The Dorr Township Planning Commission decided to do a little bending to recommend a rezoning request for Don-Jon Asphalt Paving at the corner of 142nd Avenue and Commerce Drive.

The request was to rezone the northeast portion of the parcel from commercial to mixed use. Planned unit development (PUD) to allow the company to some light industrial business.

Commissioners agreed the site is next to other mixed used locations and Commerce Drive leads into an asphalt plant. Though it’s not part of the master plan for a PUD for the parcel, the majority consensus was a rezoning really wouldn’t spoil the land.

However, Chandler Stanton, a Dorr Township Trustee and member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, pointed out that the company already has some equipment and materials on the site.

“It’s a bit of an eyesore, in my opinion,” Stanton said.

Lori Castello, zoning administrator for Professional Code Inspections, agreed.

“It’s in violation of the blight ordinance and you have 10 days to remove it.”

The paving firm representatives promised that the cleanup would be done.

Pat Champion, also a township board trustee, said he’s received telephone calls from residents complaining about the mess, insisting it violates the ordinance and doesn’t follow the master plan,

“We’ve got to enforce this, the public’s not liking it,” he said.

But commissioners then noted the zoning for other parcels in the area and maintained a mixed use would not be a negative addition. They added that commercial plus light industrial wouldn’t be in violation.

Commissioner Dan Beute gave examples of Dorr Township not following to the letter the blueprint of the master plan, thereby setting precedent.

Castello cautioned about bending a little on the master plan, though she said she wasn’t opposed in this case.

“Every time you adopt a new master plan, you’re declaring your intention for use of the land).”

The commission voted 6-0 to recommend rezoning to the Township Board, with Jody Schaendorf abstaining because of a conflict of interest. 

The Planning Commission spent the rest of the evening going over the first draft of a solar ordinance, as presented by Castello.