New Industrial Development Progresses at Former Packard Proving Grounds Test Track
PEA Group has been providing civil engineering and landscape architectural services for a 79.3-acre industrial project located in Shelby Township, off of 23 Mile between Mound Road and Van Dyke. The site will feature three separate buildings, approximately 300,000 square feet each and totaling over 1 million square feet. Located on the former Packard Proving Grounds Test Track Site, our team has had to overcome several challenges while developing this future light manufacturing site.
The site was originally zoned residential, however, a restrictive covenant due to environmental impacts from the former plant and test track would not allow for residential development. The Shelby Township Master Plan designated the site as suitable for light manufacturing due to environmental concerns.
After Ford decommissioned the test track and plant, test wells were installed on the site to measure contamination and a permeable reactive barrier was installed to clean the contaminated groundwater. These systems are monitored and maintained regularly by Ford.
NorthPoint Development has spent a great deal of time and resources in developing plans that have addressed residential neighbors’ concerns with noise, pollution, sightlines, and traffic. The residents have concerns that the noise from an adjacent property will be worse with truck traffic so close to their homes. To mitigate this issue, PEA Group has designed an 18-20’ landscaped berm with a 10’ vinyl composite fence. NorthPoint has also modified the building design to create approximately 2,500 square feet of building bump-outs to further screen the potential noise from truckwells. Additionally, the landscape design is above and beyond the requirements and the site has 26% open green space where only 10% is required.
While our team has had to face challenges and generate innovative solutions, this project greatly benefits the surrounding community. This new development will create anywhere between an estimated 670-1000 new jobs. The project received Final PUD Approval at the May 18th Shelby Township Board of Trustees meeting and is proceeding with the township’s review of the construction documents.