The Dorr Township Planning Commission Tuesday night granted conceptual approval giving the Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church the green light to proceed with plans to purchase property and build a permanent church at a site on 18th Street south of 138th Avenue.
Representatives from the church said they intend to buy a 21.17-acre property not far from the Dorr Veterinary Clinic. It will be the fourth and they say final move for the church, which started in Dorr and most recently moved to a location in Walker.
Neighboring property owner Janet Sage objected, noting the four moves and asked, “Does that say you’re going to move again?”
The church pastor responded, “This is our final destination.”
Residents who live nearby were split on the issue.
Sage told the Planning Commission she moved to er current home many years ago to get away from the hustle and bustle of civilization and added she wants to preserve the agricultural character of Dorr Township.
She also said she isn’t pleased with the church’s plans to use some of the parcel for a cemetery.
“I’m concerned because cemeteries can’t be moved,” she said.
Sage’s daughter, Camille, echoed her mother’s concerns about no longer living in a quiet rural area, loss of quality of life and loss of privacy. She maintained the church is very active well beyond just going to services on Sundays, resulting in “There’ll be lots of traffic.”
But another neighbor said he supports the church’s proposal, saying, “That farm land could become a mining operation. I support this development, it’ll make a nice plot.”
He noted that those who have tried farming that land before have failed to make it work.
It was noted that the church legally can have have four plots split into four residential lots.
Planning Commission Chairman Dan Beute said it’s unusual to deal with a request in which the applicant asks only for approval in concept or principle.
“This is unique,” he said. “We’ve never had to vote on a concept before.”
Commission Vice Chairman Bob Wagner, former chairman and member for more than 50 years, agreed that the situation indeed was unusual.
Commission members were very careful with the wording of their recommendation, stressing it was just agreeing with the concept and encouraging the church to continue with its project. Absent was any official approval.
