seniors downsizing.” By the holidays, more than half the units had been rented.
Once the residential units are complete this summer, the developers will add commercial space along Jackson. “We’ve asked about potential tenants, but the developer hasn’t identified them yet,” the salesperson says.
On 105 acres off Baker Rd. north of I-94, a senior complex called Encore at Heritage Woods calls for 145 attached villas and eighty-two detached duplexes with facilities and services from independent living through skilled nursing care.
“This was a controversial project, approved in May of 2024 by the slimmest of margins—only four of the seven trustees voted for it,” Knol says. It’s a “planned unit development,” or PUD—a custom zoning that requires additional community benefits. The developers promised contributions to the township fire department, sustainability features, and pathways. However, Knol says she “was not in favor because of the complicated on-site issues,” one being the wastewater treatment necessary for such a large complex.
Instead of connecting to an existing sewer system, the plan calls for a dedicated on-site treatment plant, to be monitored by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “Several of us had concerns about potential adverse effects of groundwater and drinking water,” Knol says. “We have been assured that adequate filtration will occur, but I’m cautious given the issues of dioxane penetration we have from the Gelman pollution plume. Also, their system will be the first of its type in this area.”
Heritage Woods is still in the planning process, Knol adds. “We’ve had a preconstruction meeting, but construction probably won’t begin until the spring.”
Again by a slim four-to-three margin, Scio’s trustees approved the initial plan for Crossroads (formerly known as Urban Crossroads) in September. Located at the corner of Liberty and Wagner, the plan called for fourteen structures and a fitness center served by Ann Arbor’s water and sewer systems.
However, Knol says, the original developer failed to provide Scio with required air-quality test results. (“We were concerned about the air quality emanating from the nearby concrete plant.”) Recently, another developer contacted the township about a revised plan using tax increment financing. A “TIF” lets developers offset some redevelopment, infrastructure, and other community-improvement costs by reducing the project’s future property taxes. In exchange, the developer offered to make forty-three of the 120 apartments “work force units,” with lower rents for essential workers.
“This is a complicated proposal—it shifts revenue and tax liability for a period of time,” Knol explains. “The new developer has asked for meetings with us to discuss his plans.”
One project that Scio turned down last year was Arbres Grove, which would have built thirty-five townhomes near the Parkwood condos, south of the Polo Fields on Zeeb. The trustees had serious concerns about its environmental impact, including stormwater management, potential contamination, and the removal of more than 400 trees—“dramatically altering the permeability of the site,” Knol says.
“The developer was not happy with our denial,” she adds. They’re challenging the township’s decision in circuit court, but she thinks they have a strong case.
The Goodrich/Quality 16 site north of Jackson has been vacant since the pandemic. Originally zoned for theater use, the property has been rezoned for apartments, restaurants, and retail. The township has had a concept meeting with an interested party suggesting 270 apartments in two four-story buildings, a clubhouse, and fitness center. It would require municipal water and sewer—“but it’s in the early stages,” Knol says. “We haven’t seen a formal submission.”
Related: Quality 16 Is Dark, Again
Single-family homes aren’t forgotten: seventy are expected to be constructed behind Menards on Jackson Road. And Pulte is developing a plan for 100 single-family homes and ninety-eight
“active-adult-targeted homes” for the corner of Parker and Jackson. “We haven’t seen it yet,” Knol says.
Land preservation continues to be a priority. “In terms of development,” Knol says, “we’re trying to work within our master plan and zoning ordinances, and everyone here is on board to balance the preservation of our semirural nature while allowing for some high-density development.”
The trustees are beginning the master plan review, Knol says. “The next steps require committee recommendations that will be sent to the planning commission, and then the trustees will rule on them.” But the trustees have identified three key concepts:
“First, that sanitary sewer capacity must be considered for any new development in the Jackson Road Corridor,” she says. “Second, any [development] must be in keeping with the sewer capacity constraints. And third, all higher-density residential projects will be exclusive to the Jackson Road Corridor.”
Calls & Letters: Scio’s master plan
Scio Township trustee Kathy Knol called to correct an error In our January article about development in the township. We wrote that “the trustees are beginning their master plan review.” The master plan review will occur next year.
The three concepts noted at the end of the article were identified by the Jackson Road Overlay District committee. These will be communicated to both the planning commission and the board of trustees.
