City Council Approves Plans for the dot

During their regular meeting held on Oct. 23, 2017, Ferndale City Council unanimously voted to approve the site plans for the proposed Development on Troy (The dot) mixed-use parking development. The plans were submitted  by Fusco, Shaffer & Pappas, Inc. on behalf of the City of Ferndale. 

The project—a mixed-use parking development known as “The dot”—will be a cohesive undertaking that includes an initial four-level, 397-space parking garage, street-level commercial space, and an improved streetscape geared toward the pedestrian experience. The project site plan also calls for a maximum of two floors of future office space and adjacent multiple family residential space that could be funded through private development.     

Tonight’s approval is the result of a more-than-year-long process in which City Council and staff worked closely with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and members of the residential and business community to develop a smart solution to address Ferndale’s parking deficiency. City staff have held a variety of public engagement sessions and worked with Parking and Design Steering Committees to help guide the direction of the project throughout the past year, after receiving site approval for the 221 W. Troy Street location by the Council, DDA, and Planning Commission last October.Prior to Monday night's City Council decision, the Planned Unit Development and Special Land Use applications received unanimous recommendations from the Planning Commission at the September 20, 2017, public hearing. 

With tonight’s approval, project architects will move forward with the final design and preparation of the process for bid documents.  Concurrently, the CIty has published a letter of interest on the PUD to the developer community requesting an expression of interest and qualificaitons to develop the office and residential components of the project.  

Mayor David Coulter expressed his support for the project and the thoroughness of the planning and community engagement efforts.  "This is the right project and the right time," Coulter said. "And that's why I'm supporting it by voting yes."