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Dorr Plan Commission delays trailer business site plans

Requests for site plan review and a special use permit from McDonald Modular Solutions for a temporary office business in Dorr are in a temporary holding pattern.

A request for rezoning a small part of the 10.16-acre parcel from agricultural to business was recommended for approval 6-1 by the Dorr Township Planning Commission Tuesday night. But more site plan work needs to be done.

Dorr Properties LLC plans to establish a business to rent out mobile homes as temporary outdoor offices.at the corner of 14th Street and 142nd Avenue east of the downtown, just north of Bysterveld Park. However, there are several glitches, most important of which is the driveway leading out of the business site.

Rob Lamer, engineer for the developer, told the commission, “he purpose of this business is to sell, lease and repair job site trailers.”

McDonald’s Modular Solutions wants to house as many as 60 units that can be used by other businesses at job sites.One building on site would be used as a shop area to repair the mobile homes when needed.

But Planning Commissioners almost unanimously said they had problems with where a driveway would go onto a busy 142nd Avenue that includes a lot of traffic.

“That’s not a good place for the driveway at all,” said Commissioner Larry Dolegowski. “That’s the busiest primary road in Allegan County.”

Dolegowski suggested the driveway be moved further east or use 14th Street.

Commissioner Terry Rios said she worries about hills both to the east and west on 142nd Avenue, which would serve to obscure vision on a busy road.

There are also unanswered questions about landscaping, fencing and lighting.

Township Planner Kirk Scharphorn of Professional Code Inspections said, “Is this site consistent with the intent of the master plan? I think it is.”

Though a request for a special use permit won conditional approval, the Dorr Properties was asked to bring a revised site plan with a new driveway location before any futher action on recommendation to the Township Board is made.

PHOTO: Engineer Rob Lamer explains the proposed job site trailer business at the corner of 14th Street and 142nd Avenue.

 

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