“The ayes have it.” Or do they?
It was somewhat difficult to tell Monday evening at a public hearing on establishing several roads in Hopkins Township as Natural Beauty Roads. The two sides were about even, but some neutral observers gave the nays a slight edge.
The Allegan County Road Commission took comments on a proposal to designate 125th Avenue from 20th to 15th Street and 126th Avenue from 20th to 17th Street and 18th Street from 126th Avenue to a quarter mile north.
The hearing brought out about four dozen citizens, so it was standing room only at the Hopkins Township Hall. Many had signed a petition expressing approval of the proposal.
Those in favor of the designation seemed to like keeping the roads unspoiled by urban sprawl and commercial and residential development. A Natural Beauty Road would insist on preserving rural character and prohibit changes or improvements.
Citizen Eric Bair said the roads reflect a desire to preserve the road as it was when designated and preserve its unspoiled character. But Ron Evink, who said he was in favor at first, said he now opposes because of safety factors on a narrow road.
Scott Beltman, a member of the County Board of Commissioners, pointed out that Hopkins Township voters earlier this month passed a millage request to improve local roads.
Ryan Rhodes said the current road is plagued by blind spots and lack of room for two motorists when they encounter one another.
Then there are fears of lack of dust control.
But Mrs Ted Heft said, “It (the designation) doesn’t limit dust control. We just want to maintain the road as is.”
Carol Boverhoff said that 126th “backs up to the high school and those kids ain’t going no 25 miles an hour.”
Ken Glascott said he worries about the effect the designation would have on moving farm machinery.
But another resident said, “If you widen that road, you’re just going to make it (traffic) faster.”
Another woman living on the roads said, “We already have issues just pulling out of our driveways.”
The meeting featured a lot of back and forth discussions, but essentially everyone remained civil.
Road Commission Chairman Craig Atwood told the audience a decision will be rendered in 30 days after deliberations.
