The Dorr Township Planning Commission Tuesday evening agreed to a request for an ordinance text amendment to pave the way for construction of an asphalt plant.
The commission voted 4-1, with Terri Rios dissenting, to recommend the wording change for the Chapter VD mixed use district in the local industrial park that runs north of 142nd Avenue, parallel to the U.S.-131 expressway.
Developer Jody Schaendorf and associate Rahn Bentley said though the plant would be in the industrial park, the planned unit development (PUD) zoning currently doesn’t allow for heavy industry. The text amendment they seek would let them seek a special use permit for the operation.
“The text amendment is needed to allow them to apply,” said Lori Castello, zoning enforcement administrator from Professional Code Inspections. “Changing the ordinance text doesn’t mean they can start building tomorrow.”
Commission Chairman Bob Wagner said, “That land at one time was all industrial.”
Castello explained the township changed it to a PUD to allow for more flexibility for industrial and commercial entities.
“It’s more intense than commercial, but I don’t think it’s a bad fit,” she commented.
Bentley said asphalt plants are no longer the dirty and smelly facilities like in bygone days. He said this unit would recycle anything the plant expels back into the burner.
“This unit is not a bunch of dirt with dust flying all around,” he said.
Commissioner Larry Dolegowski noted Schaendorf has a facility on 26th Street in Salem Township and he’s doing a good job with it.
“I don’t have a problem with it (the request),” he said. “I think this is a good spot for it.”
It was noted the plant would operate from April to early December.
The request now will go before the Township Board at its Sept. 26 meeting.
In another matter, Wagner reported that Rich Osbun is moving to Byron Township, but rules permit one member of the Planning Commission to live outside the township. Osbun serves as the commission’s secretary.