GRI Moline’s modified request for rezoning to build a 248-unit residential development at 5401 Division Ave. on 57 acres was turned down on a 6-1 vote Wednesday evening by the Leighton Township Planning Commission.
Planning Commission member Steve Shoemaker informed the Township Board of the decision not to recommend rezoning at its regular meeting Thursday night. The land in question is on Division Avenue not far from 12th Street, which goes into Moline.
GRI pared down the size of its project from a year ago, when it proposed a 320-unit apartment complex and setting up a commercial-industrial property adjacent. Now the developer has agreed to confine the project to residential.
Township Board and Planning Commission officials have said the reasons for opposing the development have boiled down to the belief the township is not equipped to handle such a massive influx of new residents. The reasons essentially involve infrastructure, including roads, traffic, fire services, and sewer and water.
Leighton Township in recent years has been identified as one of the fastest growing in population in Michigan, but the fire department, for example, is having difficulty keeping up with public demand for services.
In other business Thursday evening, the Township Board:
- Adopted a resolution to allow VRSI Mine to expand its gravel mining operation on the northwest section of the township near Paris Ridge Estates. The expansion will bump the operations by eight acres and 595,000 cubic yards. Included is a road usage agreement that will cost the company $66,000.
- Agreed to update the master plan of 2020 to better reflect massive population growth.
- Learned that a gas station will go in at the site on the southwest corner of 142nd Avenue and Division. The location used to be home for the Johnson Tractor and Sales business. Plans call for one of the buildings on the property will be demolished to make way for the new business.
- Learned that the fire department has applied again for a $31,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The attempt failed last year, but the department will try again.
- Approved the appointments of Paul Hendricksma, Jennie Ringnalda and Marc Built to two-year terms on the Board of Review.
- Was told by Fire Chief Matt Weston that 64 percent of the calls the department has handled this year have been medical related.
- Received information that the number of residential building permits thus far in 2024 has totaled 43, at an average value of almost $339,000 apiece.
- Fielded a request for repaving of Fifth Street from Rick Wheeler of Sunset Meadows on behalf of neighborhood residents. Several township officials plan to attend the Primary Road meeting Jan. 7 of the Allegan County Road Commission.
