The Dorr Township Planning Commission Tuesday night handled two requests involving properties near the intersection of Commerce Drive and 142nd Avenue.
In one instance the commission approved with conditions site plan for a truck and semi-trailer terminal and in the other, members told a prospective developer to submit a request for conditional rezoning.
The site plan review was conducted for Ekrem and Imre Ganic, who want to install a parking lot on 2.89 acres for the terminal at the corner of Commerce and Walnut Dale. The conditions include approval from Fire Chief Gary Fordham, the Allegan County Drain Commission and Road Commission, a landscaping plan and all vehicles on site must be operable.
As Zoning Administrator Lori Castello of Professional Code Inspections said, “We don’t want this to be a salvage yard.”
The Ganics haven’t yet built a building on the property, so there could be no stipulations on lighting and other amenities.
The property, zoned industrial, backs up to a farm house and it is being closed completely by a chain link fence.
Ekrem Ganis indicated the terminal right now will serve no more than 10 to 15 vehicles.
Another proposed development in the business park just to the west of the expressway is for Ace Asphalt, which, if approved, will manufacture asphalt for use in driveways and parking lots.
Matt Cole, representing the family business, said he was merely exploring possibilities and advice because the site is zoned commercial and won’t accommodate what Ace Asphalt wants to do.
Cole asked, “How can we move this forward and make it work?”
Castello told Cole the request essentially is for what is referred to as a “contractor’s yard,” which is industrially zoned. Because there are stockpiles of materials, it doesn’t conform to commercial zoning.
She added that Dorr Township updated its master plan earlier this year, so it’s appropriate to follow it.
She and Commissioners Dan Beute and Larry Dolegowski recommended conditional rezoning be sought.
Dolegowski commented, “I think it’s a good location for this kind of business.”
