A petition to have 22 properties in Hopkins Township annexed into the City of Wayland was denied by the State Boundary Commission in April.

The Boundary Commission reported, “It is ordered that the proposed annexation of territory in the Township of Hopkins to the City of Wayland as depicted in Petition 20-AP-01 as described in Exhibit A is denied. With respect to the parcels identified in Exhibit A, the State Boundary Commission finds that the petition should be denied as all the parcels under the Township of Hopkins are conditionally transferred to the Village of Hopkins according to an agreement executed on Nov. 5, 2021, pursuant to 1984 PA 425. MCL 124.29 prohibits annexation of an area transferred under a contract under the act.”

The Township Board put together a proposal to have the properties, all located just west of the U.S.-131 expressway from 135th Avenue to 129th Avenue be combined into a Downtown Development Authority in an effort to attract business to the township.

Meanwhile, Realtor Brian Silvernail represented 13 property owners who sought annexation into the city.

All of these efforts now have been thwarted.

A crucial component of the annexation would have been providing water and sewer services from the city, but City Manager Josh Eggleston contended the city would stand to lose money in the transaction.