Despite protests of rushing it through, the Dorr Township Board Thursday evening voted to approve rezoning of about 500 feet in the northwest section of a 34-acre parcel at 142nd Avenue and 14th Street, giving the green light to a 204-unit apartment complex.

The board voted 5-2 to rezone the eight acres from e-commercial to B-2 residential, thereby enabling the entire property, owned by Wendell Beard, to be used for the residential development.

The move was made over protests from three board members and from several people in the audience who are neighbors of the proposed development. All of them maintained the decision was being made too hastily and it overlooked several problems.

The Dorr Planning Commission only two days before recommended approval of the rezoning request and asked the Township Board to expedite the matter quickly.

James Maynard, who has land just to the west of the project, expressed opposition 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 brought up issues of drainage in light of this past week’s deluge of rain and 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.

Township Supervisor Jeff Miling said, “We do need something like this in Dorr Township. I agree that this would be a good fit.”

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.

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

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.

His wife, Deb, suggested that Lori Castello of Professional Code Inspections “talked them into it”when she walked them through the plans and zoning laws, even suggesting a $500,000 surety bond to make sure all conditions are met.

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.”

When Rios insisted three Planning Commission members expressed their reservations Tuesday night, Trustee Dan Weber and Miling countered that the vote to approve the rezoning was 6-1, with Rios the only one dissenting.

When Rios moved to have the matter tabled, Miling said, “By postponing this, I don’t see how it’s going to change how anyone (on the board) is going to vote.”

VanKolker added, “A month from now, you won’t have any more information from us. This is as far as we can go.”

Tuinstra replied, “Our neighbors and citizens may have something more to say. It want to let more people have their say.”

He suggested board members take up the issue next week or in early March during budget workshops.

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.

The vote defeating Rios’ motion to table was 4-3, with Miling, Weber, Trustee John Otto and Martin saying no. Tuinstra, Rios and Clerk Debbie Sewers voted in the affirmative. Tuinstra joined the other four in the subsequent vote to approve the rezoning because he said he likes the project.

After the vote, Rios said, “I think we did our community a disservice by rushing this through.”