Political science, economics, sociology and history has long taught that growth cannot be stopped, it can only be managed.
Such was obvious at the Leighton Township Planning Commission meeting Wednesday night, where two commercial proposals were approved and plans for a residential development on Dahlia Street were recommended for Township Board approval.
Leighton Planning Commissioner Louis Murray explained to about 30 people in attendance for three public hearings, “All we can do is control the development all we can.”
The two commercial projects that will proceed are an auto sales business at the former site of Chemical Bank on Division Avenue and an agricultural tractor sales and service business on the northwest corner of 142nd Avenue and Division.
Most of the people showed up to oppose a 21-unit condominium project on the north side of Dahlia Street with a private road 30 feet wide between Mill and Garden streets.
Township Planner Andy Moore said the residential complex “is going to look and feel a lot like a residential subdivision.”
The complex would be served by private wells and septic systems and currently is zoned R-2, medium density residential, no no rezoning is necessary. There are no plans for any sidewalks, but there is a willingness to provide some kind of access to the paved non-motorized walking and paving trail, if that becomes a reality.
Jeff VanLaar, representing Why Knott Ventures LLC, developers, said, “One of the greatest features of this site is how wooded it is.”
He and developer Brian DeSmit promised they would do everything possible to keep as many trees and shrubbery intact.
“We want to preserve the wooded feel of the development,” VanLaar said.
Neighbors of the project essentially expressed concerns about too much lighting, increased traffic and potential safety problems.
Bill Howe said he worries that the water aquifer in the area will be tapped out by the demands of 21 new residential units.
VanLaar said, “We are confident that the aquifer is big enough.”
Because there is only one road to access the complex, some brought up the possibility of traffic bottlenecks because of trains that load and unload near Bay Valley Foods in the area on Dahlia Street.
Pete Zondervan also brought up worries about traffic and said they could result in safety hazards for children in the area.
But Kirk Scharphorn Jr., from Professional Code Inspections, said, “I don’t know if there is anything we can do about the railroad problem,” noting that rail officials would continue to do what they do, regardless.
The vote to recommend approval of the project was unanimous. It likely will come before the Township Board at its meeting in May.
A request for special use permit from Steve Ausra of Dowagiac to establish the farm machinery sales and service business sailed through without any public comment.
The business will have about 600 feet of frontage along 142nd Avenue with two driveways. The site will be served by public water and sewer.
John Ausra, who said he is part of a family business, said the site will include 26 parking spaces and it will be smaller than their operation in Dowagiac.
“I’m going to say that if we had 30 pieces of equipment on the property, that would be quite a lot,” Ausra said.
Moore told the Planning Commission, “In general, they’ve arranged this site very well. They’ve put this in a centralized location.”
Timsed Holdings is moving a used car dealership into the old Chemical Bank building and parking lot with permission to have up to 50 parking spaces for vehicles, customers and employees.
“This request is different than most,” Moore said, “because they’re hardly making any changes to the site. It looks like it’s going to be a fairly small operation. It’s just a change of use.”
Moore added that because the building is empty now, it’s better for the township to have it used and occupied and on the tax rolls.
There was no mention yet about providing auto repair and washing services at the site.
Both of the commercial requests need not be handled by the Township Board and they will proceed apace.
COVER PHOTO: Jeff VanLaar explains the proposed 21-site condo project on Dahlia Street.
