204-unit apartment complex project in Dorr Twp. halted

Plans for aa 204-unit apartment complex.on 34-acre parcel at 142nd Avenue and 14th Street have been halted, according to Dorr Township Planning Commission Chairman Bob Wagner.

Wagner told his colleagues Tuesday evening he had just learned that the project, which was recommended by the commission and later approved by the Township Board last year, has been stopped.

The property, owned by Wendell Beard, was to be used for the residential development over the objections of three Township Board members and a number of area residents, who maintained the decision was being made too hastily and it overlooked traffic problems on 142nd Avenue to the east from the U.S.-131 expressway.

James Maynard, who has land just to the west of the project, expressed opposition at a public hearing in 2018 with concerns about wetlands, traffic overload on 142nd Avenue, strain on space available in Wayland Union schools and potential to overburden Dorr’s volunteer fire department.

“Growth is good, but too much at one time may not be,” he told board members. “I do not want the development close to my home.”

Dan Young insisted, “Allegan County roads are going to take a beating and they’re already bad.”

Chris Becklin said she prefers the 500 feet near 142nd Avenue to remain commercial because businesses close every night, but apartment complexes too often are doing something all day and every day.

Trustee Terri Rios, who cast the lone vote against rezoning on the Planning Commission Tuesday night, said, “I feel like we were being rushed to make a decision” and indicated she didn’t know anything about the proposal until she arrived at the commission meeting. She commented after the Township approved it, “I think we did our community a disservice by rushing this through.”

Treasurer Jim Martin said the plan was submitted to the township in January and developer Dan VanKolker said specifically it was Jan. 19, 2018.

Maynard continued to protest, saying, “Not all of the facts have been looked into” and maintained the Planning Commission did not get the correct information Tuesday night.

VanKolker said, “We’re simply asking for a less intense use (of the property, the vast majority of which already is zoned B-2). We’re trying to put them (apartments) in logical locations and remain as green as possible.”

Martin said, “This property has been for sale for a long time. The interest hasn’t been there,” noting the B-2 zoning for most of the land has been in place for 11 years.

Property across the street on 14th Street to the east, recently has been developed into a business selling trailers for work site site projects.

• Agreed to contract with Williams & Works of Grand Rapids and Planner Andy Moore to handle the update of the master plan, at a cost of between $9,000 and

$13,000.

Commissioner Larry Dolegowski said, “They definitely know what they’re doing.”

The vote was 6-1 with Terri Rios casting the only “no.”

• Re-elected Wagner chairman of the commission, Robert Traxler vice chairman and Rich Osbun recording secretary. All votes were unanimous, except Rios’ dissent on Wagner for chairman.