The Plymouth Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has proposed to demolish two historic buildings and a portion of a residential street to create a parking lot on what is commonly known as the Saxton property. Please sign and share our petition to encourage the DDA to:

1) Maintain Maple St as residential

2) Preserve historic structures currently within the boundaries of Plymouth's Historic District

3) Find alternative solutions to parking that do not destroy the beauty of downtown Plymouth

Additional Background:

• Residential Street - Changing Maple St. to a parking lot will greatly contradict one of the city's primary master plan goals, "to preserve and enhance the strong, vibrant residential neighborhoods". See master plan page 8, #1 goal, click on the "master plan" link at the following link: http://www.ci.plymouth.mi.us/index.aspx?NID=44
• Historic Buildings - The Jewell & Blaich building and the home at 674 Maple St are currently located within the city-designated Historic District. The proposed demolition of these buildings ignores the city's stated "purposes" of the Historic District Commission. The Historic District was specifically established to preserve the buildings within the district. See the Historic District Commission duties listed in the following link: http://www.ci.plymouth.mi.us/index.aspx?NID=116
• Surface Parking Lot - Putting a parking lot on a marque corner of our beautiful city is contrary to everything that brings people to live and play in Plymouth. People do not come here for the ease of parking. They come for the great people, atmosphere and sense of place and community. Read the following article. One of many examples of parking decisions gone bad...http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-jul-...
• “Destination Places” – No doubt, Plymouth has changed over the last 20 years or so. It has become a destination. The demands on the city are supported by both the residents and the businesses. More creative and appropriate solutions to support reasonable parking needs can and should be found through collaborative effort of all stakeholders – residents, business owners and city leaders. Experts agree that creative solutions can be found…http://www.pps.org/reference/placeforparking/
• Parking Demand - Is there truly a dire need for parking in this location? The Saxton lot currently has roughly 45 spots now. If you watch this lot each day, it is rarely full, as are surrounding side streets. Plymouth should not support demolishing historic buildings or destroying parts of Plymouth neighborhoods for what will amount to 40 - 50 incremental parking spots.
• Vibrant Neighborhoods - Maple St has been residential for over 100 years. A vibrant street filled with families, friends, neighbors and active members of the community.
• Safety - Keeping Maple St. residential is safer for the children in the neighborhood as the homes provide a natural buffer to the downtown.
• Residential Neighborhood - The proposed development by the DDA and supported by several city commissioners is contradictory to recent actions by the city supporting residential zoning in the immediate vicinity of Saxton’s. These decisions are supported by those in the neighborhood and have fostered significant investment now and in recent years. They include the following…

Sep 6, 2005 – City Commission approves 606 Maple St zoning change from B-3 to R-1.

Sep. 17, 2012 – City Commission approves first reading of zoning changes submitted by Planning Commission, inclusive of 624 Maple St as R-1 residential

Oct. 15, 2012 – City Commission approves second and final reading of zoning changes submitted by Planning Commission, inclusive of 624 Maple St as R-1 residential

June 5, 2014 – Zoning Board of Appeals approves Use Variance to allow 100% residential at 693 Maple St.

July 13, 2015, Zoning Board of Appeals approves Use Variance to allow 100% residential at 523 Deer St zoning variance

• Residential Zoning -The lot at 624 Maple St was just recently changed to residential zoning (R-1). The neighborhood is strongly against changing any zoning along Maple St to accommodate a parking lot.

June 13, 2012 – Planning Commission approves submission of zoning changes to city council, inclusive of 624 Maple St as R-1 residential

Oct 15, 2012 City Commission minutes (page 6), approval of second and final reading of Maple St. rezoning (including 624 Maple, house already demolished by the city): http://mi-plymouth.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/11052012-2

Sept 17, 2012 City Commission minutes (page 6), approval of first reading of Maple St rezoning: http://mi-plymouth.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/10012012-19

Sept 17, 2012 City Commission agenda (page 33), first reading of zoning changes recommended by Planning commission: http://mi-plymouth.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/09172012-18

June 13, 2012 Planning Commission minutes where motion was made to recommend Maple St zoning changes be R-1 and O-1 (incl. 624 Maple St to residential): http://www.ci.plymouth.mi.us/index.aspx?NID=1364