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March 9, 2006Project changes approvedCity gives OK for alterationsTRAVERSE CITY - A developer who plans to build a public parking deck on West Front Street won approval to make changes to another building he wants to erect across the street.Developer Michael Uzelac of Federated Properties proposed two buildings on West Front Street. A 100-foot-high, eight-story project on the south-side includes a public parking deck, financed with a city bond issue of up to $16 million. He also plans a three-story structure on the north-side of the street. City planners approved the site plan for the smaller, north-side building at 124 West Front St. in September. But Uzelac requested a "major amendment" to that plan, which the planning commission approved Wednesday. The changes reduce the number of parking spots and add about 10,000 square feet of space on the top, third floor. Uzelac planned 14 residential units in the top floor but now said it will be for commercial use. City planner Russ Soyring said the changes were "minor impacts in the overall design." Changes to the north-side plan were prompted by the city's decision to not pay for parking there, said Soyring. The number of parking spots will drop from 124 to 69 spaces. All of the parking spaces will be private. City officials in January said the city could not afford to pay for parking on the north-side as well as the proposed 500-plus space deck on the south-side. The city commission approved the development agreement and financing for the south-side parking deck nine days ago. Mayor Linda Smyka, who also sits on the planning commission, said she "fully expected" alterations to the north-side design after the city announced it wouldn't pay for parking there. "We knew that this was coming ... ," she said. Smyka said she doesn't know of any changes to be made to the larger project, but said it is "not uncommon for projects to evolve over time." Uzelac told planners the construction of the smaller, north-side building does not hinge on progress made across the street. He said he was "finalizing some agreements" on the north side. "We are going to go with this project," Uzelac said.
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