Dorr Township Planning Co
mmission Chairman Bob Wagner said former Planner Tim Johnson said several years ago that Dorr should be careful in the future or it might become another 28th Street in Grand Rapids.
It hasn’t happened quite yet, but it’s looking more like Johnson might have had a crystal ball.
The traffic along 142nd Avenue from the U.S.-131 expressway to downtown Dorr and further west is getting so heavy that it is now regarded as the busiest road in Allegan County, other than the freeway. It it just might get even busier soon with two proposed developments on 14th Street, across the street from Lameyer Plumbing on 142nd.
Wagner announced Tuesday evening that two brothers visited the township office recently to express interest in the southwest corner of the intersection. Though he did not have names, he said he has heard the brothers have developed four gas stations in West Michigan, one in Kent City, a convenience store and Subway Sandwich Shop.
Wagner said the two have indicated they many be interested in a gas station, a convenience store, a restaurant and maybe even a hotel.
“They actually wanted the property across the street on 14th, but that has been taken,” Wagner said.
Indeed, the southeast corner of 14th Street and 142nd Avenue already has been purchased by McDonald Modular Solutions for a temporary office business on a 10.16-acre parcel they wish to have rezoned from agricultural to business. The rezoning was approved by the Planning Commission and the Township Board, but representatives did not show Tuesday night for site plan review.
Dorr Properties LLC plans to establish a business to rent out mobile homes as temporary outdoor offices just north of Bysterveld Park. However, there are several glitches, most important of which is the driveway leading out of the business site. Traffic is so congested weekday afternoons on 142nd east of Dorr that there are concerns about traffic accidents.
Planning Commissioner Larry Dolegowski said, “If you want to go left onto 142nd Avenue from 14th Street at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, forget it.”
Commercial Real Estate Advisor Dick Jasinski of Wisinski of West Michigan, is representing the two brothers.
Dolegowski is asking local authorities to have another traffic study for 18th Street and 142nd Avenue and he and Wagner discussed some residents’ wishes to have the Michigan Department of Transportation look into putting a red light in at the Dorr Exit No. 68 overpass of the expressway.
As a long time resident of Dorr, yes it has grown by leaps and bounds. However the county is not able to keep up on the infrastructure. Both those 2 developments will add traffic, and in that same area more residential property will be added soon.. the fight begins with safety and peace…
As a former resident of Dorr, I understand well the explosive growth and the good and bad it brings. With developments, come traffic. The town, township and county must plan for and accommodate such growth. I highly recommend a traffic light at the 142nd and US 131 intersection be pursued by the township and county – that has the potential for a massive accident waiting to happen, and maybe one at 14th and 142nd to alleviate pulling out into high speed traffic to turn left onto 142nd from 14th. The high ground at 14th St. intersection doesn’t allow a good view from either eastbound or westbound traffic by those waiting to enter the traffic flow. Gone are the good old days of light traffic into and out of Dorr.
My brother was just in a bad accident at 142nd at 131 trying to turn off the highway. He is currently in the hospital. What do i need to do to get the county going on a traffic light there? This would not have happened if there was a stop sign/light on 142nd.