Neighbors of the proposed air park in Leighton Township Thursday night hinted at the possibility they will take legal action against the Township Board if it wins final approval.
The issue, which has been debated, discussed and revised over a year and a half by the board and Planning Commission, has consistently been met with opposition from residents near the air strip proposed by developer Clark Galloway and Township Supervisor Steve Deer, who has recused himself from all voting and discussion to avoid conflict of interest. It is located near the intersection of 144th and Kalamazoo Avenues.
The board, in a special meeting Aug. 28, gave tentative approval to having the old air strip once used by the Martin family be rezoned to permit as many as four planes to move in and out of the facility. It is located in the middle of a rural residential area that includes a horse farm.
The Planning Commission last April voted 3-2 against recommending the project.
Mark Ouwinga, who has been one of the fiercest critics of the air park, told board members, “You have taken a ‘no skin off my back’ approach (to the issue). We have brought concerns to your attention, so you cannot plead ignorance… It has come down to stealing property from neighbors to make it (the project) fit.
“We’re going to defend ourselves, we’re not going to let it happen,” he added, noting he and his comrades would have no hesitation in taking the matter to court, if necessary.
Kate Scheltema, another consistently fierce critic, said, “What you’re doing is unfair. This decision will go down in perpetuity.”
She has long contended that if the board allows the property to be rezoned, the township will lose control over it.
Nick Barlow agreed, saying, “When you vote for the air park, you will lose control of that thing.”
Ouwinga added that even the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will have no control over what occurs on private property.
Scheltema asked board members a series of questions, including, “Why haven’t board members been to the site of the air park?” She insisted there are no protections in place for the safety of the neighboring residents.
She also accused the board, “You don’t have or understand all of the information” while making its tentative decision.
Though most of the people who have been attending the meetings have expressed opposition, Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis last month noted the board had received only 27 written communications against the project, but 82 in favor.
The Township Board will have a special meeting at 7 p.m. either Monday, Oct. 2, or Wednesday, Oct. 4, to make its final determination, though it voted 4-0 in August to proceed.
