The third time was not the charm Thursday night for GRI-Moline in its quest to have a Leighton Township parcel rezoned to accommodate a residential project on the east side of Division Avenue.
Engineer Todd VanderSlik appeared before the board to ask for conditional rezoning for yet another scaled down proposal to build 80 town houses and an apartment complex with 168 units. The board decided to continue with the Planning Commission’s recommendation for denial of the rezoning.
GRI has made the request for the parcel three times now. The developers each time have come up with scaled down plans and they have dropped any mention of an industrial parcel at 4501 Division Ave.
GRI representatives have insisted that one of the greatest needs for Allegan County has been identified as affordable housing. However, Leighton officials have countered by maintaining it has seen an explosion in population and the township is not yet equipped to handle growing infrastructure requirements.
Supervisor Steve Wolbrink, while acknowledging the plans are well thought out and presented, Leighton the fastest growing township in Allegan County and the third fastest statewide.
He acknowledged, “There is a big push for affordable housing in Allegan County,” but insisted the project is still not a good fit for Leighton.
Clerk Rachel Fennema also praised the layout and plans for the development, but said she could not in good conscience go against the overwhelming wishes of her constituents.
“I’ve talked with many residents, and most of the feedback is negative,” she said.
Wolbrink added. “I wonder if this project is a good fit for the township.”
The supervisor added that once the township approves the project it will be stuck with it for a long time in case it doesn’t work out.
VanderSlik maintained that a huge advantage would be serious improvements in the financial health of the township with an estimated $1 million in water hookup fees and $1.6 million for sewer hookups. Further revenue could be obtained through property taxes for what is now vacant land zoned agricultural.
So for GRI Moline, perhaps it’s back to the drawing board a fourth time.
