Canton Township may soon have something more to smile about following unanimous planning commission approval of a new building at the site of a former United Auto Workers office space.
The new structure, proposed by Aaron Havens, owner of Havens Ortohodontics, would be two stories and include other businesses. Havens told the commissioners his practice would anchor the site but that he had no other specific businesses in the other spaces as yet, although there were ongoing negotiations with potential tenants.
The new building would be larger than the current structure at Canton Center and Joy Road on the border of Canton and Plymouth. The union building will be demolished and the new structure will also offer office space for businesses on the second floor with possible food service locations like bakeries, coffee shops or restaurants on the first floor.
Havens told the commissioners that he was not looking for a strip mall type of development. He said his priority was for his own offices.
Commissioners commented that the proximity to the Plymouth Canton Educational Park could present traffic issues although the location could be good for several types of businesses should they be located at the site.
The height of the proposed building exceeds the current limit of 30 feet in the area, which also caused some discussion among the planning commissioners. The new structure, at 35 feet, would be one of the tallest in the township, excepting the nearby high schools.
Commissioners unanimously approved the project following their discussion. The project will now go before the members of the township board of trustees for review and a decision.
